an assignment to write a report

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How to Write a Report

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 8,763,802 times.

When you’re assigned to write a report, it can seem like an intimidating process. Fortunately, if you pay close attention to the report prompt, choose a subject you like, and give yourself plenty of time to research your topic, you might actually find that it’s not so bad. After you gather your research and organize it into an outline, all that’s left is to write out your paragraphs and proofread your paper before you hand it in!

Easy Steps to Write a Report

• Choose an interesting topic and narrow it down to a specific idea.
• Take notes as you research your topic. Come up with a thesis, or main theme of your report, based on your research.
• Outline the main ideas you’ll cover in your report. Then, write the first draft.

Sample Reports

Selecting Your Topic

• The guidelines will also typically tell you the requirements for the structure and format of your report.
• If you have any questions about the assignment, speak up as soon as possible. That way, you don’t start working on the report, only to find out you have to start over because you misunderstood the report prompt.

• For instance, if your report is supposed to be on a historical figure, you might choose someone you find really interesting, like the first woman to be governor of a state in the U.S., or the man who invented Silly Putty.
• If your report is about information technology , you could gather information about the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data or information.
• Even if you don’t have the option to choose your topic, you can often find something in your research that you find interesting. If your assignment is to give a report on the historical events of the 1960s in America, for example, you could focus your report on the way popular music reflected the events that occurred during that time.

Tip: Always get approval from your teacher or boss on the topic you choose before you start working on the report!

• If you’re not sure what to write about at first, pick a larger topic, then narrow it down as you start researching.
• For instance, if you wanted to do your report on World Fairs, then you realize that there are way too many of them to talk about, you might choose one specific world fair, such as the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, to focus on.
• However, you wouldn’t necessarily want to narrow it down to something too specific, like “Food at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition,” since it could be hard to find sources on the subject without just listing a lot of recipes.

Researching the Report

• If you don’t have guidelines on how many sources to use, try to find 1-2 reputable sources for each page of the report.
• Sources can be divided into primary sources, like original written works, court records, and interviews, and secondary sources, like reference books and reviews.
• Databases, abstracts, and indexes are considered tertiary sources, and can be used to help you find primary and secondary sources for your report. [5] X Research source
• If you’re writing a business report , you may be given some supplementary materials, such as market research or sales reports, or you may need to compile this information yourself. [6] X Research source

• Librarians are an excellent resource when you're working on a report. They can help you find books, articles, and other credible sources.
• Often, a teacher will limit how many online sources you can use. If you find most of the information you need in the library, you can then use your online sources for details that you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Tip: Writing a report can take longer than you think! Don't put off your research until the last minute , or it will be obvious that you didn't put much effort into the assignment.

• Examples of authoritative online sources include government websites, articles written by known experts, and publications in peer-reviewed journals that have been published online.

• If you’re using a book as one of your sources, check the very back few pages. That’s often where an author will list the sources they used for their book.

• Remember to number each page of your notes, so you don’t get confused later about what information came from which source!
• Remember, you’ll need to cite any information that you use in your report; however, exactly how you do this will depend on the format that was assigned to you.

• For most reports, your thesis statement should not contain your own opinions. However, if you're writing a persuasive report, the thesis should contain an argument that you will have to prove in the body of the essay.
• An example of a straightforward report thesis (Thesis 1) would be: “The three main halls of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition were filled with modern creations of the day and were an excellent representation of the innovative spirit of the Progressive era.”
• A thesis for a persuasive report (Thesis 2) might say: “The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was intended as a celebration of the Progressive spirit, but actually harbored a deep racism and principle of white supremacy that most visitors chose to ignore or celebrate.”

• The purpose of an outline is to help you to visualize how your essay will look. You can create a straightforward list or make a concept map , depending on what makes the most sense to you.
• Try to organize the information from your notes so it flows together logically. For instance, it can be helpful to try to group together related items, like important events from a person’s childhood, education, and career, if you’re writing a biographical report.
• Example main ideas for Thesis 1: Exhibits at the Court of the Universe, Exhibits at the Court of the Four Seasons, Exhibits at the Court of Abundance.

Tip: It can help to create your outline on a computer in case you change your mind as you’re moving information around.

Writing the First Draft

• Try to follow any formatting instructions to the letter. If there aren't any, opt for something classic, like 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, double-spaced lines, and 1 in (2.5 cm) margins all around.
• You'll usually need to include a bibliography at the end of the report that lists any sources you used. You may also need a title page , which should include the title of the report, your name, the date, and the person who requested the report.
• For some types of reports, you may also need to include a table of contents and an abstract or summary that briefly sums up what you’ve written. It’s typically easier to write these after you’ve finished your first draft. [14] X Research source

• Example Intro for Thesis 1: “The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) of 1915 was intended to celebrate both the creation of the Panama Canal, and the technological advancements achieved at the turn of the century. The three main halls of the PPIE were filled with modern creations of the day and were an excellent representation of the innovative spirit of the Progressive era.”

• Typically, you should present the most important or compelling information first.
• Example topic sentence for Thesis 1: At the PPIE, the Court of the Universe was the heart of the exposition and represented the greatest achievements of man, as well as the meeting of the East and the West.

Tip: Assume that your reader knows little to nothing about the subject. Support your facts with plenty of details and include definitions if you use technical terms or jargon in the paper.

• Paraphrasing means restating the original author's ideas in your own words. On the other hand, a direct quote means using the exact words from the original source in quotation marks, with the author cited.
• For the topic sentence listed above about the Court of the Universe, the body paragraph should go on to list the different exhibits found at the exhibit, as well as proving how the Court represented the meeting of the East and West.
• Use your sources to support your topic, but don't plagiarize . Always restate the information in your own words. In most cases, you'll get in serious trouble if you just copy from your sources word-for-word. Also, be sure to cite each source as you use it, according to the formatting guidelines you were given. [18] X Research source

• Your commentary needs to be at least 1-2 sentences long. For a longer report, you may write more sentences for each piece of commentary.

• Avoid presenting any new information in the conclusion. You don’t want this to be a “Gotcha!” moment. Instead, it should be a strong summary of everything you’ve already told the reader.

Revising Your Report

• A good question to ask yourself is, “If I were someone reading this report for the first time, would I feel like I understood the topic after I finished reading?

Tip: If you have time before the deadline, set the report aside for a few days . Then, come back and read it again. This can help you catch errors you might otherwise have missed.

• Try reading the report to yourself out loud. Hearing the words can help you catch awkward language or run-on sentences you might not catch by reading it silently.

• This is a great trick to find spelling errors or grammatical mistakes that your eye would otherwise just scan over.

• Ask your helper questions like, “Do you understand what I am saying in my report?” “Is there anything you think I should take out or add?” And “Is there anything you would change?”

• If you have any questions about the assignment requirements, ask your instructor. It's important to know how they'll be grading your assignment.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reports/writing-up
• ↑ https://emory.libanswers.com/faq/44525
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-7-sources-choosing-the-right-ones/
• ↑ https://libguides.merrimack.edu/research_help/Sources
• ↑ https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1779625/VBS-Report-Writing-Guide-2017.pdf
• ↑ https://www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/tutorials/primary-sources/
• ↑ https://libguides.scu.edu.au/harvard/secondary-sources
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-notes-while-reading/
• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
• ↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/outline
• ↑ https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/engl250oer/chapter/10-4-table-of-contents/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/report-writing-format
• ↑ https://www.monash.edu/rlo/assignment-samples/assignment-types/writing-an-essay/writing-body-paragraphs
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/5-most-effective-methods-for-avoiding-plagiarism/
• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/using-evidence.html
• ↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/writing-report
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
• ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/grammarpunct/proofreading/
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-12-peer-review-and-final-revisions/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

It can seem really hard to write a report, but it will be easier if you choose an original topic that you're passionate about. Once you've got your topic, do some research on it at the library and online, using reputable sources like encyclopedias, scholarly journals, and government websites. Use your research write a thesis statement that sums up the focus of your paper, then organize your notes into an outline that supports that thesis statement. Finally, expand that outline into paragraph form. Read on for tips from our Education co-author on how to format your report! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Report Assignment For College

Table of Contents

What Is A Report For An Assignment?

The types of reports, how to write an assignment report for your college paper, helpful assignment report writing tips, structure matters.

Contrary to a popular belief, a report for an assignment is not a simple outline. It is a deep analytical work that must be done. It is often approached as the list of things that are usually included in a typical paper draft but it is the content that always differs. It means that even though you may have to provide an abstract, objectives, and the list of sources that you have used for some research project, your structure must be there with a bit of relevant analysis to plan assignment properly.

Another important aspect that must be considered is editing and proofreading. It is paramount for writing a good report regardless of what subject you might be dealing with. As you write a report for an assignment, you must think about your objectives and see what kind of formatting must be used to fit within your particular paper type.

As a college or university student, you will encounter at least four different types of reports that require specific rules and conventions to represent an assignment in report format.

– Informative or descriptive reports. It all comes down to purpose, which means that if you have to provide information, use an explanatory tone. Regarding descriptive paper reports, these must offer examples or statistical information. Writing a report, such data must be reflected in your outline. It is considered one of the simplest forms of report writing. Do not forget about your grading rubric as it may already provide a helpful structure you should refer to.

– Case study reports or research projects. These are based on specific case study cases or research objectives. Since you already have a prompt, it makes it easier to compose your outline where you implement either compare-and-contrast or reflective writing style.

– Math / Engineering reports. Such kinds of assignment report writing implement numbers for the most part with engineering reports of objectives and solutions that have proved as helpful.

– Science reports. Also known as “academic reporting”, these follow an abstract, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and bibliography sections that most students are familiar with. The major difference here is that every idea must be properly referenced and supported with reliable sources.

Learning how to start an assignment , always define your purpose, and learn more about your audience. You must provide a list of objectives related to your research work and offer some evidence or statistical examples that support your research methods or analysis approach.

Breaking things down into sections, your assignment report must include:

• Title Page. It goes as the basic university title page.
• Executive Summary Report. It should include analysis methods, reports, various analysis approaches, and so on.
• Table of Content. It should list all important chapters and subsections.
• List of Abbreviations & Symbols. It is obligatory for technical and engineering reports.
• Introduction. It should represent basic information about your subject with a thesis statement.
• The Main Body. As you learn how to write an assignment report, you should use topic sentences (at the beginning of each body paragraph) and support your arguments with a piece of clear evidence.
• Conclusions & Recommendations. It should highlight your main findings and state information in bullet points if applicable.
• Reference List. Include every source that has been used for referencing or citation purposes to avoid plagiarism issues.
• Appendices. It should include all schemes, software reports, a deeper analysis, and various additions that will have tables, schemes, and infographics among other things.

