Transcript FORMAL REPORTS - Luzerne County Community College

INFORMAL
REPORTS
SPECIFIC
GUIDELINES
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III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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information/data =
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objective
concerning how equipment has or has not functioned
well-documented review of the exact manner in
which the equipment has performed
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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Topics =
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machinery
tools
vehicles
office supplies
computer hardware
computer software
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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Focus =
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Equipment
problems, suggestions to solutions
* Evaluate the equipment, not the problems *
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Don’t repeat the Problem Analysis Report
Arrange your analysis according to its parts; then mention
the problems as they relate to the parts
Keep your focus on the equipment.
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Abstract
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purpose of writing
summary of what the report says about the equipment
(Why are you writing AND What’s ahead?)
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Body
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thorough description of the equipment
well-organized critique
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top-bottom, left-right, inside-out,… (coherence)
analysis of the parts of one piece of equipment
according to selected criteria
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Body
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Evaluation Criteria (some, not all)
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physical design
specifications
ease of use
quality of instructions
maintenance (frequency & cost)
availability of software
warranty coverage
service
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Body
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additional supporting data
reference to any attachments
end with a Comparison/Contrast (table)
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between this evaluated piece of equipment
and your #1 recommendation from the R.R.
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Conclusion
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“Conclusions and Recommendations”
brief restatement of major 
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findings
conclusions
recommendations
(as always, further contact)
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Conclusion
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Remember, your job here is merely to present the
Decision-Maker with as much information she/he
needs to make an informed decision.
In the end, that person, not you, will make the
decision.
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
C) EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS
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ABC Format
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Grammar
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POV = third person, general (“students” or “one” rather than
“you”)
Hyphens: for 17-inch, 5-year warranty, cost-effective, log-in
Numbers: for plural model numbers, do not use apostrophes
(Model SUX 770s, not 770’s)
Transitions: use transitions to enumerate parts/problems or to
note changes in direction
Capitalization: Web and Internet are capitalized, Building 7