Use this organizational pattern when you are summarizing the findings of a study or assessment. Usually, the reader just wants the conclusions. The introduction describing the problem and the methodology simply helps advance the reader to the conclusions. You may choose to begin with the conclusions if the reader is neutral or amenable to them. If not, you should begin with the methodology and results to prepare the reader for the conclusions.
These are the standard parts:
Problem or assignment
Methods used to solve the problem or satisfy the requirements of the assignment
Results of the study
Conclusions based on the results
Recommendations or next actions
The focus, detail, and length of each of these components will be determined by the reader and nature of the problem.
In this example, a homeowner wanted to know whether water is leaking underneath his house. He asked an engineering firm to come in and determine whether there is leakage. He doesn't care about the technical aspects of the study. He just wants to know whether he has a problem. This is their report:
Review of Leakage Problems
The Leakstop Inspection Company (LIC)
Introduction:
The objective of LIC’s inspection was to determine the following:
Is your house at #9 Sadie Lane leaking water?
If the house is leaking water, is the leakage severe?
Testing Methodology:
To determine whether your house was leaking water, we used a cost effective and efficient pressure test on the outside faucet. For this test we placed a pressure gauge on an external house faucet to measure the water pressure for 30 minutes. If the pressure held stayed at the expected rate when no faucets in the house were on, we would have determined that no leakage was occurring.
We also evaluated your water usage records obtained from the City of Chicago and adjusted the data for seasonal variations. These records did not include data from September, October, and November 2018.
Testing Results and Analysis:
Your house is leaking water. During our testing period (30 minutes), the outside faucet experienced a loss of water pressure of 67 pounds per square inch.
The water leakage is severe. For April, May and August of 2018, your house used 41,000 gallons of water---20, 000 more than a typical house on Sadie Lane. We estimate that 15,000 gallons leaked under your house and have also discovered that a recent plumbing repair resulted in the loss of an additional 5,000 gallons.
Recommendations:
We recommend conducting further analysis of your home’s foundation and substructure to determine whether there is any damage caused by movements or distress from the leakage. If we find movements or distress in the foundation or substructure, we will suggest that any damaged wood or plaster be replaced. If the wood is not replaced, for example, it may buckle and cause major structural damage to your home. We will conduct this analysis next week and contact you by December 15 with our recommendations.
Thank you for your business.
Brad Sizemore
President and CFO
Leakstop Inspection Company
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The writer begins with a description of the problem in two objectives, explains the methods, reviews the conclusions, and provides recommendations.
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