What is a Report?

There is some similarity between reports and essays in academics, and the two terms are often
used interchangeably, but reports are more likely to be used for, particularly in the professional,
business, science, especially technological subjects.

Whereas there are claims and reasonings in an essay, a report relies on evidence.

A report is a brief, clear, informative text which is published for a specific reason and audience.
It usually points out a scenario or issue and analyzes it, also providing suggestions for potential
intervention. It is a paper of reality, which needs to be transparent and well organized.

Components of a Report:
Requirements for the precise type and content of a report can differ from agency to
organisation and in analysis between classes, from teacher to teacher, as well as between
topics, so it's worth figuring out whether there are any clear requirements before you start.

Any or All of the Following Components Would be in the Reports:

· A description of a sequence of events or a situation

· Some interpretation of the significance of these events or situation, whether solely your
analysis or informed by the views of others, always carefully referenced of course

· An evaluation of the facts or the results of your research

· Discussion of the likely outcomes of future courses of action

· Your recommendations as to a course of action

· Conclusions

Not all of these elements will be essential in every report.

If you’re writing a report in the workplace, check whether there are any standard guidelines or
structure that you need to use.

For example, in the UK many government departments have outline structures for reports to
ministers that must be followed exactly.

Sections and Numbering:

A report is intended to guide someone in a organized way through the details but also to help
them to quickly and efficiently locate the details they want.

Consequently, papers typically have numerated divisions and paragraphs, with a simple with full
table of contents detailing each heading. It follows that it is essential to number tab.

Modern word processors provide apps for inserting material tables (ToC) and page numbers as
well as modeled headings; this can be taken advantage of because they continuously change
when you modify the text, transfer, attach or remove pages.

Report Writing:
Getting Start; Prior Preparation and Planning
The layout of a report is very critical for directing the reader to a plan of action and/or a
conclusion by your reasoning. It is worth spending the time in advance to map things out.

Step 1: Know your Brief

For a report, you should typically provide a straightforward briefing on what you are examining
and about what the report will be organized.

First, prepare the summary very carefully to make sure you're consistent on what the report is
about, and why you're writing it, as well as what you expect the reader to do at the conclusion
of the reading; make a judgment or maybe commit to a suggestion.

Step 2: Keep Your Brief in Mind at all Time

Make sure you have your brief in mind while preparing and composing. All your thoughts ought to be on
that, that may allow you to be decisive in reading and writing. All that is meaningless will be erased.

Seek to organize the writing into parts by topic while you read and write, a little like writing a Literature
Review.

Be sure you maintain note of your sources, with graduate research in particular. Although sourcing is
maybe less relevant in the workforce, it is still crucial so you can substantiate any claims you create, so
maintaining track of the knowledge sources is helpful.

The Structure of a Report:

As with the precise materials, layout specifications differ, so review what's set out in any guidelines.

However, as a quick reference, you can prepare at least to include an executive summary, overview, your
report's main section, and a segment that includes your findings and any suggestions.
Executive Summary:
For a scientific report the executive summary or overview is a concise description of the
contents. This last thing is worth saying, because you know the key points to take out. It will
have a range of no more than half a page to a page.

Note the executive summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the report's contents to
busy 'executives.'

Introduction:
The introduction explains what you want to suggest, which offers a short overview of the
subject being debated. It will also immediately draw upon your conclusions.

Main Body:
The report's key component will be deliberately organized in a way that can guide the reader
through the matter.

For consideration, you can split it into parts using numerated subheadings related to themes or
areas. For each subject, the key topic under consideration and any areas of complexity or
conflict will be set out simply and concisely. It may even produce experimental findings. All of
the details you are sharing will be linked back to the brief and the particular subject under
consideration.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

The conclusion, with some experimental findings, points out what inferences you draw from the
facts. This may include guidelines, or a different segment may include these.

Recommendations indicate how you believe the condition should be changed, which should be
precise, realistic and observable. If the guidelines have financial consequences, you will set
them out explicitly, where appropriate with projected costs.

A Word on Writing Style:

Your goal will be to be absolutely clear when writing a report. This will be especially easy to read
and comprehend, even for those with limited understanding of the subject field.

Hence, you can strive for smooth, concise text with simple sentences, use plain English, and
shorter words rather than longer.

You should remove terminology, as well. When you choose to use professional terminology,
clarify any term when you say it. When you think you have needed to clarify more than only five
terms, you usually use so many jargon, so you ought to substitute any of it with clearer phrases.

Consider your audience:

For eg, whether the report is supposed to be written about a single individual, check if you can
submit it to 'you' or to a work position in the third person: 'Chief Executive will like to suggest ...'
or 'Minister is recommended to decide ....'

A Final Warning:
Like for every research project or structured piece of writing, the work would profit from being
re-read for meaning and tone and revised ruthlessly.

Pay particular attention to how any of the details you've provided is important. Do note to test
tenses you write in, grammar and pronunciation. Always worth one more test against any
structural criteria.

Assure that you have thoroughly and accurately checked on an relevant task. As well, verify that
you have not plagiarized or copied something accidentally or intentionally without knowing it.