Writing a Report
Report Structure
A good structure for a report would be as follows:
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Title Page - showing the title of the report, the author, the person for whom the report is prepared, and the date of completion
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Summary/Synopsis/Executive Summary (approx 10% of word count) - this will identify:
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The purpose of the report
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The scope of the report – issues covered/not covered
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The important results and findings
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The conclusions and recommendations
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Acknowledgement of any assistance in researching and compiling the report
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Table of contents - not including the title and contents page!
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Body of report – this will include:
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Introduction – what is the report about
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Discussion – divided into sections and sub sections, presented clearly and confined to fact rather than analysis/opinion
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Conclusion – this should:
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Relate back to the findings in the body of the report
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Include a clear summary of the main points
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Outline the findings of the research
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There should be nothing in the conclusion that has not already been mentioned in the body of the report.
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Recommendations – these should:
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Emerge from the conclusions
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Suggest what is to be done, who is to do it and how/when it is to be done
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Be justified based on findings, not just the opinion of the writer
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Bibliography
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Appendix/Appendices - containing supplementary material too detailed for the main body of the report, such as tables, charts, statistics, questionnaires etc
