In one paragraph, outline the entire report for a secondary audience (e.g., an executive or manager) who does not have time to read the entire report. Mention the problem, the work done, and the recommendation you’re making. The rest of the report will intentionally repeat this information in more depth.

Learning Goal: I’m working on a engineering writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Use APA style

Recommendation report standards and guidelines

Content (recommendation reports include … )

Problem description and analysis

Possible root cause(s) of problem

Criteria for recommendation acceptance

Research of recommendations that meet the criteria

Description of the recommended course of action

Next steps

Arrangement

The content in recommendation reports is arranged in following sections:

Executive Summary

In one paragraph, outline the entire report for a secondary audience (e.g., an executive or manager) who does not have time to read the entire report. Mention the problem, the work done, and the recommendation you’re making. The rest of the report will intentionally repeat this information in more depth.

Length = Approximately 1 paragraph

Introduction

Briefly remind the client of the background of the problem(s) or situation(s) the two of you identified in the interview, introduce the context of your work so far including relevant research, key topics you’ve identified, and a roadmap of what you plan to discuss in the document.

Length = Approximately ½ page single-spaced

Analysis

Cover the most relevant secondary research you’ve done and how it applies to the client’s situation. Include relevant research throughout the report where it is necessary, not only in this section. You may need to include research in all sections. Use your grid to help you do this.

Use relevant topic headings; discuss each topic one at a time in the body.

Relate the sources to one another, to the key points, and to your recommendations. In other words, synthesize the information you found in under topic-related headings.

Organize by topics or themes you found in all the articles and relate that information to your recommendation.

Length = Approximately 3-4 pages single-spaced (double-spaced between between paragraphs)

Recommendation

Explain your solution(s) to the client’s problem and give a thorough explanation of why and how it will aid their organization.

Be persuasive and back up your claims with solid evidence (including citations) and logical reasoning. Do not include your unsupported opinions; instead base your recommendation on the evidence you have found and the logical bridge between that evidence and your client’s problem.

Length = Approximately ½ page single-spaced

Conclusion

Summarize briefly what the literature says about your topic.

Remind your reader why this information is relevant and important to the topic.

Summarize your recommendation for a course of action for the readers/clients based on what you learned in the literature.

Wrap up your discussion with a brief summary and suggest concrete next steps the client can take to move forward.

Length = Approximately ½ page single-spaced

References

Refer to List 5 Sources Using APA or IEEE assignment for the criteria that your references must meet.

Cite all references appropriately in APA format (or IEEE if you are in Electrical Engineering) in the paper and in a final references section. The in-text citations are brief, but the references page includes all information needed to find the article again. See the APA or IEEE style guides (or the Purdue Online Writing Lab) for more detail.

Include all the sources you cite in your paper on a References page using APA style (or IEEE).

You must have a minimum of 5-7 credible sources. You are welcome to use more than 7 sources, of course.

Alphabetize sources and use hanging indents if using APA.

List numbered sources in the order they appear if using IEEE.

Be sure the title of this page is “References” and not “Bibliography.”

Appendix

Include supplemental information to support the content of the review if needed. Include extra visuals, attachments, etc., that will help your client to make decisions about your recommendation.

Level of technical detail

The content is constructed with a particular audience in mind–usually a decision-maker with a specific preference. An audience analysis is conducted in order to understand the level of technical detail appropriate for the report. It is assumed that the decision-maker will prefer to view a summary of the research first and have the details available for further reading. Therefore, an executive summary is an essential part of the recommendation report

Information design

Recommendation reports follow general style standards (APA, IEEE, etc.) with the following specialization:

The report must include a title page

The topic-related title is placed near the top of page

APA or IEEE style is used to format the title page

Include the date completed, your name (prepared by), and the name of the company and client for whom the report was prepared

Report pages are single-spaced document, with double-spacing between paragraph

Length of a recommendation report is typically 6-7 pages

Recommendation reports make effective use of topic headings to demonstrate hierarchy and organize content. They also use white space, visuals, and other design elements as needed

The pages of a recommendation report are numbered