Locate two annual reports either in paper or electronic form. Use the following questions to analyze both reports:

■ Who is (are) the audience(s)?

■ What is (are) the purpose(s) of the report?

■ How is the report organized and what does the order of information reflect about the company?

■ How does the report validate/support the claims it makes? What type of evidence is used more often—

textual or visual? What kinds of claims are used—

logical, emotional, or ethical?

■ How does the text establish credibility for the report?

■ What can you tell about the company’s financial situation from the report?

■ What role do visuals play in the report? What image do they portray for the company? How do the visuals help establish credibility for the report?
What do they imply about power distribution in the company?
■ Does the report deal with any ethical issues?
As your instructor directs,

a. Write an e-mail to your instructor comparing and contrasting the two reports according to your analysis answers. Explain which report you find more effective and why.

b. Share your results orally with a small group of students.

c. Present your results to the class