Writing reports 280

Search in book...
Toggle Font Controls
Create new playlist

Name your new playlist

Playlist description (optional)
Sign In

Email address

Password

Forgot Password?

or

Continue with Facebook

Continue with Google
Sign Up

Full Name

Email address

Confirm Email Address

Password

or

Continue with Facebook

Continue with Google

280 / SPEAKING AND WRITING

Writing reports

Reports are longer and more comprehensive than most documents,

and are written for the purpose of documenting actions, describing

projects and events, and capturing information on complex issues.

They are often written by more than one person for audiences with

multiple needs and interests.

INCLUDE A

COVER LETTER

As a courtesy to your reader,

always include a cover letter

to accompany the report,

explaining what the report

covers and why. Where

appropriate, include the

report’s most important

recommendations or ﬁndings.

Tip

Planning your report

There are three main questions to

consider when compiling a report:

•

Who is in your audience? Think

about their level of interest in the

content, and their familiarity with

the issues, ideas, and vocabulary

you plan to use.

•

What is the ideal format? Consider

how your readers will use the

document—will they start from

the beginning and read through

page by page, or will they skip to

sections that interest them most?

•

Is the document properly

organized? Consider using a

bold typeface for headings and

subheadings to help organize the

information and make it retrievable.

Writing the report

Reports are divided into three

sections: front matter (including

title page, abstract, table of contents,

and list of ﬁgures and tables), the

main body of the report, and end

matter (bibliography, appendices,

glossary, and index). Begin the

main body with an executive

summary, detailing the report’s

key points and recommendations.

Busy executives may only read

this section, so it must tell them

all they need to know in order

for them to agree with your

recommendations.

Busy business leaders may

only read the executive

summary of a report, so

it must tell them all they

need to know in order for

them to understand

your recommendations

US_280-281_Writing_Reports.indd 280 31/05/16 5:29 pm

A single page containing the full title of the report, the

names of the authors, the date of issue, and the name

of the organization to which the report is submitted.

A paragraph that summarizes the major points. It enables

a reader to decide whether to read the entire work.

A list of all of the headings within the report in the order

of their appearance, along with a page number for each.

Reports with more than ﬁve ﬁgures or tables should

include a page listing each one with its page number.

An introductory statement usually written by an authority

ﬁgure. It provides background information and places the

report in the context of other works in the ﬁeld.

This describes the purpose, background, or scope

of the report.

This provides more information than the abstract, and

enables readers to scan the report’s primary points.

These summaries are usually restricted to a few pages.

This forms the main body of the report, and explains

your work and its ﬁndings.

This contains not only concluding remarks but also any

Table of Contents for Writing reports 280

Create new playlist

Sign In

Sign Up

Table of Contents for
Writing reports 280