Teachers and professors often provide students with various tasks and assignments to accomplish as a way of testing their intellectual and logical capacities. Other than writing an essay, reports serve as a great way for students to expand their knowledge on a specific topic for a better learning experience. With English reports being a common course requirement for students to prepare during their secondary and tertiary years in an institution, learning about the basics of report writing is essential.
A report is a specific form of writing used to communicate information regarding issues, events, or findings that have been examined through proper research and analysis. Though this typically covers a wide range of topics, reports are made to transmit information clearly to a specific audience. Report writing is aimed to communicate with readers simply and objectively about various issues. You may also see free writing examples.
Say for example, the purpose of your English report is to discuss the different poetic elements that have shaped the course of literature in the past centuries. Here, the report would require a thorough study on the history of poetic literature and how it has gradually changed over the years. This will help the researcher, who may be a student, understand why things are the way they are today.
Other categories of a report may cover technical and business topics, field reports, and scientific reports. The first category includes disciplines that focus on engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, and information technology, where reports come in the form of a case study or problem. Field reports, on the other hand, require extensive analysis on phenomena or events in the real world that center on particular theories studied in the given field. Scientific reports, also referred to as laboratory reports, include methods, results, and conclusions that are essential to the investigation of a study. You may also like essay writing examples & samples.
When writing a report, its always important to structure the document in such a way that promotes clarity in communication. The scope and style of the report would also depend on its intended audience, its purpose, as well as the type of information being delivered.
Before you begin creating your document, it’s important to take note of the standard structure that must be followed when making a report. While the structure may slightly vary depending on the type of report created, the general report writing format consists of the following chapters:
The only thing difficult about preparing the title page is creating the title itself. A good title must be compelling and sufficiently informative to capture the attention of readers. Most titles define the main subject, along with the concepts or theories covered in the report. Apart from that, the title page also consists of other blocks of information such as the submission date, the names and positions of the authors, and the principal reader (or the organization) responsible for preparing the document. You may also see writing templates & examples.
Adding a table of contents would depend on the length of the said report. It wouldn’t be practical to create a table of contents for a five-page document, but if the report goes beyond ten pages, then it might be necessary to guide readers. It would also be best to create the table of contents once the report has already been finalized.
An executive summary, otherwise known as the abstract, is a brief technical summary of a report that is designed to provide a quick overview of the study for readers to grasp. It must present key concepts that have been presented in the report’s content, along with the findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This should give readers a glimpse of what has been covered in the report, specifically for those who do not have the time to read the whole thing. And since it’s supposed to be a summary, then a one-page chapter would do.
Also referred to as the background of the study, the introduction briefly describes the problem or issue being reported on. It defines the purpose of the said report, along with the specific objectives that must be met. The scope and limitations of the study, which may include the hypothesis made by the researchers, should also be stated clearly to give readers an idea of what to expect. You may also like writing examples in doc.
This part of the report is crucial for two primary reasons: it explains the conclusion and it justifies the recommendation. When it comes to writing the discussion, remember to present the study in a logical and systematic manner. You can also divide the material into separate sections using headings and subheadings that define a particular part. This will help improve one’s understanding of what is being conveyed. Using evidence to prove your claims and explain your findings is also a must. You need to persuade readers into believing that your stance is fully valid and reliable.
Drawing detailed conclusions based on your results is critical to the report. Most people simply scan through a report to focus solely on the executive summary and the conclusion. With that being said, it’s important to arrange data in such a way that major conclusions are pointed out first. Identify significant issues related to the case and provide your interpretation for each. There must be a logical pattern of facts stated clearly and concisely to make it easier for readers to comprehend. You may also check out book writing examples & samples.
Because your report is likely to have a series of limitations, this should be directed in the report’s recommendations. This chapter will serve as a guide for future researchers to refer to regarding areas of the subject that require improvement or still need to be addressed. It must be feasible, action-oriented, and relevant to the discussion and conclusion of the report. Be sure to arrange these details in order of importance to make it easier to follow.
Always compile your sources in an APA format, or what has been advised by your instructor. Since report writing typically involves data collection from a number of references, it’s only right for you to give credit where it is due. Some readers might want to know just how credible your sources are as well. And for legal purposes, published documents must include a reference list. You might be interested in memo writing examples & samples.
Any additional documents or illustrations, such as survey questionnaires, fill-up forms, graphs, and tables, that take up too much space in the body of the document may be inserted in the appendices. These materials usually support your research, but don’t connect directly with the main discussion.
Report writing is a long, daunting process for many individuals. It demands a lot of time and effort for researchers to complete before the proposed due date.
Fortunately, this can be an enjoyable learning experience when done correctly. Here is a step-by-step process to guide you in your report writing journey.
It’s impossible to write a good report about something you’re not interested in, or completely clueless about.
But before you pick out a topic to discuss, start by understanding the assignment given. What is asked from you? What information do you need to relay? Your topic must be specific and original for it to work. A relatable topic is easier to write about because chances are, you may already possess basic knowledge on the subject which could serve as a foundation for your report. This way, you wouldn’t be wasting too much time at the library browsing through books and journals that focus on a given topic. You may also see formal writing examples & samples.
Additionally, try to keep it as specific as possible. Broad subject matters are more difficult to approach because there are a lot more grounds that need to be covered, which is why you need to be particular with what you hope to address.
One of the most important steps in report writing is the research process. This is where trips to the library is much needed. Most report writing guidelines indicate a specific number of sources needed to finish the paper, and following these instructions is essential in completing a course.
The library’s database is usually filled with a vast variety of sources for you to check out. You may even look for reputable online sources for quick and easy data gathering. It’s also best to stick with information from published documents that are uploaded on reliable platforms such as government agency websites and scholarly journals. You might want to avoid forums and chat rooms as well, as these sources do not possess a credible backing. You may also like script writing examples & samples.
No report would ever be complete without a proper thesis statement. This simply summarizes what you want to prove to your target readers in a brief and general statement.
Another helpful tip to take note of is to create an outline of your report. This will make it easier for you to gather thoughts and put into writing by visualizing how your report would look like. After writing your thesis statement, list down at least three main ideas that support it. With the help of a subtopic, you can then get into descriptive details for your report. You may also check out tips for writing an effective essay.
Once you have successfully created a draft for your report, you can move on to the formal writing process. Here, the topic must be introduced, discussed, and analyzed in a comprehensive manner. This also where the aforementioned report writing format comes to play.
Before submitting the report, be sure to review it for any spelling and grammar mistakes. Check whether the information specified in the document make complete sense, and are relevant to the overall purpose of the report. For better results, you can read the report from an outsider’s perspective to see if it communicates clearly. You can also get someone else to take a look at the report for further evaluation.
Whether you’re writing an English report, a school report, or a simple narrative report, it’s important to keep these writing tips in mind. Though report writing can be a meticulous task for most individuals, with the right attitude and guidance, you’re sure to create the perfect report in no time.
