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    Report Writing

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    Report ... how to write one

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    Report Writing

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    Report ... how to write one

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    Report ... how to write one

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    243 views3 pages

    Report Writing

    Uploaded by

    ladyreveur
    Report ... how to write one

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Study Advice Service

    REPORT WRITING:
    a brief guide This is what I did and this is what I found
    Author: Chris Pinder

    What is a report? A report is a formal, structured piece of writing that usually presents the findings of some research, an enquiry or an information gathering process. Reports are often thought of as being mainly scientific and technical, but they can be produced in any subject area, for example to give the results of a survey in the social sciences, or to describe a review of the literature in an arts topic. How to structure a report You are likely to find that different University departments or organisations have their own preferred structure and format for reports. For example in industry, firms often issue series of reports which all have a common format. It is vital that you check with your tutor to find out how your report should be structured and presented. As general guidance, reports are usually arranged in sections, each with a clear heading. A simple report is likely to include at least the following: Introduction, including aims and objectives Methodology Findings/results Discussion Conclusions and recommendations References More complex reports (not covered in detail in this leaflet) may have these sections: Preliminaries Title page Terms of reference, including scope of report Contents List of tables and diagrams

    Web: www.hull.ac.uk/studyadvice Email: [email protected] Tel: 01482 466199

    Acknowledgements, i.e. thanks to those who helped with the report Summary, i.e. key points of the report Main part Introduction Methodology Findings/results Discussion Conclusions and recommendations S upplementaries References/bibliography Appendices Glossary The main sections of a report can be numbered, and can have sub-sections with sub-headings, which are also numbered. These correspond roughly to paragraphs in an essay. You will often see reports where the main sections are given single numbers 1, 2, 3 and so on and the sub-sections are given a decimal number 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on. Sub-sections can be further divided into 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and so on. For example: 1 Introduction 1.1 Aims and objectives 1.2 Hypothesis Methodology 2.1 The survey 2.1.1 The questionnaire 2.1.2 The sample

    The sections of a simple report Introduction Say what your research/project/enquiry is about. What are you writing about, why and for whom? What are your objectives? What are you trying to show or prove (your hypothesis)? Methodology Say how you did your research/enquiry and the methods you used. How did you collect your data? For example, if you conducted a survey, say how many people were included and how you selected them. Say whether you used interviews or questionnaires and how you analysed the data. Findings/results Give the results of your research. Do not, at this stage, try to interpret the results simply report them. This section may include graphs, charts, diagrams etc. (clearly labelled). Be very careful about copyright if you are using published charts/tables/illustrations etc. If you need advice about this ask at the Library Enquiry Desk or the Study Advice Service. Discussion Interpret your findings. What do they show? Were they what you expected? Could your research have been done in a better way? Conclusions and recommendations These should follow on logically from the Findings and Discussion sections. Summarise the key points of your findings and show whether they prove or disprove your hypothesis. If you have been asked to, you can make recommendations arising from your research.

    References List all your sources in alphabetical order, using the referencing system recommended by your Department. If you need advice about this, ask the Study Advice Service. Writing style for reports The style of reports should be concise, giving precise detail. Flowery language should not be used. Data may be presented as charts, graphs or tables, if appropriate. Descriptions of methodology should be sufficiently clear and detailed to allow someone else to replicate them exactly. Scientific reports tend to be written in what is called the passive voice, which is more formal. For example, The experiment would have been better if ., rather than I could have improved the experiment by .. Similarly, It is recommended that. rather than I recommend.. This is because a scientific report is intended to be objective and based on the analysis of data, rather than subjective and based on personal views and opinions. However, many leading scientists (including the Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Rees) are encouraging a return to the active voice where appropriate. If you are unsure about this, you should ask your tutor. See also the Study Advice Service leaflets Scientific Report Writing and Scientific Writing Style on the web: www.hull.ac.uk/studyadvice

    All web addresses in this leaflet were correct at the time of publication.

    The information in this leaflet can be made available in an alternative format on request. Telephone 01482 466199.
    10/2007

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