Writing Reports
By the end of this section you should be able to :

O

BJECTIVES

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Understand the purposes of a report Plan a report Understand the structure of a report Collect information for your report Organise your information Use an appropriate style of writing Present data effectively Understand how to lay out your information in an appropriate way

C

ONTENTS

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Writing reports Different types of reports Stages in report writing Terms of reference Planning your report Collecting information Organising information Structuring your report Style of writing Layout Presentation Redrafting and checking Checklist

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riting reports
A report is a statement of the results of an investigation or of any matter on which definite information is required. (Oxford English Dictionary) Reports are a highly structured form of writing often following conventions that have been laid down to produce a common format. Structure and convention in written reports stress the process by which the information was gathered as much as the information itself.

Different types of reports
During your time at university you may be asked to write different types of reports, depending upon the subject area which you have chosen. These could include laboratory reports, technical reports, reports of a work placement or industrial visit, reports of a field trip or field work. Reports vary in their purpose, but all of them will require a formal structure and careful planning, presenting the material in a logical manner using clear and concise language. The following section explores each stage in the development of your report, making recommendations for structure and technique.

Stages in report writing
The following stages are involved in writing a report:

• • • • • • Writing Reports 2

clarifying your terms of reference