The Report for Decision Making

Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 1995

CAROLYN D. RUDE

Abstract

The report for decision making shares some common ground with the proposal, the report of scientific experiment, and even the persuasive essay, yet these genres differ. Recognizing these differences is necessary for effective inquiry, pedagogy, and decision making. The genres are means of solving different types of problems: practical, empirical, and theoretical. They serve different aims: action, demonstration, and conviction. The proposal, like the report, may solve practical problems, but the proposal advocates, whereas the report inquires. These genres all embody assumptions about problem solving and inquiry in their forms. Applying the problem-solving goals and methods of the proposal, experimental report, or essay to the report for decision making compromises the quality of the inquiry and of the resulting decision. Complex problems for decision making require a rhetorical method of inquiry based on Aristotle's special topics. The report genre reflects the invention heuristics and analysis in its form.

Journal: Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published: 1995-04-01
DOI: 10.1177/1050651995009002002
Open Access: Closed
Topics: rhetorical theory multilingual writers

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Cites in this index (3)

BERKENKOTTER et al. (1993)

Rethinking Genre from a Sociocognitive Perspective

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SCHRYER (1993)

Records as Genre

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Banset et al. (1988)

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Also cites 5 works outside this index ↓

10.2307/377491

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10.2307/358391

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10.1080/00335638409383686

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10.1109/TPC.1985.6448820

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