REPORTS

REPORTS

A report is a very formal document that is written for a variety of purposes in the sciences, social sciences, engineering and business disciplines. Generally, findings pertaining to a given or specific task are written up into a report. It should be noted that reports are considered to be legal documents in the workplace and, thus, they need to be precise, accurate and difficult to misinterpret.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORTS

Physical Description Report:Physical description reports describe the physical characteristics of a machine, a device, or some other type of object. They also explain the relationship of one part of the object to other parts so that the reader can visualize the object as a unit. Physical description reports are many times combined with process, analysis, or investigation reports.

Process Report:Process reports explain how products are produced, tests are completed, or devices operate by describing the details of procedures used to perform a series of operations. Process reports may be general or detailed. General process reports are addressed to persons not directly involved in performing the process. Detailed process reports are designed to give the readers all the necessary information needed to complete the process.

Analytical Report:Analytical reports critically examine one or more items, activities, or options. They are structured around an analysis of component parts or other common basis for comparison between options. This type of report usually results in conclusions and recommendations.

Examination Report:Examination reports are used to report or record data obtained from an examination of an item or conditions. Examination reports differ from one another in subject matter and length. Some are similar to analytical reports but are less complicated because the information is obtained from personal observations. Examination reports are logically organized records investigating topics such as accidents or disasters. They are usually prepared for people knowledgeable about the subject and not for the general reader.

Laboratory Report:Laboratory reports record and communicate the procedures and results of laboratory activities. Equipment, procedures, findings, and conclusions are clearly presented at a level appropriate for readers with some expertise in the subject. They are sometimes presented in laboratory notebooks using neatly handwritten text and charts.

Literature Review:Literature reviews are logically organized summaries of the literature on a given subject. It is important that they are correctly documented and accurately represent the scope and balance of the available literature. Conclusions drawn reflect the collection as a whole and should appropriately reflect various points of view. Overuse of direct quotations should be avoided.

INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW

Interview suggests a meeting between two persons for the purpose knowing each other

As a part of the interview board of a recruitment firm, I consider the following skills as needed by the interviewer and the interviewee.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR AN INTERVIEWER

Use brief verbal responses that will keep the applicant talking - prod with questions such as “Tell me more” “That’s interesting”, etc.

Give your entire attention to the interviewee and respond with encouraging facial expressions and nods of the head.

Respect the feelings of the applicant even if consider the person wrong.

Let the applicant complete his sentence. Don’t interfere in between.

Never argue even if you think the applicant is wrong.Make the candidate feel comfortable and relaxed.

Tell him when and how he will know the outcome of the interview.Conclude the interview politely and properly.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR AN INTERVIEWEE

Be punctual.

Dress appropriately for the interview. Your general appearance should be neat.

Show your confidence in your handshake.

Ask questions in turn to show that you are interested.· Don’t be nervous.

Don’t interrupt the interviewer. Speak only when you are asked to.

Express your enthusiasm for the job.

Don’t be discourteous or rude.

Don’t show any irritating display of knowledge.

Be frank and don’t exaggerate.

Seek information about the job.

When you leave, do so politely.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Communication is the process of transfer of information from a sender to a receiver who understands the message from the sender.

Written communication includes letters, circulars, memos, telegrams, reports, minutes, forms and questionnaires, manuals, etc. Everything that has to be written and transmitted in the written form falls in the area of written communication

IMPACT OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION IN TODAY’S CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT

It is accurate and precise
It can be repeatedly referred
It is a permanent record
It is a legal document
It has a wide access

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

*Communication with words:

Spoken words and written material are called verbal communication because they use language as the means for communication.

Most of the communication in our life is oral communication. This is because we learn to speak first and then to write. The disadvantage of oral communication is that it does not always save time. It is not possible for Prime Minister to speak to the people to Red Fort every day. It will cost a lot in terms of money, time and other important resources. People have to meet each other all the time to communicate orally.

Written communication provides records for future reference. This is a major advantage. A single message can be sent through mailing to many people. The disadvantages of written communication are that since paper is extremely used for written communication there could be problems of storage and maintenance of records.

*Communication without words:

Non-verbal communication generally takes place as a supportive form of communication to verbal communication. This is its advantage. This type of communication is used in support of verbal communication, but if the words of the speaker and his actions for the message do not match, it will be confusion for the listeners

Shaking our head to indicate refusal, nodding our head to show agreement, waving our hands to say good bye and even staring at someone to express anger or displeasure are all called body language.Non-verbal communication consists of tone and body language, which is made up of gestures, eye contact and facial expressions. Even the personality of a person can influence communication.