In certain cases, it may be necessary to write an abstract for an assignment that will look like dissertation writing or APA format regarding various style aspects.

Writing a good assignment report may sound like a challenging task, which is only partially true. Those students who follow these simple tips get on by much easier.

Here are some things to consider:

• Estimate your writing and objectives first.
• Define the limitations of your subject.
• Research information beyond your textbook.
• Outline each essential element of your report.
• Structure your paper from stronger to weaker elements.
• Do not ignore proofreading and editing aspects.

The most important in report writing is final editing where you check whether you could address the objectives of your paper with clear explanations and sources that support your idea. Your report must be like a short conversation where you explain what you could achieve in simple terms and how exactly.

As the final measure, always check your structure before you submit your report or learn about what must be included in each.

• Your title must be explanatory and relevant to your subject. It aims to attract the attention of the readers. It should also act as the hook to inspire for reading further.
• Your summary part must be brief as you discuss all the essential points of your report and why it is being written.
• Table of contents must be there by reflecting each paragraph word-by-word.
• An introduction part must talk about what is being investigated and how exactly. It is usually up to 250 words.
• Your report’s body parts must present the results of your analysis with good examples and your own interpretation of the findings.
• The final part of your paper must once again analyse ideas in your report and make possible suggestions for additional research.

Essentially, as a writer, you must ask yourself whether your structure talks about what must be done and how exactly. It will help you to report things correctly regardless of your subject or an available prompt.

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How to Write a Report for an Assignment: Your Complete Guide

What Is a Report?

How should you structure a report, how to write a report: 7 steps to follow, in conclusion.

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So, you’re tasked with writing a report. While it may seem like a cakewalk, it’s anything but. It requires strong research, analysis, and academic writing skills.

That said, don’t let this assignment intimidate you. With a good guide and some practice, you can ace this assignment. In any case, you can always count on our online assignment writing service to help you with any request.

While it’s up to you to develop your report-writing skills, we can help you out with this comprehensive guide on how to write a report. Below you’ll find everything you need to craft an A-worthy report yourself:

• What a report is and how it’s different from other assignments;
• A typical structure for this type of paper;
• A step-by-step guide on writing one from scratch.

The purpose of a report is to recapitulate factual knowledge on a specific topic, usually without giving your opinion on it. That’s what sets it apart from essays, where you have to include your standpoint on the topic.

Academic reports come in many flavors. The most common of them include:

• Informational reports focus on explaining a particular topic through facts in an organized, impersonal, and objective way.
• Case studies describe a particular event, person, organization, or phenomenon that serves as an example for a wider research problem.
• Book reports summarize a work of fiction or non-fiction and sometimes contain an evaluation part.
• History reports describe a historical event or period, its causes, and consequences, all while relying on facts.
• Research reports focus on the research conducted by the author, from the methodology to the study’s undergoing and conclusions.

Most reports have to include these nine elements:

• Title page . It should contain your name, class or course, instructor’s name, the educational establishment’s name, and the paper’s title.
• Executive summary . Think of it as an abstract for your work – it sums up your paper in one paragraph.
• Table of contents . Typically used for long reports, it helps readers quickly find this or that section of the paper.
• Glossary . If your work includes abbreviations, symbols, or niche terms, you can decipher them in this section.
• Introduction . This paragraph is where you present your topic and give some background information that your readers should be aware of. You should also clearly formulate your thesis statement and describe how you’ll approach your topic.
• Main body . The longest part of the paper, the main body, is the part where you describe all the facts you’ve discovered during research.
• Conclusion . It’s the part where you sum up all the information you presented in the main body. You may also express your interpretation or opinion here (if allowed).
• References . This is the list of all sources you cite in the paper, formatted according to the style you have to use.
• Appendices . It’s the section with all graphs, tables with data, or illustrations you referenced in the main body.

Typically, you should also include the following elements throughout your paper:

• Page numbering;
• Headings and subheadings;

Keep in mind: this is a general structure. Before you use it, consult your assignment and see if any instructions there contradict it.

Plus, some elements are defined by the format of writing assignment you’re required to use. For example, the title page is obligatory for APA papers, while it’s optional for Chicago and MLA formats. Page numbering and citation requirements will also differ across styles.

So, you’ve received your assignment, and you’re ready to start working on it. How should you approach it? Follow these seven steps toward a five-star report.

1. Choose Your Topic

If it hasn’t been assigned to you already, you need to choose the topic of your report yourself. Be mindful: your choice can make or break the quality of your paper. For example, if you pick a topic that’s too niche or complex, you may not have enough reliable sources to include in the paper.

But what makes a topic good for writing a report? Here are three questions to ask yourself:

• Is there enough information on this topic?
• Does it spark interest in you?
• Is it original and specific enough?

If you get “yes” for all three questions, this topic can be a good pick for your assignment.

2. Do Your Research

Now that you have your topic, it’s time to gather all the sources for your work. Here are a few tips on doing research for this and any other academic paper:

• Check out similar reports or papers – you can use sources provided there, too;
• Take notes for every source you may use later on – you can even start creating an outline right away;
• Keep in mind that you may have obligatory sources to include – don’t overlook them;
• Stick to reliable sources only: research papers, official documents, reputable organizations and institutions specializing in the topic, case studies, etc.;
• When searching online, filter out results by the top-level domain (.edu for educational establishments, for example) and prioritize using Google Scholar.

3. Create an Outline

If you struggle with starting to write and end up staring at a blank screen, making an outline is a time-tested way to overcome writer’s block.

An outline is a rough plan for your paper. It typically consists of preliminary headings and subheadings, along with short descriptions of each section’s content and sources. 

Your outline doesn’t have to be perfect or well-written! It’s just a way to organize your ideas and information you found during the research.

It’s best to start working on your outline the moment you kick off your research. This way, you won’t forget about a great source or point later.

4. Craft Your Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is that one sentence where you describe what your report is all about. But don’t confuse it with the topic – your thesis statement should be more specific than the topic you initially settled on.

Let’s say you initially chose “the impact of social media on mental health” as the topic for your assignment. Once you do your research, you’ll notice plenty of sources highlighting its negative consequences on mental health. This pattern will help you phrase your thesis statement.

For this example, the thesis statement can be, “Although it has the power to connect people around the globe, social media can lead to a decline in self-esteem, fear of missing out, anxiety and depression, and Snapchat dysmorphia.”

5. Write the First Draft

Now, it’s time for the most time-consuming part of the writing process: crafting the first draft. Your outline will help you a great deal, though: all you need to do is expand on it – and you’ll have your first draft.

You don’t have to start writing at the beginning. The introduction is typically the toughest to craft, along with the conclusion. So, just look at your outline and start typing wherever you feel like it.

You also don’t have to work on your draft linearly. Writing one section close to the end and then working on another one at the beginning is completely fine. You can ensure that you don’t repeat yourself and that your paper’s logic holds up later on.

Don’t worry about the quality of your writing at this stage; just keep writing. First drafts are never perfect, but you’ll polish off yours later on.

A Few Words on the Writing Style

When you get to the writing process or want to buy an assignment from professionals, keep in mind: you’re expected to use the academic assignment writing style. This means you should:

• Be concise and to the point;
• Avoid using informal words, phrases, and expressions;
• Remain objective in your writing;
• Write in the third person.

6. Review & Edit the Draft

Ideally, you should let your first draft sit for a day or two. This way, you can revisit it with a fresh pair of eyes. If that’s not an option, put it away for at least 15 minutes.

When you return to your first draft, it’s time to:

• Reread your draft – you can do it out loud to catch weird turns of phrases and convoluted sentences;
• Make your text more concise and simple;
• Check the text for errors in logic, unsubstantiated claims, and repetitions – and fix those;
• Proofread your text (you can use tools like Grammarly to make this part easier).

7. Format Your Report

Finally, it’s time to take care of the most boring part: formatting. To ace it, check the formatting style you have to use – and follow it to a T when it comes to:

• References list;
• Title page;
• Headers and footers;
• Appendices.

Writing a report is hardly a cakewalk. But it’s not impossible, either! All you need to do is set aside enough time for this assignment, do thorough research – and forget about writing a perfect draft on the first try. You should also stick to being objective and factual in your paper (otherwise, it won’t be a report, right?). By the way, we can now help you to do my assignment on any topic! So the report can now be available in two languages from our team. Good luck!

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How to Write a Report - Tips and Sample

What is a Report

A report is a written document that presents findings from an investigation, project, or study. It analyzes specific issues or data in detail. This type of writing is common in sciences, social sciences, and business, making it a valuable skill across different fields. Reports have a clear purpose and target audience. Like all academic writing, they emphasize clarity and brevity. Before starting, understand any guidelines in your brief and use headings to organize your report effectively.

Key parts of a report typically include:

• Detailed summaries of events or activities
• Analysis of their impact
• Evaluation of facts and data
• Predictions for future developments
• Recommendations for next steps

Reports differ from essays. While both use factual information, essays include personal opinions and arguments. Reports focus on facts, with interpretations mainly in the conclusion. They are highly structured, often with tables of contents, headings, and subheadings, which help readers quickly locate information. Essays, in contrast, are usually read straight through without needing to jump between sections.

Jobs that Use Written Reports

Many professions rely on written reports to communicate findings, make decisions, and guide future actions. Some of these jobs include:

• Scientists and Researchers : They use reports to document experiments, present research findings, and analyze data. These reports are crucial for advancing knowledge in their fields.
• Healthcare Professionals : Doctors, nurses, and medical researchers write reports to track patient progress, document clinical trials, and share medical research results.
• Business Analysts and Managers : They create reports to analyze market trends, assess financial performance, and propose business strategies. These reports help companies make informed decisions.
• Engineers and Technicians : Reports are used to document project progress, troubleshoot problems, and provide technical evaluations. They are essential for ensuring projects stay on track and meet specifications.
• Law Enforcement and Legal Professionals : Police officers, detectives, and lawyers write reports to document incidents, investigations, and legal proceedings. These reports are vital for building cases and ensuring justice.
• Academics and Educators : Professors, teachers, and educational researchers write reports to present research findings, assess educational methods, and evaluate student performance.
• Environmental Scientists and Conservationists : They use reports to document environmental studies, assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems, and propose conservation strategies.
• Journalists and Writers : They create investigative reports, feature stories, and analysis pieces to inform the public about current events, trends, and important issues.
• Government Officials and Policy Makers : They write reports to analyze policy impacts, assess program effectiveness, and provide recommendations for legislative actions.
• Financial Advisors and Accountants : Reports are used to analyze financial data, evaluate investment options, and provide clients with detailed financial assessments and plans.

