Weekly/Monthly Progress Reports

Checklist

I. Analysis

• • Why is the record being created?

  • How, where, and when is the record to be

    • formatted

    • stored

    • retrieved?

  • How long does the record need to be kept? (This is often a legal requirement.)

II. Evaluation

Content

• • • Is the content closed to multiple interpretations?

    • Does the record contain all required information in a concise form?

Tone

• • • Is the record written without added opinion?

Style

• • • Is the record written in language needed to satisfy the purpose of the documentation?

    • Are sentences short and direct?

    • Has the record been composed in a timely manner?

Attitude

• • • Is the record honest and accurate?

Appearance

• • • Is the record written so another person can read and understand it?

    • If a record is hand written, is it legible?

    • Is the record done in the required format?

The outline of this list was informed by Betty Ricks and Kay F. Gow’s Business Communication: Systems and Applications (1987).