After collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to draw conclusions and make recommendations, you are ready to organize your report into a logical framework. Apply an appropriate organizational strategy to your data and provide cues to your readers to help them follow the logic of the report.

When you are writing an analytical report for a supportive and informed supervisor, you should usean indirect organizational pattern.

When should you organize your report by time?

When writing reports based on geographic locations

When writing reports that need to show a series of events

When writing reports that evaluate choices or plans

When should you organize your report by convention?

When writing reports that follow a prescribed plan that everyone understands

When writing reports that are organized by components such as location, geography, and division

When writing reports that should begin with the most important item and proceed to the least important

Consider the scenario, and then answer the question.

Joseph is writing a report tracing the three$-$month development of a new office site.

What type of organizational method should he use?

Component

Time

Convention

In addition to organizing your data effectively, you should provide your readers cues to prevent them from getting lost in your report. Know how to use introductions, transitions, and headings to guide your audience and to enhance reader comprehension.b