Writing Reports Are Not Your Thing?

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Guide on How to Write a Report

Writing a report can seem challenging, but with clear steps, it becomes manageable. This section will simplify the process, helping you create well-structured and informative reports. Whether you need to write for work, school, or personal projects, following this guide will ensure your report is effective and easy to read. Let's start by breaking down the essential parts and understanding the purpose of each section.

If you want to save time, you can always buy essays online .

Understand the Brief 

Before you begin writing your report, you must first understand the brief. This step ensures that you know exactly what is required and expected. Here's how to do it:

• Read the Brief Carefully: Make sure you read the assignment or project brief thoroughly. Look for key details such as the purpose of the report, the target audience, and any specific requirements or guidelines.
• Identify the Main Objectives: Determine what the report aims to achieve. Is it to inform, analyze, recommend, or persuade? Knowing the objective helps shape your content and approach.
• Clarify Doubts: If anything is unclear, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. It's better to ask questions upfront than to guess and risk misunderstanding the task.
• Take Notes: Jot down important points from the brief. Highlight deadlines, required sections, and any specific data or information you need to include

Gather Information

Not every piece of information will fit in your report, so choose the ones that directly relate to your topic and support your main points. Finding all the information needed for your report will involve talking to people, reading articles and books, or looking at data like charts and graphs.

Once you have everything, take a moment to organize it. Is there information about the background, the main points, or any conclusions? Think of categories to group similar things together.

Meanwhile, If you want to further advance your writing skills, read our article about how to write a cover letter for essay .

Organize and Analyze Material 

Now that you've sorted your information pieces, it's time to see how they fit together.  Look for patterns and relationships between the information. Do some pieces contradict each other? Are there different perspectives on the same topic?

Once you see connections, group related pieces together. Think of headings or labels for each group that capture the main idea of that section. This will be the framework for your report's structure.

It is also important to not just describe the information but dig deeper. What does it all mean? Are there trends or underlying causes you can identify? Use your analysis to support your report's arguments or conclusions.

Write the First Draft

Now that you've gathered and organized your information, it's time to build your report. This is where you write your first draft. Start with a strong foundation:

• Grab your reader's attention and introduce the topic of your report. Briefly explain what you'll be covering and why it's important.
• In the body section, use organized information to build your case. Each paragraph should focus on one main point and use evidence from your research (facts, figures, quotes) to support it. 
• Some reports may benefit from additional sections like a methodology (how you gathered information) or a limitations section (acknowledging any constraints of your study). Review your report's purpose and see if these sections are necessary.

This is a first draft, so focus on getting your ideas down on paper. Don't get bogged down in perfect grammar or style – you can polish that later. Just make sure you write in a clear way and use everyday language your target audience can understand. Don't be afraid to write freely and rearrange sections later. It's easier to work with a complete draft than a collection of disconnected thoughts.

Review and Redraft

Congratulations, you've conquered the first draft! Now comes the crucial stage of reviewing, editing, and redrafting. This is where you transform your rough draft into a polished and professional report.

Put your report aside for a day or two. This allows you to come back with fresh eyes and a more objective perspective. After, read your report aloud. Does it make sense? Does it flow smoothly from one point to the next? Are there any confusing sections that need clarification?

To edit with a keen eye, follow these tips:

• Grammar and mechanics: This is where you hunt down typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes. Use a spellchecker, but don't rely solely on it. 
• Sentence structure and style: Can you improve the flow of your sentences? Are they concise and easy to understand? Avoid jargon and overly complex sentence structures.
• Strengthen your arguments: Review your evidence. Does it adequately support your claims?  Are there any gaps that need to be filled?
• Conciseness is key: Look for opportunities to tighten your writing without sacrificing clarity.  Eliminate unnecessary words and redundancy.
• Tailoring your tone: Is your report written in an appropriate tone for your audience? You might need to adjust the formality depending on whether you're writing for a manager, a client, or a scientific journal.

Report Structure Checklist 

Report Types

There are different types of report papers. Even though they are very formal, academic reports are only one of many people will come across in their lifetime. Some reports concentrate on the annual performance of a company, some on a project's progress, and others on scientific findings.

Academic Reports

An academic report represents supported data and information about a particular subject. This could be a historical event, a book, or a scientific finding. The credibility of such academic writing is very important as it, in the future, could be used as a backup for dissertations, essays, and other academic work.

Students are often assigned to write reports to test their understanding of a topic. They also provide evidence of the student's ability to critically analyze and synthesize information. It also demonstrates the student's writing skills and ability to simply convey complex findings and ideas.

Project Reports

Every project has numerous stakeholders who like to keep an eye on how things are going. This can be challenging if the number of people who need to be kept in the loop is high. One way to ensure everyone is updated and on the same page is periodic project reports.

Project managers are often assigned to make a report for people that affect the project's fate. It is a detailed document that summarizes the work done during the project and the work that needs to be completed. It informs about deadlines and helps form coherent expectations. Previous reports can be used as a reference point as the project progresses.

Sales Reports

Sales reports are excellent ways to keep your team updated on your sales strategies. It provides significant information to stakeholders, including managers, investors, and executives, so they can make informed decisions about the direction of their business.

A sales report usually provides information about a company's sales performance over a precise period. These reports include information about the revenue generated, the total number of units sold, and other metrics that help the company define the success of sales performance.

Sales report preparation is a meticulous job. To communicate information engagingly, you can put together graphs showing various information, including engagement increase, profit margins, and more.

Business Reports

If you were assigned a business report, something tells us you are wondering how to write a report for work. Let us tell you that the strategy is not much different from writing an academic report. A Strong thesis statement, compelling storytelling, credible sources, and correct format are all that matter.

Business reports can take many forms, such as marketing reports, operational reports, market research reports, feasible studies, and more. The purpose of such report writing is to provide analysis and recommendations to support decision-making and help shape a company's future strategy.

Most business reports include charts, graphs, and other visual aids that help illustrate key points and make complex information easy to digest. 

Scientific Reports

Scientific reports present the results of scientific research or investigation to a specific audience. Unlike book reports, a scientific report is always reviewed by other experts in the field for its accuracy, quality, and relevance.

If you are a scientist or a science student, you can't escape writing a lab report. You will need to provide background information on the research topic and explain the study's purpose. A scientific report includes a discussion part where the researcher interprets the results and significance of the study.

Whether you are assigned to write medical reports or make a report about new findings in the field of physics, your writing should always have an introduction, methodology, results, conclusion, and references. These are the foundation of a well-written report.

Annual Reports

An annual report is a comprehensive piece of writing that provides information about a company's performance over a year. In its nature, it might remind us of extended financial reports.

Annual reports represent types of longer reports. They usually include an overview of a company's activities, a financial summary, detailed product and service information, and market conditions. But it's not just a report of the company's performance in the sales market, but also an overview of its social responsibility programs and sustainability activities.

The format of annual report writing depends on the company's specific requirements, the needs of its stakeholder, and the regulation of the country it's based.

Student Research Report Sample

Here is a sample report that uses the format and tips we discussed in the article. Remember, this is just an example. Feel free to adjust the content to match your own research findings and analysis.

Meanwhile, if you need an expert to help with your physics homework, our physics helper is ready to take on the job!

The Bottom Line

By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you can create a clear, concise, and effective report. Remember to:

• Understand the brief thoroughly before you start.
• Use headings and subheadings to organize your report logically.
• Keep your writing clear, focusing on facts and analysis.
• Tailor your content to your audience and purpose.
• Proofread carefully to ensure clarity and accuracy.

And if you're short on time for other assignments, just say, ' write my argumentative essay ,' and our expert writers will gladly help you out.

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How to Write a Short Report?

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Annie Lambert

specializes in creating authoritative content on marketing, business, and finance, with a versatile ability to handle any essay type and dissertations. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for social issues, her writing not only educates but also inspires action. On EssayPro blog, Annie delivers detailed guides and thought-provoking discussions on pressing economic and social topics. When not writing, she’s a guest speaker at various business seminars.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Added new sections like defining reports, jobs that use reports, checklist, etc
• Added a new sample, FAQs and a checklist
• Updated writing guidelines
• REPORT WRITING TOP TIP Writing the report: where do I start? TOP TIP Understand the brief . (n.d.). https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/skillscentre/pdfx27sampbookmarks/ReportWriting.pdf  
• EAP Writing Reports . (n.d.). Www.uefap.com. Retrieved June 26, 2024, from https://www.uefap.com/writing/genre/report.htm  

Report Writing Format, Tips, Samples and Examples

• December 11, 2023
• 8 minutes read
• Listen to this
• What is Report Writing? Learn how to write a report, format, topics, tips, common mistakes and Examples of Report Writing.

How to Write a Report: A Complete Guide (Format, Tips, Common Mistakes, Samples and Examples of Report Writing)

Struggling to write clear, concise reports that impress? Fear not! This blog is your one-stop guide to mastering report writing . Learn the essential format, uncover impactful tips, avoid common pitfalls, and get inspired by real-world examples.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or simply seeking to communicate effectively, this blog empowers you to craft compelling reports that leave a lasting impression.

Must Read: Notice Writing: How to write, Format, Examples

What is Report Writing ?

Report Writing – Writing reports is an organized method of communicating ideas, analysis, and conclusions to a target audience for a predetermined goal. It entails the methodical presentation of information, statistics, and suggestions, frequently drawn from study or inquiry.

Its main goal is to inform, convince, or suggest actions, which makes it a crucial ability in a variety of professional domains.

A well-written report usually has a concise conclusion, a well-thought-out analysis, a clear introduction, a thorough methodology, and a presentation of the findings.

