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Report Writing: Student Academic Support

This document provides guidance on writing reports for students. It explains that reports present information in a clear, professional manner that can be quickly reviewed. The document compares reports to essays, noting they have a similar formal structure but reports typically include more graphics, bullet points, and numbered headings. It outlines the standard structure for a report, including sections like the introduction, main body, conclusion, and recommendations. Finally, it offers tips on writing style, referencing, and includes useful links for additional report writing resources.

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mfaisalnadeem
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
442 views

Report Writing: Student Academic Support

This document provides guidance on writing reports for students. It explains that reports present information in a clear, professional manner that can be quickly reviewed. The document compares reports to essays, noting they have a similar formal structure but reports typically include more graphics, bullet points, and numbered headings. It outlines the standard structure for a report, including sections like the introduction, main body, conclusion, and recommendations. Finally, it offers tips on writing style, referencing, and includes useful links for additional report writing resources.

Uploaded by

mfaisalnadeem
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Report Writing

Student Academic
Support
What are reports?
• A clear way of presenting
information.
• Can be quickly reviewed to get
certain data.
• Looks professional.
• Writing them is a essential
transferable skill.
Essays Vs. Reports:
common features.

• Formal Style.
• Both have an introduction, a main
body and a conclusion.
• Critical analytical thinking.
• Well structured and presented.
Essays Vs. Reports:
differences.
Essay Report
Presents an argument. Presents information.
Generally no abstract. Usually has abstract.
Rarely needs Usually has both.
recommendations or
appendices.
Rarely includes graphics. Includes graphics.
Linked paragraphs Uses bullet points & lists.
develop a flow of ideas.
Minimal sub-headings, if Numbered headings and
any. sub-headings.
Always needs references May not always need
& a bibliography. these.
Meant to be read Meant to be scanned
carefully. quickly.
Report Structure.
(* sections required for your
coursework.)
• Title page.*
• summary/ abstract.
• contents list.
• Introduction.*
• main body (NB this is not a
heading for this section).*
• Conclusions.*
• Recommendations.*
• Appendices.
• Bibliography.
Introduction
• This should set the scene for the
reader.

• Give an explanation of why


your report was written.

• State the aims and objectives of


your report.
Introduction
• Give an outline of similar work
which has been done in the past.

• Give an indication of the content covered in


the report and the structure it will take.

• Give an outline of the methodology used.

• Give an indication of the limitations of the


report.
Main Body
• Should be divided into subsections
to indicate the various stages in
the investigation e.g.
methodology, results etc.
• This section should provide details
of key findings.
• It should not include opinions,
conclusions or recommendations.
Conclusion
• This should link the aims and objectives
of your report to your findings.
• The main points of your report should
be pulled together.
• Present an overview of your findings
• Give an indication of the consequences
of your findings.
• NB No new data should be included in
your conclusion.
Recommendations
• Should follow on logically from
your conclusion.

• Should be specific, measurable


and achievable.

• Should propose how the problem can


be improved by suggesting action
that could be taken.
Appendices
• Should include all
supplementary information

• i.e. information which is not


needed in the main body for the
majority of reader to understand
your report and be convinced by
your reasoning.
Writing Style for Essays and
Reports
• Say what you have to say clearly and concisely.

• Write so your work is easy to read


for the intelligent laymen.

• Write using ‘reported style’ i.e. avoid


using the first person i.e. ‘I’ or ‘we’

• It is more appropriate to use more formal


phrases e.g. ‘It would seem’ ; ‘It can be argued
that’ or ‘This can be criticised because’
Writing Style for Essays and
Reports

• Avoid clichés and jargon unless it is the


specialised language of your course.

• Clichés are words and phrases that are no


longer effective because of over use
e.g.‘raining cats and dogs’ or ‘sick as a
parrot’.
• Try to ensure you use original phrases
Writing Style for Essays and
Reports
• Jargon is when complex language is used to put
across simple ideas.

• Using jargon is not a sign of sophistication-


it makes your writing difficult to follow.

• RULE - KEEP YOUR LANGUAGE SIMPLE

• However, you may have to use the specialised


language of your course.

• Ensure that you explain all key terms in your own


words.
Referencing
• Use the Harvard system of
referencing unless you are told
otherwise by your tutor.

• You should reference only sources you have


actually read yourself.

• 2 types of sources
– Those you actually quote from or specifically
mention in your text.
– Sources you do not specifically mention
(background reading ).
Referencing
• References need to be cited at two places in
your assignment.

– Cited in the text of your work at the point at


which you refer to them

– All references must be listed, on a


separate page, alphabetically by author in
a bibliography at the end of your work.
Useful Links
• http://
www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/repo
• http://
www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/report.html
• http://
www.plainenglish.co.uk/reportguide.html
• http://
owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext
/
• http://vlib.abertay.ac.uk/Contents.cfm?Key=0

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