Reporting Results to a Skeptical Audience

Abstract

In response to recent budget and program cuts, assessment reports may more than ever determine the viability of government-funded programs. Generated by agencies to justify further funding, assessment reports develop, measure, and detail the knowledge that workshop participants receive. Writing these reports can be difficult, especially if the audience does not see value in continuing the program. This article emphasizes the importance of persuasive strategies in report writing by analyzing a case study of a public administrator's struggle to write a persuasive assessment report for a soft-skills training seminar. The article finds that classical rhetorical strategies (ethos, logos, and pathos) can be successfully incorporated into assessment reports; however, writers may encounter difficulty when introducing pathos. The article concludes by providing public administrators with a set of guidelines for persuading a skeptical audience.