How to Write Reports and Proposals (Creating Success)

Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgements......Page 7
Introduction: pitfalls and opportunities......Page 9
The hazards of communication......Page 14
Serious, and very serious......Page 15
Why have a report?......Page 17
Readers’ expectations......Page 18
The readers’ perspective......Page 20
Earning a reading......Page 23
The rewards of excellence......Page 25
A significant opportunity......Page 26
Setting clear objectives......Page 28
A sound structure......Page 30
First, the beginning......Page 32
The middle......Page 34
The end......Page 37
After the end......Page 38
Preparing to write......Page 41
Why this report?......Page 43
Research prior to preparation......Page 45
A systematic approach......Page 46
Cultivating a style......Page 58
Readers’ expectations......Page 59
Readers’ dislikes......Page 64
The writer’s approach......Page 65
Use of language......Page 67
Making language work for you......Page 68
Mistakes to avoid......Page 70
Following the rules......Page 73
Style......Page 75
Dealing with numbers......Page 77
Action to help......Page 78
Methods of presenting numbersclearly......Page 79
The contribution of language......Page 83
A cumulative process......Page 87
Persuasive technique......Page 89
The don’ts......Page 90
The dos......Page 91
Choice of format......Page 93
Timing......Page 95
Proposal content......Page 97
Checklist......Page 103
Covering letters......Page 105
The presentation of proposals......Page 109
Earn attention......Page 110
The contribution of presentation......Page 112
How the pages look......Page 113
The exhibits......Page 118
Other options for inclusion......Page 120
Overall packaging......Page 121
Afterword......Page 123