Writing a research report

The following is a general guide to writing a research report focused on GIS, spatial analysis, or modeling. See the general resources page for other guides for writing and research.
This presents some standard conventions for writing journal articles but highlights where you may want to make changes for a class report or thesis.
Journal article. The 'standard' format used by most journals is a bit restrictive because it reflects traditional publishing practices. Figures and tables, for example, are usually attached as separate pages at the end of your text instead of being embedded in the text itself because it is easier to photograph them for publishing and the text itself is easier to typeset.
Class report. Class reports are less restrictive in form and content than journal articles but they still share many characteristics. Conventions such as line double spacing and use of 12 point serif fonts like Times New Roman are designed to make it easier for your reader to review the paper and provide annotations where necessary. Take special notice of the "Top 10 Checklist" as these are items that are particularly important for class reports. Quick Links:
Report structure
General Considerations
Top 10 Checklist
References

Report Structure
The paper should be divided into sections that make the logical sequence of the argument clear. Common sections are described below. Treat these as what they are, suggestions. Some things, like the title, are fairly standard. Other things, such as the divisions between 'results' and 'discussion' are more fluid. If you are skipping a section, ask yourself why you feel it should not be in the report. The same advice stands for the suggested word limits - they are not hard and fast rules.
Page One: Title page with identifying information
Title
Author
Affiliation
Contact information