Writing for Business Success/Business writing in action/Tasks

There are two tasks in this learning challenge.

Task 1

In this task, you will use the hypothes.is web annotation tool to record your findings. Although you can choose to keep your hypothes.is notes private, we encourage you to share them publicly to help create a resource bank of annotated reports for your fellow learners.

1. If you have not already done so, follow the instructions on annotating web pages to create your own hypothes.is account and activate the hypothes.is browser buttons.
2. Search on the internet for a report produced by a business that interests you.
   • Try to choose a report that is between 5 and 25 pages long.
   • Remember to use the internet browser where you have installed the hypothes.is extension or bookmarklet.
   • If you are not sure where to look for a suitable report, here are some suggestions:
     • Search for the website of a large, well-known company, and look for the page where they display their annual reports or 'information for investors'.
     • Search for the website of a government department, especially one connected with business, and look for reports they have published.
     • Use the name of a particular type of report, such as 'feasibility report' or 'case study', in your search.
3. Review the style, layout and content of the report, bearing in mind what you have been learning about reports and effective communication.
4. Create a page note with hypothes.is, and type in brief answers to the following questions:
   • What is the topic and purpose of this report?
   • Is it formal or informal? How do you know?
   • Is it informational or analytical? How do you know?
   • Who are the intended audience and the other main stakeholders for this report?
     • Tag your page note with two separate tags: CCOM101 and reports.
5. Create annotations with hypothes.is to identify and comment briefly on each of the following:
   • All the different elements of the report (e.g. table of contents, evaluation, recommendations, conclusion etc.).
   • Sentences or paragaphs which indicated to you who the various stakeholders are.
   • Three examples of good writing for this context (refer back to the learning materials on Good writing if you need a reminder of the elements of good writing).
   • Three examples of non-verbal communication techniques within the report (for example, images, font, style of publication etc.) and what message you think these are intended to give to the reader.
     • Tag each of your annotations with two separate tags: CCOM101 and reports.
6. When you have finished, search hypothes.is for other content that is tagged with CCOM101 and reports - this is how you will find other reports that your fellow learners have found and commented on.
   • Look at one or two of these and compare them with your own report.
   • Make one or two constructive comments in response to their annotations.

• You can see an example of an annotated report here. (To see the Hypothes.is sidebar with the annotations, you must have Hypothes.is installed on your computer and you need click on the Hypothes.is icon on your browser when you have the report open.)

Task 2

Imagine that this report is needed by various people in your company. Select an appropriate written communication channel and draft a brief message to send the report to each of them, for the following three situations:

Who to send the report to	Context
Your manager	Your manager requested a copy of the report last week, but you did not have time to find it until today
A customer of the company, whom you do not know	Your manager asked you to send it to this customer, because it is relevant to their business
Your colleagues in your work team	They need to read it before a meeting in two days' time

You are welcome to invent names for the people in these scenarios and imagine extra details, to make your communications more realistic.