Senarai Rujukan

WRITING THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Executive definition could be applied to an

summaries are executive summary with one major
much like other difference. An abstract is basically
summaries in that their main goal a miniature version of the
is to provide a condensed version original...it looks like the original.
of a longer report's content. The An executive summary goes
key difference, however, is that beyond this: it seeks to let the
executive summaries are written reader in on what the real
for someone who most likely DOES significance of the report is--what
NOT have time to read the is the reader expected to respond
original. The dramatic increase in to? The reader is a decision maker
the sheer amount of information who will have the responsibility of
available on most topics has deciding on some issue(s) related
spawned a corresponding growth to the report. The executive
in the size and number of reports. summary must be written with this
Unfortunately, there has not been need in mind.
a similar expansion in the amount
of time available to executives or The executive summary is usually
policy makers to read these no longer than 10% of the original
increasingly lengthy reports. The document. It can be anywhere
solution to this problem is the from 1-10 pages long, depending
executive summary. on the report's length. They are a
self-contained, stand-alone
An executive summary may be document. Although this may not
called an abstract when it always be the case - for this
accompanies a scholarly assignment executive summaries
document, although there are make recommendations. Accuracy
differences. The definition of an is essential because decisions will
abstract is helpful: An abstract is a be made based on your summary
shortened form of a work that by people who have not read the
retains the general sense and unity original.
of the original. Generally, this
Functions of an Executive Summary
 Gives readers the essential contents of your document in 1-2 pages.

 Previews the main points of your document enabling readers to build
a mental framework for organizing and understanding the detailed
information in your document.
 Helps readers determine the key results and recommendations
reported in your document.
Processes for Writing an Executive Summary
Executive summaries are typically written for longer reports. They should
not be written until after your research is finished. Before writing your
summary, try to:
 Scan your research to determine what the content, structure and

length of the report would be.
 Highlight key points; determine purpose/central theme of the report.
 Review your research and determine what the key ideas or concepts
are.
 Group ideas in a logical fashion and prepare a point form outline of
the summary.
 Edit the outline to eliminate secondary or minor points; use your
judgment to keeping the summary concise.
 Determine whether subtitles, bullets, selective bolding or some other
type of organizational structure will add to the clarity of your
summary.
 Write the summary in your own words, using a professional style.
 Read it aloud or even tape record yourself reading your summary.
Elements of an Executive Summary
Following is a list of elements that may be included in an Executive

Summary. The elements that you include in your Executive Summary and
the amount of space that you give to each element will depend on the
purpose and nature of your document. Therefore, you should choose the
elements that make sense for your document and omit the ones that don't.
1. Purpose and scope of document

2. Methods
3. Results
4. Conclusion
5. Recommendations
6. Other supportive information
Questions to Ask Yourself as You Write
1. What is your research about?

2. Why is it important?
3. What is included in the research?
4. What is included in each section?
Concise Statement of your Findings
As a cover sheet to a document, an executive summary need not go into

ANY mention of how you conducted your analysis and/or what you're basing
your conclusion(s) on. Instead, begin with a concise statement of the
conclusion(s) you reached after conducting your analysis and/or research in
the paper that would normally be attached. How you word the conclusion
will differ depending on your audience and what they care most about. The
wording must change given an audience's needs.
Writing Recommendations
After beginning with a summary statement of your findings, the executive

summary should go on to provide a specific recommendation for action
geared toward your audience. Finally, an executive summary provides an
analysis and/or justification for the proposed action in terms the audience
will consider important. In many cases, this might involve an economic or
ethical, but actions can be justified many ways, depending on the concerns
of the audience and the topic of the research.
Include justification for the recommendation by referring to information

summarized. A recommendations justification is usually based on a
reference to material already provided in the summary. In other cases, the
justification for the recommendation might be complicated enough to justify
a summary of causes for the justification. In this case, the recommendation
paragraph usually begins with a summary of how the writer reached the
conclusion that leads to the justification.
For Writing Policy Recommendations
Key Elements of an Economic Policy Statement
 A call to action (the policy)

 A justification for the policy
 Those to whom the policy should apply
 Those responsible for implementing the policy
 How the policy should be implemented and
evaluated
 Include guiding principles if necessary
OTHER ONLINE WRITING RESOURCES
Examples of Executive Summaries:
http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info-
2003/execsum.htm
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/exe
cutivesummary.htm
http://www.latinoleadership.org/research/reports/latinocatholics.htm
l
Writing Annotated Bibliographies (U Wisconsin-Madison)
How to write an annotated bibliography--an organized list of

sources, each of which is followed by a brief note or "annotation."
General Writing Help and OWLs ó On Line Writing Labs
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/index.html
http://webware.princeton.edu/Writing/wc4.htm
http://writing.colostate.edu/references/processes/group/pop5e.htm

Senarai Rujukan

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Senarai Rujukan

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Senarai Rujukan

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

WRITING THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive definition could be applied to an

Functions of an Executive Summary

 Gives readers the essential contents of your document in 1-2 pages.

Processes for Writing an Executive Summary

 Scan your research to determine what the content, structure and

Elements of an Executive Summary

Following is a list of elements that may be included in an Executive

1. Purpose and scope of document

Questions to Ask Yourself as You Write

1. What is your research about?

Concise Statement of your Findings

As a cover sheet to a document, an executive summary need not go into

After beginning with a summary statement of your findings, the executive

Include justification for the recommendation by referring to information

For Writing Policy Recommendations

Key Elements of an Economic Policy Statement

 A call to action (the policy)

Examples of Executive Summaries:

Writing Annotated Bibliographies (U Wisconsin-Madison)

How to write an annotated bibliography--an organized list of

General Writing Help and OWLs ó On Line Writing Labs

You might also like