Progress reports inform others about progress made on a project over a period of time. You can write a progress report for a supervisor, an associate, or even a customer. The project can include the d
Introduction
Progress reports inform others about progress made on a project over a period of time. You can write a progress report for a supervisor, an associate, or even a customer. The project can include the design, construction, or repair of a product, the study or research of a problem or question, or the gathering of information on a technical subject. You write progress reports when it takes well over three or four months to complete a project.
A progress report should cover all of the areas that your reader needs information about:
What has been done so far on the project
What is underway
What still needs to be started
Whether or not there have been, or you anticipate, any delays or problems
And a general summary of how the project is going
Progress reports are important in the business setting for many reasons:
they provide your audience with critical information on important projects
they reassure your audience that the project is underway and is being carefully monitored and managed
they help everyone on the project stay connected and "on the same page"
they help set expectations for when the project will be completed and what it will ultimately accomplish
A progress report provides a vital piece for any working business. Often you see them annually in your yearly evaluation, memos and letters showing progress on a project (such as building a new home/office, an event, business venture, etc.), letters of support or promotion, and so forth.
Tips for Completing the Progress Report
Follow these guidelines below for writing the draft of your Progress Report.
You will be writing about one of your own current projects from school, work, home, or community. Your topic must be something that you are able to show progress on, such as working on your college career, job, building a house, applying for a loan, starting a soup kitchen for the homeless, volunteering in your community, etc. These are just a few of the topics students in the past have written about. You may use one of these, or create your own based on one of your current projects.
Your report must have at least three headings. More are fine.
Your report may be written for an internal audience (in memo format) or an external audience (which requires a letterhead). You may use your own information in the letterhead such as: your name, address, email address and phone number.
The report will be several paragraphs with 3-5 sentences in each paragraph. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.
In your report, show how you have overcome some obstacles; explain how far you have come (or, how much has been completed), and how far you have left to go before completion. Do not just make up a list of courses you have completed and count this as a paragraph.
Use visuals that relate to your subject: pictures, charts, graphics, etc.
End with a positive paragraph that focuses on the future.
Be specific! Details about dates, costs, names, measurements, etc. are key.
Proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Show your audience why you chose this topic and its importance to you.
Progress Report Assignment and Criteria:
Your report must cover a project your are currently working on from school, work, home, or community.
Three or more headings required: Work Completed, Work Underway, Work Not Started, Conclusion. These will vary depending on your progress.
Use memo format for this progress report and address it to either your instructor or the most logical person.
The report will be several paragraphs with 3-5 sentences in each paragraph. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. This report should be about two pages or more.
Show how you have overcome some obstacles; explain how far you have come (or, how much has been completed), and how far you have left to go before completion. Do not just make up a list of courses you have completed and count this as a paragraph.
Use one or more visuals. Don't make them too large and place them where they go with the text.
End with a positive paragraph that focuses on the future.
Be specific! Use numbers, costs, dates, proper names, measurements, etc.
Proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Show your audience why you chose this topic and its importance to you.
