Final answer:
When planning a formal report, it is important to consider purpose, content, audience, style, and formality, which are essential parts of the rhetorical situation you face in report writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
When planning a formal report, it is important to consider purpose, content, audience, style, and formality. These aspects are central to addressing the rhetorical situation one encounters while writing. The purpose defines the reason for the report, while the content includes the information and evidence presented. Understanding the audience is crucial for determining how to effectively communicate your findings, considering their background knowledge, social, cultural, or linguistic factors that could affect the narrative. The style or voice should maintain objectivity and trustworthiness, adopting a neutral tone free from bias, and be appropriate to the context and expectations of the community. Finally, formality relates to the tone and structure suitable for the report, adhering to genre conventions and providing reliable citations where necessary.