21890 Chap.11 The Analytical Report and Its Recommendations
The Analytical Report and Its Recommendations
The task
Assessment task 3 is an individual analytical report worth 40%, due at 11:59pm on 2 November.
It extends your proposal and viva with critical analysis of secondary data and evidence-based recommendations.
Length and structure
The brief gives 2,500 words excluding references; the guidelines describe a 2,000-word report with analysis about 900 words and recommendations about 400. Sections run from executive summary to appendices.
How it is marked
Analysis carries 50 points, recommendations 30 and research and presentation 20, including an original visual display.
A reflection must also be submitted or the task is failed.
Where marks are lost
Reports that summarise one source at a time, recommendations that do not trace to findings, and a missing executive summary, contents page or original visual all cost marks, as do references that fall short of the 30 to 40 the guidelines expect.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Report task and due date
- 02
Report length and section budget
- 03
Recommended structure
- 04
Critical analysis by theme
- 05
Three evidence-based recommendations
- 06
Rubric and required reflection
Worked example · free
Scale the guideline word budget to a 2,500-word report
- 1Find each share of 2,000: 300 is 15%, 200 is 10%, 900 is 45%, 200 is 10% and 400 is 20%.
- 1Scale factor: 2,500 divided by 2,000 is 1.25.
- 1Multiply: 375, 250, 1,125, 250 and 500 words.
- 1Check: 375 + 250 + 1,125 + 250 + 500 = 2,500, so the plan fits the limit.
Key terms
- Executive Summary
- A short overview at the start of a report stating its issue, findings and recommendations.
- Evidence-Based Recommendation
- A proposed action that follows from and is supported by the report's findings.
- Original Visual Display
- A chart, table or diagram the student builds from cited data rather than copies.
The Analytical Report and Its Recommendations FAQ
How long should the analytical report be?
The brief and the assessment overview give 2,500 words excluding references, while the separate guidelines describe a 2,000-word report whose section guides total exactly 2,000. Treat the guides as proportions within the brief's limit and confirm the limit on Canvas.
How many recommendations does the report need?
The recommendations criterion asks for three evidence-based solutions to resolve the industry issue, with clear conclusions. Each should flow from your findings and can be organised by theme or by stakeholder group, as the guidelines suggest.
How many references should the report have?
The guidelines ask for 30 to 40 references, listed alphabetically in APA style using the UTS referencing guide. The research criterion rewards integration of research and readings from class and beyond, so the references should appear throughout the analysis, not only in the introduction.
What sections does the analytical report need?
The brief recommends an abstract or executive summary, introduction, method, critical analysis of secondary data and discussion of findings, conclusions, recommendations, references and appendices, and the rubric also lists a title page, table of contents and list of figures.
What does the analysis criterion reward?
Worth 50 points, its top band describes sophisticated, clearly analysed authoritative information about the industry, effective and thorough knowledge of different forms of data, critical and insightful analysis, original thinking and comprehensive engagement with academic and other sources.
What must the report reflection cover?
The reflection page asks for an account of changes since the viva, such as revised objectives or questions, theoretical perspective, use of secondary data, how you analyse findings and the scope of your recommendations, with the reasons for each change. It is required to complete the task.
Do appendices count toward the word limit?
No. The brief excludes references and the reference list, the overview excludes appendices and the reference list, and the guidelines state that both are outside the word count. Appendices must still be titled, numbered and listed in the table of contents.
Assessment move
Build a findings table before drafting: each theme, the sources behind it and what it shows. Derive each recommendation from a row of that table. Write the executive summary last, and check every required component on the rubric's list before submitting. Allow time to build at least one original chart or table from cited figures, since the presentation criterion lists original visual displays among the required components.
Count your references against the 30 to 40 in the guidelines, and check the final word count against the limit you confirmed on Canvas before submitting.
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