File Not Found

Getting Started

As a student report writing can seem quite difficult – but the fact is, you’ll probably have to write them at some point during your studies and working career. Report writing is an essential skill in some jobs. Hopefully, the following notes will help make report writing easier for you!

The Target Audience:

Always ask yourself the following:

· Who needs the report?
· What do they need to know?
· How will the report be used?
· Are there time deadlines you and your audience need to know about?

Analyse the Task:

This is very important. If you haven’t got a clear picture in your mind of what you want to do, then planning the report will be very difficult. Always ask yourself the following:

· Do you understand the type of report needed?
· Do you know how big your report needs to be?
· Do you know what is required in the report, eg. what is the problem, what is the aim of the report, what are the key points, what information needs to be collected?
· What date is the report due? Give yourself plenty of time to collate information.

Now that you have established the basics, decide how and where you will find the relevant information.

Report Layout

The major components of a general report are:

Title Page

Abstract/Summary
In less than 200 words... What was the problem, how was it investigated, what did you find out and what do your findings mean?

Table of Contents
A list of the major sections in your report.

Introduction
Set the scene and give some background information about the topic. State the aim/purpose of the investigation and outline the body sections

Main Body
Organise the sections in a logical sequence: what you investigated, what you found, what interpretations and judgements you made. Use short informative headings and sub-headings.

Conclusion
What has been achieved and what is the significance of your findings? Have your aims been successful or not?

Recommendations
What do you recommend as a course of action following your conclusion?

Appendices
Any information, such as graphs, charts, tables, etc. that you used in your report but did not include in the body.

Bibliography
Not always necessary but can be useful.

Writing The Report

List the main headings/sections you are going to write. Write rough notes or main points under each heading. Underline the most important and cross through those that are irrelevant. Put question marks against those that you are not sure about.

Now write up your notes as a draft paper using the headings in logical sequence. Don’t worry too much at this stage about grammar and spelling.

Read through what you have written and decide whether or not to include points you were unsure about earlier.

Now tackle the English, the spelling, the punctuation and the grammar.

Leave your report aside for a while before you finalise it. When you go back to it you may notice points that you want to change. Clarify points, modify them and check for typing errors.

Review your layout and check the sequences and content.

Before you hand in your final draft read it through again and ask yourself if your report really covers everything that was asked for.

Feedback and Learning

When your tutor returns your work to you, read the comments and discuss them with him/her if you need clarification. Remind yourself of these comments before you start on your next piece of work