Informal and formal
1- compare and contrast the format and uses of formal and informal reports. Describe an example of either a formal or informal report that you have used or perhaps even written in the workplace, or locate a report via an Internet search. Did the document follow the guidelines attached? Explain how or how not.

2- As stated in the text, “Proposals are crucial to most organizations—indeed, many companies rely on them for their very survival”.

compare and contrast solicited and unsolicited proposals. Which do you think is harder to write? Why?; and

given your academic major and/or your chosen career field, describe a situation where you would write an unsolicited proposal to either an internal or external audience. What strategies would you use to gain the reader’s attention? Be sure to consider any legal or ethical issues for this proposal.

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¦ Informal documents have a narrower focus, on a specific problem, situation, or event.
• ¦ Informal documents may be written by a team, but they are often written by a single author.
• ¦ Informal documents usually have few readers, or even just one reader.
• ¦ Informal documents are usually two to five pages long.
• ¦ Informal documents use letter (for external audiences) or memo (for internal audiences) format.
• ¦ Informal documents may be created in a preset form or a template.
• ¦ Informal documents use headings to help readers find information.
• ¦ Informal documents may include appendixes.
Formal reports and proposals have the following characteristics:
• ¦ Formal documents usually address complex problems, situations, or events.
• ¦ Formal documents are often written by a team.
• ¦ Formal documents usually are created for multiple readers at different technical levels.
• ¦ Formal documents generally include at least six pages of text.
• ¦ Formal documents are usually created for external audiences, although they may be used internally if the document is long and complex.
• ¦ Formal documents are often bound or presented in some kind of cover.
• ¦ Formal documents use headings, subheadings, and other navigational elements to help readers find information.
• ¦ Formal documents include front and back material, such as a title page, a table of contents, and appendixes.
• ¦ The document’s purpose
• ¦ The variety of readers who will receive the document
• ¦ The needs and expectations of readers, particularly decision makers
• ¦ An outline of the main points to be covered in the body
• ¦ Strategies for writing an effective document