* Formal Communication:

Communications which are routed through what have been known as ‘official channels,’ for example, a written memorandum from a managing director to his / her departmental heads to call a meeting.

* Informal Communication:

Information is passed on by word of mouth among interested colleagues who have received it from various sources e.g. visits.

NEWS REVIEW - THE HINDU -SEP 24,2007

Ramar Sethu issue: “No geological evidence”

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: There is absolutely no geological evidence to indicate that the submerged formation between Rameswaram and Mannar is a man-made structure, according to K. Anbarasu, Research Scholar, Post Graduate and Research Department of Geology, National College, Tiruchi.

The underwater features generally called shoals observed between Rameswaram and Mannar are nothing but continuation of depositional formations akin to the 21 small islands found parallel to the coast formed by the deposition of sands due to low energy wave movement. The deposition has also been facilitated by the alongshore drift of sediments by littoral or long shore currents, explained Dr. Anbarasu, who has compiled a report on the coastline of Tamil Nadu as part of a project funded by the Department of Ocean Development, Government of India.

Atlas

He has also brought out the Atlas of Coastal Gemorophology of India. Deposition is a common feature observed in several coasts of the earth wherever the low wave energy environment is found, and there is nothing unusual in the occurrence of shoals in a narrow water region like Palk Strait, where currents get deflected forming low wave energy environment and with a source – usually rivers. Vaigai and Tambrabarani rivers supply sediments to the longshore currents for onward drift.
The northern part of Rameswaram island is made up of dead and live corals overlain by recent sediments, whereas the southern part is like a spit extending towards Mannar for about fifteen kilometres. It is this extension, a naturally formed shoal, that is observed underwater in the Palk Strait, and has nothing to do with ‘Ramar Bridge’.

But for the remnants of Dhanuskodi that was washed away by a heavy storm in 1963, there is no evidence for the ‘Ramar Bridge’. Had the ‘Ramar Bridge’ existed in the region, it should have been the extension of the Dhanuskodi spit and the remnants of it should have been observed. On the other side of Palk Strait in Sri Lanka also, no evidence of ‘Ramar Bridge’ has been noted.

The details of marine processes and sedimentation can be explained only by geologists and not by archaeologists, though at times the latter conduct underwater survey for studying submerged remnants of ancient structures. Going by records, no underwater archaeological survey has been conducted along the coast of Rameswaram, Dr. Anbarasu said.

TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH

SORRY

TOO MANY COMMENTS SPOIL THE LIFE OF COMMENTATOR

SO SHUT DOWN THE MOUTH

NEWS REVIEW - THE HINDU - SEP 23,2007

Agriculture students turn farmers

Amutha Kannan

TNAU students get hands-on training during the second year of study


COIMBATORE: This is the age where students get hands-on training before stepping out of the portals of a college. They are sent to an industry that is related to the course they are pursuing during the fourth or fifth semester in order to be industry-ready when they step out as graduates.
On the same lines, B. Sc. Agriculture students of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University get hands-on training during the second year of study. They do not go to any industry; but they become farmers in the true sense of the word. A batch is given a wetland of roughly 1.68 acres in the farm of TNAU to cultivate rice as part of a programme called‘Earn While You Learn’.

The four-month-long programme goes on simultaneosly with theory classes. The students do land preparation, irrigation, fertilizer spraying, weeding, harvesting, thrashing and weighing of the marketable produce. Each student gets two cents of the land to work on. The inputs and implements are provided to them. And, there is no help or assistance of any kind. The labour and costs are all theirs.

After the harvest when the marketable produce is obtained, it is sold at Rs. 6 per kg. After the sale, the profit is worked out deducting the production costs and each student is paid the profit amount that usually varies between Rs. 150 to 350, as an incentive. This year’s group consists of 52 girls and 32 boys.

This year’s land preparation and transplanting began in August with Vice-Chancellor C. Ramasamy planting alongside the students. “The students are in the mid-stages of paddy growing. The harvest is expected to be done in December. They have followed the new rice cultivation system called ‘System of Rice Intensification’, for more yield. This system follows planting a single seedling that is 14 days old. The seedlings were raised in a nursery and transplanted,” says S. Natarajan, Director, Centre for Soil and Crop Management Studies of the TNAU.

Students also get to raise maize or sunflower as a garden land crop. Since the land is not suited for any dry land crop, this cultivation is not undertaken. The programme is designed in such a way as to develop skill and confidence in the agricultural students to become independent farm developers.

