Informational Documents

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Informational Documents
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Information in Documents

• Information in Documents must be
• Accurate
• Organized

3
Accuracy

• Information should be accurate because
• You have a responsibility to your readers
• You have liability for the information
• You dont want to embarrass yourself or your
  employer

4
Accuracy

• Solid research helps you avoid inaccuracy
• Plan your research
• Locate the data (evaluate your sources)
• Process the data
• Apply your findings to your purpose and audience
• Organize your information

5
Ethics

• You have a moral/ethical responsibility to your
  audience
• Dont force your information to show a specific
  outcome or point of view
• Dont extract more information from your sources
  than they really provide
• Respect your sources with appropriate credit

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Organized

• While not all informational documents are the
  same, they all contain certain elements
• Introduction/General information
• Body of information
• Conclusion
• --even brochures

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Organize

• Step 1 Develop a Problem Statement
• Create a statement that answers the question(s)
  that your audience needs answered with the
  document.

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Organize

• Step 2 Identify the gaps in your information.
• Gaps in the information that your audience
  already has
• Gaps in the information that you have collected

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Organize

• Step 3 Create a Question List to help you
  identify and fill those gaps
• Use the list to help you complete research
• Use the list to help you organize findings with
  current data
• Use the list to help you stay focused in your
  analysis

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Organize

• Step 4 Evaluate your sources
• Does your source have a reputation for
  credibility?
• Does your source have any potential biases?
• Is your source in line with your purpose?
• Where did your source get his or her data?
• Can you verify your sources material?
• Is the material current and complete?

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Organize

• Document your sources appropriately
• For proper credit
• For your own credibility
• For further investigation