Outlines procedures for procuring and evaluating actual annual reports for business communication classes. (RL)

Describes an assignment in which students write a short memo report analyzing and comparing both what a company says in its annual report and what its balance sheet shows. Describes four simple mathematical formulas students can use to quickly diagnose a company's financial health. Appends a sample of the short report format. (RS)

Proposes that because annual reports emphasize the role of audience in determining their purpose and content, they are effective in helping students understand the importance of audience awareness in business writing. (AEA)

Describes a class activity in which students analyze an annual report in terms of audiences and purposes of various sections of the report and the classifications, content, and physical attributes of the report. Notes that students report experiencing less anxiety when examining materials containing statistical and financial data after completing…

Describes an assignment given on the second class meeting in which students, working in pairs, find all the elements of organization used in a particular annual report and calculate sample sentence and paragraph lengths. Notes that such an activity serves as an introduction to class discussions on professional writing style. (RS)

Describes a reporting exercise that yields a publishable story from a company's annual report. (HTH)

Describes (1) an annual report assignment that includes concepts to be learned and teaching strategies, (2) methods of introducing the business communications course during its first week, (3) and preparing visual aids from financial periodicals. (EL)

Advocates using annual reports to help adult learners bridge the gap between competence with basic reading tasks and competence with more difficult and complex tasks which require inferential thinking and application of information for decision making and problem solving. (RS)

This guide is intended as an aid in producing effective institutional publications. It addresses: communicating through publications; organizing the publications office; editing and writing techniques; buying printing; the catalog; recruiting and career materials; publications; organizing the annual report; faculty, student, and other handbooks;…