It doesn’t matter what format is used as long as information is delivered in a logical manner, supports decision-making, and fosters understanding among stakeholders.

Must Read : Article Writing Format, Objective, Common Mistakes, and Samples

Format of Report Writing 

• Title Page:
• Title of the report.
• Author’s name.
• Date of submission.
• Any relevant institutional affiliations.
• Abstract/Summary:
• A brief overview of the report’s key points.
• Summarizes the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Table of Contents:
• Lists all sections and subsections with corresponding page numbers.

Introduction:

• Provides background information on the subject.
• Clearly states the purpose and objectives of the report.
• Methodology:
• Details how the information was gathered or the experiment conducted.
• Includes any relevant procedures, tools, or techniques used.
• Findings/Results:
• Presents the main outcomes, data, or observations.
• Often includes visual aids such as charts, graphs, or tables.
• Discussion:
• Analyzes and interprets the results.
• Provides context and explanations for the findings.

Conclusion:

• Summarizes the key points.
• May include recommendations or implications.

Must Read: Directed Writing: Format, Benefits, Topics, Common Mistakes and Examples

Report Writing Examples – Solved Questions from previous papers

Example 1: historical event report.

Question : Write a report on the historical significance of the “ Battle of Willow Creek ” based on the research of Sarah Turner. Analyze the key events, outcomes, and the lasting impact on the region.

Solved Report:

Title: Historical Event Report – The “Battle of Willow Creek” by Sarah Turner

This report delves into the historical significance of the “Battle of Willow Creek” based on the research of Sarah Turner. Examining key events, outcomes, and the lasting impact on the region, it sheds light on a pivotal moment in our local history.

Sarah Turner’s extensive research on the “Battle of Willow Creek” provides a unique opportunity to explore a critical chapter in our local history. This report aims to unravel the intricacies of this historical event.

Key Events:

The Battle of Willow Creek unfolded on [date] between [opposing forces]. Sarah Turner’s research meticulously outlines the sequence of events leading to the conflict, including the political climate, disputes over resources, and the strategies employed by both sides.

Through Turner’s insights, we gain a nuanced understanding of the immediate outcomes of the battle, such as changes in territorial control and the impact on the local population. The report highlights the consequences that rippled through subsequent years.

Lasting Impact:

Sarah Turner’s research underscores the enduring impact of the Battle of Willow Creek on the region’s development, cultural identity, and socio-political landscape. The report examines how the event shaped the community we know today.

The “Battle of Willow Creek,” as explored by Sarah Turner, emerges as a significant historical event with far-reaching consequences. Understanding its intricacies enriches our appreciation of local history and its role in shaping our community.

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Report writing Samples

 book review report.

Title: Book Review – “The Lost City” by Emily Rodriguez

“The Lost City” by Emily Rodriguez is an enthralling adventure novel that takes readers on a captivating journey through uncharted territories. The author weaves a tale of mystery, discovery, and self-realization that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

Themes and Characters:

Rodriguez skillfully explores themes of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of the unknown. The characters are well-developed, each contributing uniquely to the narrative. The protagonist’s transformation throughout the story adds depth to the overall theme of self-discovery.

Plot and Pacing:

The plot is intricately crafted, with twists and turns that maintain suspense and intrigue. Rodriguez’s ability to balance action scenes with moments of introspection contributes to the novel’s well-paced narrative.

Writing Style:

The author’s writing style is engaging and descriptive, allowing readers to vividly envision the settings and empathize with the characters. Dialogue flows naturally, enhancing the overall readability of the book.

“The Lost City” is a commendable work by Emily Rodriguez, showcasing her storytelling prowess and ability to create a captivating narrative. This novel is recommended for readers who enjoy adventure, mystery, and character-driven stories.

Must Read: What is Descriptive Writing? Learn how to write, Examples and Secret Tips

Report Writing Tips

Recognise your audience:

Take into account your target audience’s expectations and degree of knowledge. Adjust the content, tone, and language to the readers’ needs.

Precision and succinctness:

To communicate your point, use language that is simple and unambiguous. Steer clear of convoluted sentences or needless jargon that could confuse the reader.

Logical Structure:

Organize your report with a clear and logical structure, including sections like introduction, methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion.

Use headings and subheadings to improve readability.

Introduction with Purpose:

Clearly state the purpose, objectives, and scope of the report in the introduction.

Provide context to help readers understand the importance of the information presented.

Methodology Details:

Clearly explain the methods or processes used to gather information.

Include details that would allow others to replicate the study or experiment.

Presentation of Findings:

Give a well-organized and structured presentation of your findings.

Employ graphics (tables, graphs, and charts) to support the text and improve comprehension.

Talk and Interpretation:

Examine the findings and talk about the ramifications.

Explain the significance of the results and how they relate to the main goal.

Brief Conclusion:

Recap the main ideas in the conclusion.

Indicate in detail any suggestions or actions that should be implemented in light of the results.

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Common mistakes for Report Writing 

Insufficient defining:.

Error: Employing ambiguous or imprecise wording that could cause misunderstandings.

Impact: It’s possible that readers won’t grasp the content, which could cause misunderstandings and confusion.

Solution: Explain difficult concepts, use clear language, and express ideas clearly.

Inadequate Coordination:

Error: Not adhering to a coherent and systematic format for the report.

Impact: The report’s overall effectiveness may be lowered by readers finding it difficult to follow the information’s flow due to the report’s lack of structure.

Solution: Make sure the sections are arranged clearly and sequentially, each of which adds to the report’s overall coherence.

Inadequate Research:

Error: Conducting insufficient research or relying on incomplete data.

Impact: Inaccuracies in data or lack of comprehensive information can weaken the report’s credibility and reliability.

Solution: Thoroughly research the topic, use reliable sources, and gather comprehensive data to support your findings.

Inconsistent Formatting:

Error: Using inconsistent formatting for headings, fonts, or spacing throughout the report.

Impact: Inconsistent formatting can make the report look unprofessional and distract from the content.

Solution: Maintain a uniform format for headings, fonts, and spacing to enhance the visual appeal and professionalism of the report.

Unsubstantiated Conclusions:

Error: Drawing conclusions that are not adequately supported by the evidence or findings presented.

Impact: Unsubstantiated conclusions can undermine the report’s credibility and weaken the overall argument.

Solution: Ensure that your conclusions are directly derived from the results and are logically connected to your research objectives, providing sufficient evidence to support your claims.

To sum up, proficient report writing necessitates precision, organization, and clarity. Making impactful reports requires avoiding common errors like ambiguous wording, shoddy organization, inadequate research, inconsistent formatting, and conclusions that are not supported by evidence.

One can improve the caliber and legitimacy of their reports by following a logical format, carrying out extensive research, staying clear, and providing conclusions that are supported by evidence.

Aiming for linguistic accuracy and meticulousness guarantees that the desired meaning is communicated successfully, promoting a deeper comprehension of the topic among readers.

Pankaj Dhiman

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How to Write a Report Properly and Effectively

Written by: Chloe West

If you’re looking for the best way to document information or share your findings in a professional and well thought out manner, a report might be the best way to go. But if you don’t know how to write a report, where should you start?

Report writing is different from many other types of writing, which is why it’s a good idea to do your due diligence before you get started.

What do you need to include in your report? How should you flesh out each section?

There are different report formats based on your specific needs, but the structure tends to remain similar for each.

Let’s go over our steps for how to write a report properly so you can effectively communicate your findings.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit report templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

1 Determine Your Objective

First and foremost, why are you writing this report? What is the point or goal? Is this an academic report or is it business-related? Perhaps you need to put together an annual report , sales report or financial report.

Also consider who your audience is. Your report might be internal for company use only, or it might be external to present to investors, customers and more.

Is this a periodic report that you’re going to have to revisit every month, quarter or year? Is it for people above you in the company or is it for your department?

Understanding your objective is important to know what your content will contain and where you’ll need to go to pull your information.

2 Put Together an Outline

Never start writing anything without putting together an outline first. This will help you to structure your report, understand what resources you need in order to find all of your results and materials and more.

This outline doesn’t need to be too in depth, but it does give you a starting point for your full report. You can then refer back to this outline throughout your report writing process .

Start with the purpose or objective of your report, then list out your main points and a few bullets underneath that you want to make sure you cover in the contents of your report.

Your outline might look something like this:

3 Gather Your Research

Start searching around your topic and gather the research you need to put together your report. This might be online sources, journals, experiments or just analytics and numbers from your company CRM or sales software .

Add all of the research to your outline so that you know which numbers and information pertains to each of your main points.

Once you’ve finished gathering everything you need to complete your report, you can get started writing.

You might need to go back and find more information and do more research throughout, and that’s okay. But once you feel like you have a grasp of the material you need to cover, you can move onto the next step and get started with a report generator .

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4 How to Write a Report Cover Page

Now we’re ready to get started on your report cover page! When you’re first working on your cover page, it’s a good idea to start with a template .

This helps you to spice up your report design and make it more than a black and white word document. It can also help you design your title page in an aesthetically pleasing way so it stands out to your audience.

Check out this Visme report template cover page below.

Customize this report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

When determining how to write a report cover page, there are up to five things you will want to include, the most important of which is naturally your report’s title.

Others include who the report is for, who the report was prepared by (you!), the date or your department within your company.

Having this information right on the report cover page is the best way to let your reader know at a glance exactly what is inside of the report and who it’s for.

5 How to Write a Report Table of Contents

The next part of your report will be your table of contents. While you might not know exactly how your report will be laid out yet, your outline will help you get started here.

As you write your report – or even when you finish writing it – you can come back and update the table of contents to match your headings and subheadings.

Because you want to make it easy to navigate, ensure that all of your page titles and subheadings correlate exactly with what you place in your table of contents.

Take a look at the table of contents in the below report template.

See how they have obvious dividers so it’s easy to determine which section begins on which page? You want to make sure you emulate something similar.

There are many different ways to do this.

For one, you can right align your table of contents so the titles are directly next to the page numbers, like in the example below that was designed right in Visme.

Or you can have a dotted line or other visual flow element that guides the reader’s eye across the table straight to the page number.

Just make sure there’s no confusion in locating the correct page number for each section.

6 How to Write a Report Introduction

The first section you start writing in your report is always a summary or introduction . This should stretch across just one or two pages to give your reader a brief glimpse into what your results or findings are.

