10 Things to Consider when Writing a Report
10 Things to Consider when Writing a Report
Report writing is an art and a very important part of assignments and other projects. Many students write their reports, but they don't know the format of the report and why they fail in a course or project. Many sources provide report writing services or help to understand how to write a report.
It is a major aim: the reason you're writing the report in the first place. Because it determines the kind of report you write, it's a critical (and often neglected) first step. Give it a think. Are you writing a factual, instructional or leading report? Remember: Factual reports aim to inform. Instructional reports aim to explain. Leading reports aim to persuade. Once your major aim has been defined this way, your subsidiary aims will fall into place - you inform to explain and inform and explain to persuade. This starting point gives you vital focus on planning the rest of your report.
The angle is the perspective from which you'll be writing your report. It's what makes your report unique and can be thought of as the "voice" of the writer.
When finding your angle, consider:
Who is your target audience?
After reading your report, what do you want your readers to do or think?
What are your qualifications in this area?
After answering these questions, you should have a good idea of the tone and approach you'll be taking in your report.
Once you know what you're writing about and how you plan to write it, it's time to gather your resources. Here are some points to consider:
Go through your resources and choose a structure that best fits them - you might want to remember that most reports follow this basic pattern: introduction, topic development, conclusion.
Make sure you're aware of any necessary sections or chapters in the body of your report (such as a literature review or methodology) and plan to include them at the appropriate points.
The introduction is your chance to set the scene for your report and grab your readers' attention. It should introduce your topic, provide some background information, and explain why the report is important. Be sure to stay on track and don't go off on tangents - your introduction should be concise and to the point.
Now's the time to dive into the details of your topic. It is where you'll present your findings and arguments, so it's important to make sure everything is clear and well-organized. Remember to use the active voice and present your thoughts logically, giving each point the deserved attention.
The conclusion is where you say goodbye! It should sum up what has been said in the body of the report, highlight any important points or questions raised by readers, and offer a take-away message for them to think over. Readers will look to the conclusion for a final statement of your position, so make it count!
Proofreading is an essential part of report writing that many people tend to neglect. As long as you have thoroughly checked over the rest of your report - its structure, spelling, grammar, layout etc., you can take a break from it without too much worry. When you do come back to proofread, be sure to double-check:
The number of words in your report.
If the text is consistent throughout in terms of style and tone, then remove it.
Once you have finished writing your report, it needs to be formatted accordingly. It may seem like a daunting task, but many online resources can help, such as templates for different types of reports.
Once your report is formatted and proofread, it's ready for presentation! Make sure you have all the compulsory materials (such as slides, handouts, or images) and feel free to take advantage of visual elements like graphs, tables, diagrams etc.