A ENGINEERING STUDENT TURNING INTO AN ENGINEER

A MEDICINE STUDENT TURNING INTO A DOCTOR

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS THOUGH SENSIBLE , IS NOT SENSATIONAL.

BUT

A AGRICULTURE STUDENT TURNING INTO A FARMER
IS BOTH SENSIBLE AND SENSATIONAL.

MAY BE PESSIMISTIC IN NATURE , THE DAY , WE REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY FOR AGRICULTURE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IS NOT FAR-OFF.

NEWS REVIEW - THE HINDU - SEP 22,2007

The sound of music

The country’s northeastern hills are in the grip of frenzied passion but guess what? The cause is neither political unrest nor separatist violence. It is difficult to imagine that the trigger for such hysterical ferment is a television programme.

As the finals of ‘Indian Idol’ readies to go on air tomorrow, consider how this singing talent programme — which ostensibly aims at unearthing the best undiscovered young crooner in this country — has rewritten the definition of idol worship.

Consider the attention and the adulation heaped on the two remaining finalists — Amit Paul from Shillong and Prashant Tamang from Darjeeling — one of whom will be crowned ‘Indian Idol.’ In Meghalaya, where Mr. Paul was recently anointed brand ambassador of the State for peace and communal harmony, the young singer is credited with doing the impossible — bridging the divide between the Khasi-Jaintia-Garo tribes and the non-tribal population.

Similarly, Mr. Tamang is said to have forged “an unprecedented unity” among Nepali-speaking folk in the swathe of hills that comprise Darjeeling and Sikkim. In a contest in which votes polled via SMS and phone calls will determine the winner, all stops are being pulled out by the two sides in mobilising support for the son of the soil.

In Sikkim, the Chief Minister has declared “all out” backing for Mr. Tamang; free PCOs have sprung up from nowhere; and Ministers are commandeering cell phones for voting via text messages.

Not to be outdone, the Meghalaya Chief Minister has instructed senior government officials to canvas support for Mr. Paul. In Darjeeling, the local administration has ordered all liquor shops to be closed over the weekend, fearing raucous parties if Mr. Tamang is crowned and severe alcohol-induced depression if he fails to make it. To set the record straight, the rumour that the Gorkha National Liberation Front and sundry Nepali outfits have been forcing people to vote for Mr. Tamang has been denied.

Recently, when the two young men returned to their native Shillong and Darjeeling, they were feted, felicitated, paraded, honoured, awarded, mobbed, and showered with all manner of adjectival praise. Of course, it is not only the hills that are alive with the sound of music. In other parts of India too, the programme, which is now in its third and most popular season, has got everyone — adolescent, youthful, middle-aged, and elderly — glued to their sets. This cannot but make one wonder. If only this power of television could be harnessed for the social good. If only people took a similar interest in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. If only our idols were more than singing or dancing sensations.

THOUGH QUITE SURPRISED BY THE POWER OF MUSIC , WHAT PAINED ME A LOT IS THE SURGE OF IDOLS ONLY IN ENTERTAINMENT ARENA .

NEWS REVIEW - THE HINDU - SEP 21,2007

The earth is a borderless entity: Sunita Williams

Manas Dasgupta



STATE GUEST: Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams arrives to a tumultuous welcome in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Ms. Williams, who set a record for the longest stay by a woman in space, is on a week-long visit to the country of her origin. She is being treated as a state guest.

AHMEDABAD: The Indian-origin American astronaut, Sunita Williams, arrived here on Thursday for a six-day visit to her native Gujarat, the first since she returned from her historic six-month sojourn at the International Space Station.

She was accorded a tumultuous reception by people who turned up in large numbers at the Ahmedabad airport. The heavy rush and the presence of mediapersons following her with heavy cameras forced the American security staff accompanying her to make on-the-spot changes in her programme.

As per her desire to begin her visit to the State by paying homage to the ‘Father of the Nation,’ she was taken to the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram after resting for a couple of hours at the hotel. She attended a prayer meeting where a host of Congress leaders, including the State party president, Bharat Solanki, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Arjun Modhvadia, occupied the dais.

A large number of schoolchildren, who were brought there for an active interaction with Ms. Williams, were disappointed as the police did not allow them near her. She, however, briefly addressed the gathering and told the children about her experiences in space and how the earth looked like from the window of the space station.

Ms. Williams told the gathering that “borders” between the nations were all “creations of the mind” of the people and from outer space, the earth was a single “borderless” entity. She said India looked the “most beautiful” from space.

IT REMAINED OF THE WORDS OF TAGORE -

Where the world has not been

broken up into fragments

by narrow domestic walls;