Talk about the methodology used to gather the material you cover within your report, whether it was research, an experiment, gathering analytics, looking through CRM data , calculating revenue and more.

You also want to include visuals to help tell your story. This could be anything from photography to icons or graphics. You might even include shapes to help with your design.

Here’s an example of a proposal report introduction with a nice page design and black and white photo to offset the text.

7 How to Write a Report Body

Now we’re getting into the meat of your report. You’ve already put together your outline, gathered your research and created your cover page, table of contents and introduction.

This means you should know exactly what the main part of your report is going to contain, making it easier for you to dive into the body.

While reports can vary greatly in length, with shorter reports containing 7-15 pages and longer reports ranging anywhere from 30-50 pages or more, the length tends to depend on your topic. Shorter reports focus on one single topic with longer reports covering multiple.

Take these steps to properly write an effective report body or get assignment writing help .

Split the body into sections.

Although you’ll have each of your main headers in your table of contents – i.e., your introduction, body and conclusion – you’ll also want to include your subheadings.

And you’ll want to divide your report body into various sections based on what it covers.

If you’re creating an annual report, you might divide this up by different months. If you’re creating a financial report, perhaps you’ll divide it up based on various stats and numbers.

There are many different ways to divide your report body into sections, but just like we’ve broken this article up into different subheadings, it’s important to do so. This helps make it easier for your reader to digest each of the different sections.

Take a look at how this report template has broken up the body into bite-sized chunks.

Dive into your results and findings.

This is where you’ll really get into all of the research you gathered and talk about your topic. Over the course of the subheadings you’ve previously laid out, flesh each one out with the results you’ve discovered.

Reports tend to be more formal in nature, so keep that in mind as you write. Veer away from a more conversational tone, avoid the use of contractions and properly cite all of your sources and results.

Make sure you cover every aspect of your report’s topics, including the most relevant statistics, up-to-date research and more.

Use data visualizations and graphic organizers.

Don’t fill your report to the brim with just text. Including images, icons, graphics, charts and graphic organizers is a great way to further visualize your content and make your point.

If you’re creating a financial report or sales report, data visualizations are key to showcasing your numbers and statistics in an easily digestible way.

Here’s an example of one of our templates that includes charts and graphs within the report pages to make it even easier to understand.

Learning how to tell a story with data is essential to creating a good report. But you don’t want to stop at just data visualization tools within your report.

Incorporating photos and graphics into your report design is another great way to represent your text and engage your reader. Reports get a bad rap for being boring walls of text, but we encourage you to think outside the box.

Use stock photography and vector icons to help convey your point.

Take a look at the template page below and how it creatively brings in various types of visuals to add more to the page.

Test out each of Visme’s data visualization tools, stock photo library, vector icon selection and more to help your report stand out from the crowd.

Cover the materials used.

Make sure you include which materials were used to find your results and each of your sources. Sometimes this section will be short and sweet, by simply mentioning your CRM software or other tools that you used to pull numbers. Others will be longer.

Whether you used your company’s data or determined your results using an experiment or a third-party source, be sure to include each and every resource used within your report.

Take advantage of Visme's Dynamic Fields to ensure your personal and company data is accurate and consistent throughout your reports. 

Summarize each section.

Not every section in your report body will be long enough to need a summary, but if you have a section that includes a lot of information or stretches across a couple of pages, it’s a good idea to summarize it at the end.

This will help your reader make sure they retained all of the information and allow them to skim through your report at a later date by reading your section summaries.

8 How to Write a Report Conclusion

You’re almost done! Now it’s time to write your conclusion and finalize your report.

First, start by summarizing your points. Yes, you wrote small summaries for each section in the body, but now you’re going to give an overall summary of your report’s contents.

Refer to your findings and discuss what they mean. While your body was more for demonstrating your results, you can use the conclusion to talk about their context in the real world, or what they mean for your business.

Then you’ll want to talk about next steps. If your results weren’t as positive as you were hoping, write about what the plan is to make sure they improve for the next time around. Lay out your goals and strategies for using these findings.

And make sure you’re not introducing any new information. While you may be talking about the information in a different way, you should still be exclusively referring to data and content that is already found in your report.

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9 Include Your Sources

You covered your materials and resources used in a section of your report body, but the end of each report should include an entire bibliography that lists each one of your sources in alphabetical order so the reader can easily access more information.

You can also include acknowledgements, giving thanks to particular organizations or people that helped you put together your report contents.

And depending on the purpose of your report, you might also want to include a glossary at the end to help define industry terms for external readers who might not fully understand.

Ready to get started on your next report? Visme makes it easy with premade report templates that allow you to plug in your information and send your report off to its audience!

Learn how to write a report that stands out by following the steps laid out in this article and inputting into a stunning template. Sign up for your Visme account to get started today.

Plus, learn how to design beautiful documents like your next report by watching our quick 5-minute tutorial video.

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Chloe West is the content marketing manager at Visme. Her experience in digital marketing includes everything from social media, blogging, email marketing to graphic design, strategy creation and implementation, and more. During her spare time, she enjoys exploring her home city of Charleston with her son.

How to Write a Report

A report is an academic paper that is used to present findings after a research has been completed. It usually contains the results of the research, their analysis and conclusions on the topic.

Usually, a report contains the following sections:

• Introduction
• Methodology

Depending on the area of study, as well as your professor’s requirements, the format and the content of the report might change. To learn how to write a report , keep reading our guide!

What is a report ?

A report is a presentation of your findings. They are often used by scholars to explain the results of an inquiry, investigation, experiment, or study. One may think that a report sounds very similar to a research paper, yet there are some key differences. 

Research papers tend to be more detailed, and hence, lengthier than report papers. A research paper’s main goal is to add new knowledge to a particular area of study, while a report aims to provide relevant information on a topic, regardless if it’s been discussed before.

What’s a typical report format ?

A report usually consists of the same chapters as any other serious academic paper. It has your basic Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion chapters. However, the exact structure may differ depending on your professor’s instructions. 

Note that a report does not include a review of literature. That is because a report focuses on one experiment, study or investigation, rather than looking at multiple sources. Although in some cases, a review of several sources might be required.

When it comes to formatting, you have to consult with your tutor. They may require you to use a certain formatting style depending on their preference or the discipline you are studying.

What are the steps to report writing?

When it comes to writing, the steps are pretty much the same as with other similar academic papers. You should focus on the preparation to ensure the final paper is a success. It also helps to have the steps mapped out before you start writing. This way, you can plan your time better.

• Review the task
• Choose the topic
• Conduct preliminary research
• Write an outline
• Write the intro
• Outline your methods
• Describe the results
• Discuss your findings
• Conclude the paper

These are the most basic steps to create a report, yet they are necessary to make sure your paper flows correctly.

How hard is it to write?

Writing a report is not hard as long as you follow the steps described above. Here’s a detailed instruction:

• Read through the assignment thoroughly to ensure you understand it. It’s best to consult with your professor if anything is unclear.
• If your professor gives you the freedom to choose a topic, make sure to pick the one you’ll enjoy writing. If they assign a topic for you, ask if you can tweak and adjust it to fit you better.
• Gather the sources you may need for writing your paper. Collect them in a separate folder on your computer to ensure easy access.
• Outline and plan all the chapters ahead of time and confirm with your professor. This will ensure you don’t have to scrap the entire paper mid-writing if one chapter is wrong.
• Begin to write a report with the introduction. State your goals and purpose of the paper, prove background information on the topic.
• Choose the methods you’ll use for this research and clearly describe them in your methodology section.
• Provide an objective presentation of the results. If need be, use visual aids like graphs, tables and charts to illustrate numbers.
• Present a clear and deep analysis of your findings. Make the connection to the goal of the paper and see if the objective has been met. Discuss the limitations as well.
• Conclude the report with a short summary of the findings and their significance. 
• Revise and edit the paper to ensure it’s error-free, flows naturally and is easy to read.
• Ensure all citations meet the required formatting style and all the references are done in accordance with the guide.

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What methods are used for an academic report?

To write this type of academic paper, you may use many different methods. Your choice mainly depends on the kind of research you are performing. The methods may also vary for different disciplines. If this is all a bit too confusing, you can text ‘ write my report ’ to our support team, and they will help you. But below are some of the methods typically used for reports:

• Qualitative research
• Quantitative research
• Mixed methods
• Observations
• Experimental methods

How to write a report? 

To write a report effectively, start by understanding its purpose and audience. Gather relevant information, outline the structure, and present findings logically. Ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy throughout. Revise and proofread before submission.

The most important tip for writing is to listen to your professor. Be attentive in class, as they may mention some bits and pieces of valuable information in the duration of the term. They might be testing you and not give you that advice when it’s actual writing time. 

Another important tip is to consult with them every step of the way. Come up to the professor in their office hours and show your progress. Your teacher might offer valuable critique and advice and guide you in the right direction. 

And finally, make sure that you read the assignment through. It might sound basic, but those assignment sheets tend to be written in overly complicated academic language, and if you’re not used to that, it’s easy to miss out on some key details.

How to present results?

In every report writing assignment, you will need to write a results chapter. This is the section where you take all your findings and dump them on paper, except not literally. For your results section to be clear and organized, the findings must be presented in a concise, focused way.

If your methods involve questions (i.e., surveys), make sure to present answers to them in the same order as the questions. If you interview people, try not to flood the paper with quotes. Instead, add the interviews as an appendix and focus on the key findings. If the methods involve numerical data, present it visually. 

Write the discussion chapter

So, how to create a report with the discussion chapter? In it, you’ll need to circle back to your research questions and objectives of the paper. Then, briefly summarize the findings and discuss how the results helped you achieve that objective or answer the research question. 

It’s important to talk about the significance of your findings and what they mean in regards to the existing body of knowledge or your research question. Acknowledge and address the limitations you’ve faced in the course of your research. It could be sample size, limitations in scope or location.

Write a conclusion

When you write a report, you obviously have to bring it to a logical conclusion. For your conclusion to be adequate, you should restate your methods, results and findings briefly. Bring the reader’s attention back to the purpose of the paper and see if you’ve achieved it. Propose a direction for the future inquiry into the topic, considering the limitations you’ve faced. For example, for more extensive research, one could use a broader sample size or a wider age range.

