Writing reports and evaluations

Understanding your assignment task Writing genres Report vs. essay Purpose and audience Report format Report format details Critical evaluation Reflective writing

Understanding your assignment task

How to analyze your assignment task Step 1: Collect the information about the assignment
Collect all given information about the assignment: assignment task, FAQ sheet, and assessment criteria Be clear about the purpose of the assignment: what skills, knowledge etc. you are being asked to demonstrate

Step 2: Work out the genre of the assignment

Identify the genre and type of assignment required to write.

Step 3: Identify the key words in the assignment

Break the question down into components by highlighting key words help with your interpretation and analysis.

Step 4: checklist
make a checklist of deliverables to tick off before submission.

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Writing genres
Common assignment writing genres: Abstract and executive summary Annotated bibliography

Case study
Critique Essay Reflective journal Report

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Report vs. essay

Report Function
Presents information with a clear purpose to a specific audience a result of research and/or analysis of data and/or issues. Used to help make and evaluate decisions or account for actions Often simulate industry reports

Essay
Presents a logically structured answer to a particular question, or questions, usually presented as an argument Used to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and critical thinking as a cohesive whole

Structure

Specific sections using numbered headings and subheadings May use graphics (tables, graphs, illustrations) May be followed by recommendations and/or appendices

Continuous flow of text using minimal subheadings Rarely uses graphics Rarely has recommendations or appendices

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Purpose & audience

Before starting to write a report, two key questions need to be clarified:
What is the purpose of the report? Who is the audience for the report?

Purpose: ? Is it to:
collect data and present the findings? analyse a situation or activity? review and evaluate existing literature on a topic and identify issues?

All of these reports are forms of a research report, but they fulfil different functions.

Audience

Although lecturers are the obvious audience for any assessment task, it is important to think of the task in more objective terms, to see it as a 'real' task, e.g. as writing a report for a client or company. To help locate a report in a more realistic context, think carefully about all the potential readers of a report, and ask: Who will read the report? What are their needs, what do they need to see? How do you make your report user-friendly? How will you structure and package the report? How much detail needs to be included in the report?

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Generic report format

Title page Contents Part 1: overview
may include Introduction, rationale and summary of key findings may be bullet point

Part 2: discussion
Critical evaluation discussion May combine subheadings, bullet point and narrative (essay style)

Part 3: conclusion
review, reflection Usually narrative

Bibliography Appendices

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Report format details

Overview
(less than 10% of the word length) Provide basic details of the work being reviewed e.g. date it was created, the name of the author/creator. Describe the main argument or purpose of the work. Rationale: explain the context in which the work was created. Briefly summarize the main points of discussion or findings. Have a concluding sentence that signposts what your evaluation of the work will be. For instance, it may indicate whether it is a positive, negative, or mixed evaluation.

Discussion (see next slide) Conclusion

usually a very brief paragraph A statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work A summary of the key reasons, identified during the critical evaluation, why this evaluation was formed. recommendations for improvement or future directions may be appropriate here.

Reference list
Include all resources, including images, cited in your critique. Check with your lecturer/tutor for which referencing style to use.

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

Discussion section
give a systematic and detailed assessment of the different elements of the work
Sometimes you will be given a task-specific template or set of guidelines for this Do not simply describe or highlight pros and cons.
deconstruct the work methodically Critically analyze: identify aims, assumptions, strengths and weaknesses make connections to wider context, if possible evaluate for effectiveness

provide evidence from the work itself, such as a quote or example cite evidence from related academic sources. Explain how this evidence supports your evaluation of the work.

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

About learning
One must learn by doing the thing; though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
Sophocles, 495-406 BC

Other peoples knowledge is just Teaching is helping people to turn information into by getting them to do things with the information

information. knowledge

P. Race, Assessment, Learning and Teaching Visiting Professor at the University of Plymouth

to learn something does not mean to receive knowledge or information, but that the relationship between person and world changes.
Louise Limberg, 1999 Senior Professor of Library and Information Science University of Gothenburg

Guide to Writing Reports and Evaluations

What is reflective writing?

Reflective writing is:
your response to experiences, thoughts, events or new information a way of thinking to explore your learning an opportunity to gain self-knowledge a way to achieve clarity and better understanding of what you are learning a chance to develop and reinforce writing skills a way of making meaning out of what you study

Reflective writing is not:

just conveying information, instruction or argument pure description, though there may be descriptive elements straightforward decision or judgment (e.g. about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad) simple problem-solving a summary of course notes a standard university essay

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Why are we asked to do reflective writing?

To make connections
builds on your prior knowledge, whether it is formal (e.g. education) or informal (e.g. gained through experience). helps you develop and clarify the connections: between what you already know and what you are learning between theory and practice between what you are doing and how and why you do it.

To examine your learning processes

to consider and comment on your learning experiencesnot only WHAT you've learned, but HOW you learned it.

to clarify what you are learning

clarify what you have studied integrate new knowledge with previous knowledge identify the questions you have identify what you have yet to learn.

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reflecting on mistakes and successes

A crucial part of your reflection
Identifies your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and barriers to learning

helps you avoid repeating them.

helps identify successful principles to use again.

To become an active and aware learner To become a reflective practitioner once you graduate and begin your professional life

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Further readings
Report writinghttps://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/2_Ass essmentTasks/assess_tuts/reports_LL/types.html Reflective writing http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/reflect.html UTS Academic writing resources http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/study-skills/writingreading-speaking Other general resources http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/olib.html http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/taskanal.html http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/main.html
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