Informational reports provide summaries and describe recurring activities as well as situational, nonrecurring events. They deliver information to neutral or receptive readers. Even though they are generally conversational and informal, you should apply the lessons you have learned about the clarity and conciseness of effective writing to short informational reports as well.

1. Informational reports require (extensive background material / main points to be immediately visible / main points to be placed in the closing) .

Read the activity report, and then answer the questions that follow.

GoodPet Inc.

Date: May 15, 2013

To: Shen Gupta, Executive Marketing Director at GoodPet Inc.

From: Joseph Pelletier, Marketing Manager at GoodPet Inc.

Subject: Weekly Activity Report

ACTIVITY SUMMARY
Highlights of my activities for the week ending on May 14 follow:
Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine
On Monday and Tuesday, I went to Baton Rouge and spoke with the chair of LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine about GoodPet products and how they promote small-animal health. He offered to have me speak at a guest lecture series later this month for students. I would be able to continue to talk about our products as well as answer questions about alternative jobs for veterinarians.
Washington D.C.
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I attended the North American Veterinarian Conference. I set up our GoodPet booth and talked with vets who were interested in promoting our products. More than 300 people came by the booth to pick up brochures and free samples and to ask questions. I spoke with some vets who were already using our products and asked them to fill out our satisfaction survey.
Competition Update
• FeedEm’s stock is up 30 percent in the South American pet food arena.
• Sedona Pet Food’s stock is up 24 percent after advertising that its food doesn’t contain wheat, corn, soy, or wheat gluten.
Product Problems
• Poultry Picks is marketing a new line of chick starter feed at a lower price than GoodPet.
• Del More Pet Products is running a marketing campaign promoting its VidaNueve cat food. It is inaccurately comparing its product to our Good Feast product.
• All Growth Pet Company is falsely claiming that our Smooth cat food contains wheat gluten.
Needs
• Good merchandising ideas for GoodPet Lamb and Rice dog food
• Portuguese language posters, brochures, and other marketing materials for Brazil visit
• Marketing campaign that will address the slowing economy, which limits spending on nonessentials
2. What effective structural cue does this activity report use to help the reader?

Underlining

Justified right margins

Headings

3. What is effective about the needs section of the activity report?

It summarizes in an abbreviated, easy-to-read format.

It offers a lot of background material.

It is organized indirectly.

Consider the scenario, and then answer the question.

You have just returned from a business conference in Seattle and need to write a report detailing the event.

4. When organizing the report, what should you remember? Check all that apply.

Focus on three to five topics that will interest your reader.

Avoid using chronological sequencing.

Close by synthesizing the value of the trip.

Use chronological sequencing.

Identify the topic in the closing.

5. Progress reports (describe past problems / anticipate future problems / do not discuss problems) .

Consider the scenario, and then answer the question.

You work for an accounting firm, and one of your clients believes that your firm made a mistake on his company audit last year. You have been asked by your supervisor to review the audit and deliver information on your findings. The supervisor will use your report to determine whether the client is correct.

6. What type of short informational report have you been asked to write?

A periodic report

A summary

An investigative report