What are the best proofreading techniques?

If you’re wondering how to make a report flow and impress your professor, here’s the answer. You absolutely have to proofread and edit your paper. It’s best to put it away for a day or two after you’ve finished writing. This way, when you come back to it, you’ll be able to look at it afresh. 

Read through the paper carefully several times. You are bound to find some illogical sentences, spelling mistakes or misused words. Reading the paper aloud will also be beneficial. Consider giving it to someone else to read, like a family member or a friend. They might be able to point out some parts that make little sense or sound unnatural.

Lab report writing tips

One of the most popular types of reports is a lab report. To write it properly, you should follow our suggestions.

First, state the purpose of your experiment. Mention the findings you expect to discover, but don’t get too hung up on them. The methodology should explain how exactly the experiment was performed - what were the conditions, what materials were used, and if it was performed independently.

Use visual data to present your results. In the discussion, interpret and analyze them. When concluding the paper, tell the reader what has been discovered and what’s the importance of those findings.

To learn more about how to write a lab report , read our in-depth guide. Now, let’s move on.

How to format a report?

When writing a report, one would often resort to using some external sources. But those sources need to be referenced and cited properly. Refer to your college’s formatting manual, or the PurdueOWL guide to find the most accurate formatting guides.

Pay attention to whether or not citations call for page numbers, what needs to be included in the references, etc. 

Google Docs has recently come up with a referencing tool, be sure to check that out. In some cases, you can even copy the reference at the bottom of search results on Google Scholar.

Last steps before submission 

Before you submit the paper, it’s best to consult with your professor. See if they have any last-minute corrections or tips for you. Look at your school’s guide on how to write a report, it might also be very helpful. Proofread your paper one last time and cross-check all the references. Make sure each source has a citation and vice-versa.

Did you like our report guide?

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Frequently asked questions

How to write reports.

Writing reports is not hard when you have all the tools available. Hopefully, this guide by our report writing services professionals has given you some insight into the process, but let’s round it up. You start with researching your topic and saving potentially valuable sources. After that, write an outline. Use it as your writing guide. 

Write the report chapters in the order that you prefer. If you feel more comfortable starting with methods, nobody will know you wrote the intro last. Present and discuss your results, analyze them and conclude the paper. Proofread it a few times, format, and it’s ready to go!

How many pages should a report be?

You may be asked to write a report of any length. That length depends on many factors. First of all, your academic level. A first year student will be required to write a much shorter paper than a Master’s student. Also, the subject must be taken into account. Different disciplines require different paper lengths. Even your topic may dictate the length of your report. If you’re not sure, just consult with your professor, and they will help you with the details.

What formatting style is best?

The report writing format is also a variable. There’s no straight answer to that question. It may depend on your professor’s habits, your subject, or even your school’s rules. In short, there’s no way for us to know which formatting style your professor will choose.

How often should I consult with my professor during writing?

The more often, the better. As long as they allow you to actively seek their guidance, you both will benefit from it. They can give you insight into the common mistakes made during writing, help you with analyzing your results and even choosing the report format for your paper.

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Some academic assignments ask for a ‘report’, rather than an essay, and students are often confused about what that really means.

Likewise, in business, confronted with a request for a ‘report’ to a senior manager, many people struggle to know what to write.

Confusion often arises about the writing style, what to include, the language to use, the length of the document and other factors.

This page aims to disentangle some of these elements, and provide you with some advice designed to help you to write a good report.

What is a Report?

In academia there is some overlap between reports and essays, and the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, but reports are more likely to be needed for business, scientific and technical subjects, and in the workplace.

Whereas an essay presents arguments and reasoning, a report concentrates on facts.

Essentially, a report is a short, sharp, concise document which is written for a particular purpose and audience. It generally sets outs and analyses a situation or problem, often making recommendations for future action. It is a factual paper, and needs to be clear and well-structured.

Requirements for the precise form and content of a report will vary between organisation and departments and in study between courses, from tutor to tutor, as well as between subjects, so it’s worth finding out if there are any specific guidelines before you start.

Reports may contain some or all of the following elements:

• A description of a sequence of events or a situation;
• Some interpretation of the significance of these events or situation, whether solely your own analysis or informed by the views of others, always carefully referenced of course (see our page on Academic Referencing for more information);
• 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; and
• 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 designed to lead people through the information in a structured way, but also to enable them to find the information that they want quickly and easily.

Reports usually, therefore, have numbered sections and subsections, and a clear and full contents page listing each heading. It follows that page numbering is important.

Modern word processors have features to add tables of contents (ToC) and page numbers as well as styled headings; you should take advantage of these as they update automatically as you edit your report, moving, adding or deleting sections.

Report Writing

Getting started: prior preparation and planning.

The structure of a report is very important to lead the reader through your thinking to a course of action and/or decision. It’s worth taking a bit of time to plan it out beforehand.

Step 1: Know your brief

You will usually receive a clear brief for a report, including what you are studying and for whom the report should be prepared.

First of all, consider your brief very carefully and make sure that you are clear who the report is for (if you're a student then not just your tutor, but who it is supposed to be written for), and why you are writing it, as well as what you want the reader to do at the end of reading: make a decision or agree a recommendation, perhaps.

Step 2: Keep your brief in mind at all times

During your planning and writing, make sure that you keep your brief in mind: who are you writing for, and why are you writing?

All your thinking needs to be focused on that, which may require you to be ruthless in your reading and thinking. Anything irrelevant should be discarded.

As you read and research, try to organise your work into sections by theme, a bit like writing a Literature Review .

Make sure that you keep track of your references, especially for academic work. Although referencing is perhaps less important in the workplace, it’s also important that you can substantiate any assertions that you make so it’s helpful to keep track of your sources of information.

The Structure of a Report

Like the precise content, requirements for structure vary, so do check what’s set out in any guidance.

However, as a rough guide, you should plan to include at the very least an executive summary, introduction, the main body of your report, and a section containing your conclusions and any recommendations.

Executive Summary

The executive summary or abstract , for a scientific report, is a brief summary of the contents. It’s worth writing this last, when you know the key points to draw out. It should be no more than half a page to a page in length.

Remember the executive summary is designed to give busy 'executives' a quick summary of the contents of the report.

Introduction

The introduction sets out what you plan to say and provides a brief summary of the problem under discussion. It should also touch briefly on your conclusions.

Report Main Body

The main body of the report should be carefully structured in a way that leads the reader through the issue.

You should split it into sections using numbered sub-headings relating to themes or areas for consideration. For each theme, you should aim to set out clearly and concisely the main issue under discussion and any areas of difficulty or disagreement. It may also include experimental results. All the information that you present should be related back to the brief and the precise subject under discussion.

If it’s not relevant, leave it out.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The conclusion sets out what inferences you draw from the information, including any experimental results. It may include recommendations, or these may be included in a separate section.

Recommendations suggest how you think the situation could be improved, and should be specific, achievable and measurable. If your recommendations have financial implications, you should set these out clearly, with estimated costs if possible.

A Word on Writing Style

When writing a report, your aim should be to be absolutely clear. Above all, it should be easy to read and understand, even to someone with little knowledge of the subject area.

You should therefore aim for crisp, precise text, using plain English, and shorter words rather than longer, with short sentences.

You should also avoid jargon. If you have to use specialist language, you should explain each word as you use it. If you find that you’ve had to explain more than about five words, you’re probably using too much jargon, and need to replace some of it with simpler words.

Consider your audience. If the report is designed to be written for a particular person, check whether you should be writing it to ‘you’ or perhaps in the third person to a job role: ‘The Chief Executive may like to consider…’, or ‘The minister is recommended to agree…’, for example.

A Final Warning

As with any academic assignment or formal piece of writing, your work will benefit from being read over again and edited ruthlessly for sense and style.

Pay particular attention to whether all the information that you have included is relevant. Also remember to check tenses, which person you have written in, grammar and spelling. It’s also worth one last check against any requirements on structure.

For an academic assignment, make sure that you have referenced fully and correctly. As always, check that you have not inadvertently or deliberately plagiarised or copied anything without acknowledging it.

Finally, ask yourself:

“Does my report fulfil its purpose?”

Only if the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ should you send it off to its intended recipient.

Continue to: How to Write a Business Case Planning an Essay

See also: Business Writing Tips Study Skills Writing a Dissertation or Thesis

How to Write a Project Report (with Best Practices Templates for Microsoft 365)

Key Take Aways

What you’ll learn:

• How AI can enhance project reports with predictive analysis and actionable insights
• A 7-step checklist for making sure that your project reports are easily accessible and consumable by stakeholder
• The importance of using project management software for streamlining project reporting, especially in the age of remote working
• Why you should use the Microsoft 365 platform for project reporting and some out of the box examples from BrightWork 365

By: Shubhangi Pandey | Published on: Jun 5, 2024 | Categories: BrightWork 365 , Microsoft 365 , Project Reporting | 0 comments

In an age where remote work is becoming the new every day and data-driven decision-making is more crucial than ever, project reporting has become more than a managerial obligation. It’s an art and a science that combines traditional project tracking with modern metrics and advanced data visualization.

This guide will walk you through seven essential steps to craft a project report that informs and engages your stakeholders. We’ll explore the role of AI in project management, delve into the importance of remote work metrics, and discuss cutting-edge data visualization tools that can make your reports more insightful.

Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or just getting started with project management basics , these steps will help you write a project report that adds value to your organization’s knowledge base for future projects.

Why are Project Management Tools Vital for Report Writing?

The importance of robust project management tools for effective report writing cannot be overstated. Here’s why:

• Centralization : Project management tools are a central hub for all your project data, streamlining project management and reporting processes.
• Efficient Tracking : These tools make it easier to monitor work progress during the monitoring phase of project management , helping you stay on top of tasks and milestones.
• Risk Identification : Advanced features enable you to spot potential risks early, allowing for proactive management.
• Stakeholder Communication : Keep all stakeholders in the loop with real-time updates and comprehensive reports.
• Data Visualization : Utilize features like Power BI to transform raw data into insightful visuals, aiding in better decision-making.
• Custom Reports : Depending on organizational needs, create specialized reports that offer in-depth analysis and recommendations upon project completion.

The Evolution of AI in Project Management Tools for Report Writing

When crafting an impactful project report, your tools can be a game-changer. And let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Artificial Intelligence. AI is no longer just a buzzword – it’s a reality transforming project management and reporting.

