Audit Report Writing Boot Camp: Detailed Course Outline

The Audit Report Writing Boot Camp is a two-day program, providing 16 CPE hours of Communication and Marketing credit. A detailed outline of the course follows. Both days contain ample practice opportunities. 

Lesson 1
Section 1.1: Organizing Writing

1. Overview of Audit Report Writing Boot Camp
   1. Introduction of students and trainer
   2. Overall objectives
   3. Writing challenges and considerations
   4. Knowing your audience
   5. BREAKOUT: AUDIENCE ANALYSIS
2. Issue Prewriting
   1. When to begin writing and how
   2. Methods for consistent client communication
   3. What an audit issue describes
   4. 5-step writing formula and the AIR: key elements in any issue
   5. BREAKOUT: COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS

 
Section 1.2: Issue Writing

1. Supporting the issue
   1. Key differences between causes, conclusions, and evidence
   2. The sweet spot of supportive detail: not too much and not too little
2. Assessing the root cause
   1. Steps to effective root cause analysis (RCA)
   2. Differences between issues, symptoms, and root causes
   3. Strategies in RCA
   4. When and how to engage the client in RCA
   5. How to write root causes: positive vs. negative wording
   6. PRACTICE ROOT CAUSE WRITING
3. Writing strong business risks
   1. Purpose of a business risk
   2. Keeping common risks convincing (LIVe)
   3. Using action verbs to create change
   4. How to write risk
   5. PRACTICE WRITING THE RISK
4. Developing effective issue statements: a formula
   1. Title of an audit
   2. What an issue statement describes
   3. The 5-Sentence Burst
   4. How to write the issue statement
   5. PRACTICE WRITING THE ISSUE
5. Developing effective recommendations
   1. Using the SMART formula 
   2. Recommendations that get noticed 
   3. How to write a recommendation
   4. PRACTICE WRITING STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS

Section 1.3: Perfecting Writing (“Common Grammar and Punctuation Pitfalls”)

1. Cleaning out the junk and getting to the issue
   1. Paragraphing and Formatting 
   2. Bullet lists, headings, fonts
   3. Passive Voice
   4. Wordiness
   5. Ambiguity
   6. Negative Wording
   7. Non-parallel Structure
   8. Punctuation
2. BREAKOUT: In-house editing with your company's reports and issues

Section 1.4: Summary and Audit Report Writing Toolbox 

Lesson 2
Section 2.1: Writing Effective Emails

1. Timing your communication
2. Title
3. Body
4. Closing
5. Final email writing tips and exercise

 
Section 2.2: Improving Tone in Writing

1. The Chicken Little Dilemma
2. Connotations of Words
3. Placement of Negation
4. Sequence of Negation
5. Relative Information
6. How to Change Tone
7. BREAKOUT: SUBTLE WRITING IMPROVEMENTS WITH TONE

 
Section 2.3: Incorporating Design Elements

1. Instructional Design
2. Graphics & Fonts
3. Layering
4. Using Sidelines and Flow
5. Executive Summary Redesign Challenge

 
Section 2.4: Advanced Editing

1. Pronouns
2. Synonyms
3. Transitions
4. Ending Sentences
5. PRACTICE ADVANCED EDITING TECHNIQUES

Section 2.5: Ratiocination and Report Editing Breakout
 
Section 2.5: Audit Writing Toolbox & Summary

1. Managing the Release Process
2. Final Toolbox