Report or Memo

Not sure what you mean “effective style”

If a report is asked for ( or a memo ) there should be a heading to the document “Report” ( or “Memorandum”

The top section has 4 elements:

To:
From:
Subject:
Date:

If any one of those 4 is missing – it is instantly obvious to a marker

Next comes an Introductory paragraph – but nothing fancy! Just 2 lines explaining that “This report has been prepared as a result of your request for our analysis of ABC plc’s results for the year ended 31 May, 2012.

Then comes a summary of your “Main conclusion” – just a brief word or two to guide the reader through your report “For the reasons stated, it is our recommendation that you should not consider further any potential investment in this company”

Then the detailed analysis, sub-divided into appropriate headings “Financial”, “Business”, “Competitors”, “The future” as appropriate.

Each of these elements within the detailed ( heavy ) part of your report could be numbered points “3”, “3.1”, “3.2” and so on, but don’t get smart with “3.2,a(ii)”

Heavy reference should be made to any calculations which you should liberally use – but show your calculated amounts in an appendix – strangely at the start of your answer! You have to know the figures before you can start writing about them.

And finally, a valedictory paragraph “We trust that this report satisfactorily addresses your concerns about the company but, should you need to, please do not hesitate to contact the author ( not “….to contact me” )

AND DO NOT SIGN IT – a report / memorandum should NOT be signed ( BPP and Kaplan answers sometimes do …… and sometimes they don’t! )

Oh yes ( if that’s the way the question guides you! )