According to a systematic literature review published in MDPI , AI’s role in project management is increasingly significant, offering advanced capabilities like predictive analytics and risk assessment.

The Power of Predictive Analytics

These advanced AI tools centralize your project data and offer predictive analytics, risk assessment, and automated insights that can be invaluable for your report. Like Power BI revolutionized data visualization, AI algorithms can sift through massive amounts of data to highlight trends, predict risks, and recommend actions.

Making AI Accessible for Every Project Manager

Imagine reporting on what has happened and providing stakeholders with insights into what could happen. It’s like giving your project report a crystal ball. And don’t worry – embracing AI doesn’t mean you have to be a tech wizard. Many modern project management tools benefit from built-in AI features. 

A thesis from DiVA portal explores the implementation of AI in project management and its impact on working personnel, indicating that AI is becoming more accessible and user-friendly.

The Future of Data-Driven Decision Making

AI’s capabilities equip stakeholders with data-driven insights for strategic decisions. It’s not just about tracking work and identifying risks anymore – it’s about forecasting them and offering actionable solutions. Welcome to the future of project reporting.

Types of Project Reports and Their Formats

Understanding the types of project reports you need to create is crucial. Whether it’s a project summary report, a project health report, or a project completion report, each serves a unique purpose and audience.

Knowing the format, whether a pie chart, bar chart, or complete chart, can also help present the data effectively. Writing a report is a valuable opportunity to evaluate the project, document lessons learned, and add to your organization’s knowledge base for future projects.

Data Visualization: Modern Tools and Techniques

Data visualization has come a long way from simple pie charts and bar graphs. With the advent of AI, we now have tools that can display and interpret data. Think of AI-powered heat maps that can show project bottlenecks or predictive line graphs that forecast project completion based on current trends.

Techniques for Effective Data Presentation

Modern data visualization techniques like interactive dashboards, real-time data streams, and even augmented reality (AR) representations are making it easier than ever to understand complex project metrics. These aren’t just for show; they offer actionable insights that can significantly impact project outcomes.

Making Data Visualization Accessible

The best part? These advanced visualization tools are becoming increasingly user-friendly. You don’t need to be a data scientist to use them. Most project management software now integrates seamlessly with these tools, making it easier than ever to incorporate advanced data visualization into your regular reporting.

The New Normal of Remote Work

In today’s digital age, remote work is becoming the new normal. As project managers, adapting our reporting techniques to this changing landscape is crucial.

Critical Metrics for Remote Teams

When it comes to remote teams, some metrics become even more critical. Think along the lines of ‘Remote Engagement Rate,’ ‘Digital Communication Effectiveness,’ and ‘Virtual Team Collaboration.’ These KPIs offer a more nuanced understanding of how remote teams are performing.

Tools for Tracking Remote Work Metrics

Fortunately, modern project management tools have features specifically designed to track these remote work metrics. From time-tracking software to virtual “water cooler” moments captured for team morale, these tools make remote work measurable in ways we couldn’t have imagined a few years ago.

Project Timeline and Milestones

A well-defined project timeline and key milestones are essential for any project. They not only help in keeping the project on track but also provide a basis for decision-making. 

Project management software can automate this process, ensuring that reports are always up-to-date. Try the steps outlined below for writing better project reports.

Manage Projects with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Teams

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How to Write a Project Report in 7 Steps

Writing an effective project report is crucial for evaluating the project’s health, keeping stakeholders informed, and setting the stage for future projects. Here are seven steps to guide you through the process.

Step 1. Decide the Objective

Take some time during the project management initiation phase to think about the purpose of the report. Do you need to describe, explain, recommend, or persuade? Having a clear goal from the outset ensures that you stay focused, making engaging your reader easier.

Understanding the objective is the cornerstone of effective project reporting. Whether crafting a project summary report or a detailed project performance report, aligning your content with the aim will make your report more coherent and actionable.

This is also the stage where you decide the key milestones and metrics to highlight in the report.

Step 2. Understand Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial for crafting a report that resonates. Whether you’re writing for stakeholders or team members, the language, data, and visuals should be tailored to their preferences and needs.

• Language & Tone : Consider the communication style of your audience. Is a formal or informal tone more appropriate? Tailoring your language can build rapport and make your message more impactful.
• Data & Graphics : Choose the types of data and visual aids that will most effectively convey your message to your specific audience.
• Personal Preferences : Pay attention to how your audience typically communicates, whether in emails or other documents and try to mirror that style.
• Report Format : Different stakeholders may require different levels of detail. A project manager may want an in-depth analysis, while a sponsor only needs an executive summary.
• Audience Personas : Utilize audience personas to guide the tone, style, and content, ensuring your report caters to the diverse needs of all project stakeholders.

Step 3. Report Format and Type

Before you start, check the report format and type. Do you need to submit a written report or deliver a presentation? Do you need to craft a formal, informal, financial, annual, technical, fact-finding, or problem-solving report?

You should also confirm if any project management templates are available within the organization.

Checking these details can save time later on!

Different types of project reports serve other purposes. A project status report provides a snapshot of where the project is, while a project health report dives deeper into metrics. 

Make sure to consider the medium – will this report be a PDF, a slideshow, or an interactive dashboard? The format can significantly impact how the information is received.

Sep 4. Gather the Facts and Data

Including engaging facts and data will solidify your argument. Start with your collaborative project site and work out as needed. Remember to cite sources such as articles, case studies, and interviews.

To build a compelling case in your report, start mining your collaborative project site for crucial metrics like project milestones, resource utilization, and project health. Supplement this with additional data from external sources like articles and case studies. 

Utilize data visualization tools like pie charts or bar graphs to make complex information easily digestible. Ensure the data is current to maintain the report’s credibility and remember to cite your sources for added reliability.

Step 5. Structure the Report

How you arrange your report is pivotal in how well your audience can digest the material. A logically organized report improves readability and amplifies its impact in delivering the core message.

Your report should have a natural progression, leading the reader from one point to the next until a decisive conclusion is reached. Generally, a report is segmented into four key components:

• Opening Overview: This is the first thing your reader will see, and it’s usually crafted after the rest of the report is complete. Make this section compelling, as it often influences whether the reader will delve deeper into the report.
• Introduction: This section sets the stage by offering background information and outlining the report’s cover. Make sure to specify the report’s scope and any methodologies employed.
• Body: Here’s where your writing prowess comes into play. This is the meat of the report, filled with background, analyses, discussions, and actionable recommendations. Utilize data and visual aids to bolster your arguments.
• Final Thoughts: This is where you tie all the report’s elements together in a neat bow. Clearly state the following steps and any actions the reader should consider.

Step 6. Readability

Spend some time making the report accessible and enjoyable to read. If working in Word, the Navigation pane is a great way to help your reader work through the document. Use formatting, visuals, and lists to break up long text sections.

Readability is not just about the text but also about the visual elements like pie charts, bar colors, and even the background color of the report. Use these elements to break the monotony and make the report more engaging. Also, consider adding a table of contents for longer reports to improve navigation.

Step 7. Edit

The first draft of the report is rarely perfect, so you will need to edit and revise the content. If possible, set the document aside for a few days before reviewing it or ask a colleague to review it.

Editing is not just about correcting grammatical errors – it’s also about ensuring that the report aligns with its initial objectives and is tailored to its audience. Use this stage to refine the report’s structure, clarify its key points, and eliminate any unnecessary jargon or technical terms to the reader’s understanding.

Automate and Streamline Project Reporting with Microsoft 365

Project reporting can often be a laborious and time-consuming task. Especially on a project where there are so many moving parts and different people involved, getting a clear picture of what’s going on can be pretty tricky.

That is why we recommend moving to a cloud-based solution for project management and reporting – and you might have guessed it: we recommend Microsoft 365! If you’re considering SharePoint, check out our build vs buy guide.

Why use Microsoft 365 for project reporting?

There are many benefits to using Microsoft 365 as the platform for your project management reporting, including:

• Centralizing your project management and reporting on Microsoft 365 brings your project information into one place, so you can automate reporting and save time. If you’re still using excel for project management , here’s why you should consider switching.
• You can access configurable and filterable reports based on the audience by leveraging the available reporting mechanisms in Power Apps, Power BI, and Excel. Everyone can see the information in the way they need.
• Linked into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, reports can appear in Power Apps, Power BI, exported to Excel, emailed in Outlook, or seen in MS Teams, so reports are available wherever the audience is working.
• Having project data maintained in a single platform means that project reports are always up to date. No more chasing up PMs or team members for the latest document version!

5 Ways you can use BrightWork 365 for Project and Portfolio Reporting

BrightWork 365 is a project and portfolio management solution for Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform. Here are five ways you can leverage BrightWork 365 and Microsoft 365 for more efficient project reporting:

1. Capture Project Status Reports in a few minutes

BrightWork project sites have a “Status” tab where the project manager can capture what is happening. This is not a status report but a place for the PM to log the current status.

It is not a snapshot, as it will change regularly, but the info here will become part of the status report once the PM creates one. once the PM chooses to create one.

The Status Reports tab is where you can capture a snapshot of the project status at a point in time. It will bring in all the info from the “Status” tab, but you have the ability to add comments.

2. Track the project schedule with Gantt

3. Get High-Level Visibility into Programs and Portfolios

BrightWork 365 enables a hierarchy for your project management – with Portfolios being the highest level. For example, a portfolio may house all the projects in a company.

4. Surface Risks and Issues across all projects

One of the most critical elements for senior executives and project stakeholders is being aware of the project risks, especially understanding any issues that arise quickly.

5. Leverage Visual and Interactive Reports

The type and format of a report often depends on the audience. For example, senior executives often want the high-level details of a project. That’s where BrightWork 365 Power BI Dashboards come in.

Spend less time on your project reports with BrightWork 365

Streamline your project reporting process with BrightWork 365, a tool to centralize and automate your project data. Whether you prefer real-time dashboards or scheduled email reports, BrightWork 365 adapts to your needs, eliminating the tedious aspects of project reporting. Consider the following:

• Centralization : BrightWork 365 consolidates all project information into a single platform, making it easier to manage and report.
• Real-Time Reporting : As data is updated, reports are generated in real-time, ensuring you always have the most current information.
• Flexible Access : Reports can be accessed through various methods, including logging in to view customizable dashboards or receiving scheduled email summaries.
• Efficiency : The tool automates the reporting process, freeing time and reducing manual effort.

Conclusion: The Future of Project Reporting

Project reporting has undergone a significant transformation, thanks partly to technological advancements like Microsoft 365 and BrightWork 365 . As we’ve discussed, it’s not just about tracking tasks and milestones anymore. 

Today’s project reports are data-rich, AI-enhanced documents that offer predictive analytics and actionable insights. They also cater to the unique challenges and KPIs relevant to remote teams.

As we look to the future, we can expect even more advancements in project reporting technology. However, the core principles of clear objectives, a deep understanding of your audience, and a well-structured format will remain constant. 

By adhering to the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to adapt to new tools and technologies, ensuring that your project reports remain valuable for decision-making and strategic planning.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness

Image credit 

Shubhangi Pandey

BrightWork Content Marketer

Shubhangi is a product marketing enthusiast, who enjoys testing and sharing the BrightWork 365 project portfolio management solution capabilities with Microsoft 365 users. You can see her take on the experience of the template-driven BrightWork 365 solution, its unique project management success approach, and other personalized services across the site and social channels. Beyond BrightWork, Shubhangi loves to hunt for the newest Chai Latte-serving café, where she can read and write for hours.

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• Academic skills

Report writing

What is a report and how does it differ from writing an essay? Reports are concise and have a formal structure. They are often used to communicate the results or findings of a project.

Essays by contrast are often used to show a tutor what you think about a topic. They are discursive and the structure can be left to the discretion of the writer.

Who and what is the report for?

Before you write a report, you need to be clear about who you are writing the report for and why the report has been commissioned.

Keep the audience in mind as you write your report, think about what they need to know. For example, the report could be for:

• the general public
• academic staff
• senior management
• a customer/client.

Reports are usually assessed on content, structure, layout, language, and referencing. You should consider the focus of your report, for example:

• Are you reporting on an experiment?
• Is the purpose to provide background information?
• Should you be making recommendations for action?

Language of report writing

Reports use clear and concise language, which can differ considerably from essay writing.

They are often broken down in to sections, which each have their own headings and sub-headings. These sections may include bullet points or numbering as well as more structured sentences. Paragraphs are usually shorter in a report than in an essay.

Both essays and reports are examples of academic writing. You are expected to use grammatically correct sentence structure, vocabulary and punctuation.

Academic writing is formal so you should avoid using apostrophes and contractions such as “it’s” and "couldn't". Instead, use “it is” and “could not”.

Structure and organisation

Reports are much more structured than essays. They are divided in to sections and sub-sections that are formatted using bullet points or numbering.

Report structures do vary among disciplines, but the most common structures include the following:

The title page needs to be informative and descriptive, concisely stating the topic of the report.

Abstract (or Executive Summary in business reports)

The abstract is a brief summary of the context, methods, findings and conclusions of the report. It is intended to give the reader an overview of the report before they continue reading, so it is a good idea to write this section last.

An executive summary should outline the key problem and objectives, and then cover the main findings and key recommendations.

Table of contents

Readers will use this table of contents to identify which sections are most relevant to them. You must make sure your contents page correctly represents the structure of your report.

Take a look at this sample contents page.

Introduction

In your introduction you should include information about the background to your research, and what its aims and objectives are. You can also refer to the literature in this section; reporting what is already known about your question/topic, and if there are any gaps. Some reports are also expected to include a section called ‘Terms of references’, where you identify who asked for the report, what is covers, and what its limitations are.

Methodology

If your report involved research activity, you should state what that was, for example you may have interviewed clients, organised some focus groups, or done a literature review. The methodology section should provide an accurate description of the material and procedures used so that others could replicate the experiment you conducted.

Results/findings

The results/findings section should be an objective summary of your findings, which can use tables, graphs, or figures to describe the most important results and trends. You do not need to attempt to provide reasons for your results (this will happen in the discussion section).

In the discussion you are expected to critically evaluate your findings. You may need to re-state what your report was aiming to prove and whether this has been achieved. You should also assess the accuracy and significance of your findings, and show how it fits in the context of previous research.

Conclusion/recommendations

Your conclusion should summarise the outcomes of your report and make suggestions for further research or action to be taken. You may also need to include a list of specific recommendations as a result of your study.

The references are a list of any sources you have used in your report. Your report should use the standard referencing style preferred by your school or department eg Harvard, Numeric, OSCOLA etc.

You should use appendices to expand on points referred to in the main body of the report. If you only have one item it is an appendix, if you have more than one they are called appendices. You can use appendices to provide backup information, usually data or statistics, but it is important that the information contained is directly relevant to the content of the report.

Appendices can be given alphabetical or numerical headings, for example Appendix A, or Appendix 1. The order they appear at the back of your report is determined by the order that they are mentioned in the body of your report. You should refer to your appendices within the text of your report, for example ‘see Appendix B for a breakdown of the questionnaire results’. Don’t forget to list the appendices in your contents page.

Presentation and layout

Reports are written in several sections and may also include visual data such as figures and tables. The layout and presentation is therefore very important.

Your tutor or your module handbook will state how the report should be presented in terms of font sizes, margins, text alignment etc.

You will need good IT skills to manipulate graphical data and work with columns and tables. If you need to improve these skills, try the following online resources:

• Microsoft online training through Linkedin Learning
• Engage web resource on using tables and figures in reports

ON YOUR 1ST ORDER

How To Write A Report Introduction: An Academic Guide

By Laura Brown on 27th July 2023

You are definitely here to learn how to write an introduction to a report. So let’s answer it directly!

Well, an effective introduction of a report should succinctly introduce the topic, state the purpose and scope of the report, and provide a brief overview of the key points to be discussed . A report introduction should capture the reader’s interest and set the tone for the rest of the document.

This could be the summary of what should be included in a report introduction and how you can write it. But this summary is not enough to understand completely how you are going to start your report.

Since you are here, you must have got an academic report to tackle. Well, let’s start by talking about something that’s often overlooked but absolutely crucial – the introduction! Trust us, nailing the introduction can make a world of difference to your entire report.

Your report introduction is like the friendly handshake you offer to your readers. It sets the tone, gives an overview of what’s to come, and entices them to stick around for the good stuff. A well-crafted intro not only impresses your readers but also shows off your writing chops and analytical skills.

So, let’s dive into the world of introductions and make your reports shine right from the very start! Get ready to captivate your audience and make your mark in the educational realm. Let’s go!

1. First, Understand The Purpose Of Your Report

To embark on successful academic writing , it’s crucial to grasp the essence of your report’s purpose. Reports come in various types, including essays, research papers, case studies, and many more! Each type requires a tailored approach to crafting a report introduction that captivates your readers.

Once you have identified the type of report you have got to prepare, the second most important thing is to understand why you have been given this report. What is the purpose, and what could be the possible outcome of completing this report.

2. Analyse The Target Audience

Audience engagement is a critical aspect of your report! Let’s shine a spotlight on your readers, who are the real heroes, and explore the art of tailoring your report introduction to captivate them.

It is really essential to consider the readers’ background and knowledge. Are they seasoned professors, fellow students, or professionals in a specific field? Understanding their perspectives helps you strike the perfect balance of technicality and simplicity in your introduction.

Crafting an introduction that speaks directly to your audience is the key. Inject enthusiasm, sprinkle relatable examples, and address their pain points . Use audience-savvy techniques, ensuring your introduction resonates with readers and leaves them eager to explore your entire report.

So, let’s dive in and charm your audience with an introduction they won’t forget! Let’s get started with how to write a report introduction!

3. Elements of a Strong Introduction

Before we head directly into how to start a report introduction, we need to understand some basic elements of the introduction of a report. A well-crafted introduction not only piques the interest of the readers but also sets the tone for the entire document. To achieve this, it should incorporate the following essential elements:

• Opening Hook or Attention-Grabber

The first few sentences of your introduction should captivate the reader’s attention and compel them to delve further into your report. An opening hook can take various forms, such as a thought-provoking question, a compelling statistic, a vivid anecdote, or a relevant and surprising fact.

• Contextualising the Report’s Topic

Following the attention-grabber, it is essential to provide the necessary context for your report’s topic. This contextualisation allows readers to grasp the background, relevance, and significance of the subject under investigation. Incorporate relevant historical, theoretical, or practical information to situate the report within its broader academic or real-world context.

• Thesis Statement or Main Objective

The thesis statement, often positioned at the end of the opening paragraph of the report introduction, concisely articulates the main objective or central argument of your report. It should be clear, specific, and focused, guiding readers on what they can expect to explore further in the document. A strong thesis statement sets the direction for the entire report, providing a roadmap for readers to navigate the subsequent sections with a clear understanding of the primary purpose.

• Overview of Report Structure and Sections

To facilitate navigation and comprehension, it is crucial to provide readers with an overview of the report’s structure and its key sections. This section-by-section outline acts as a guide, giving readers a glimpse of the organisation and flow of the report.

By skillfully incorporating these elements, your introduction will establish a strong groundwork for your report, fostering engagement and understanding throughout its entirety. Now we can move on with your actual question, how to write an introduction for an academic report! After reading this guide, if you still find anything difficult, you can always contact our report writing service for 24/7 assistance.

4. Crafting the Opening Hook

The art of crafting an engaging opening hook lies in its ability to seize the reader’s attention from the outset. Anecdotes and real-life examples breathe life into the report , making complex topics relatable and captivating for your readers. As you go on to illustrate the practical implications of the subject matter, your readers can immediately connect with the content. It will allow you to foster a sense of curiosity to explore further.

In addition to anecdotes, you should incorporate relevant statistics or data. It infuses credibility and significance into the introduction. Numbers possess a persuasive power, shedding light on the magnitude of an issue and underscoring the urgency of the report’s focus. Thought-provoking questions, on the other hand, spark introspection and stimulate critical thinking. Coupled with compelling quotes, they entice readers to contemplate the broader implications of the subject matter.

An effective opening hook in the report introduction, whether through anecdotes, statistics, or questions, sets the stage for an intellectually stimulating journey through the report’s core ideas. By capturing your reader’s imagination, the introduction paves the way for a rewarding exploration of the report’s findings and insights.

Since, students often search for how to write an introduction for a report example, here is one for you. The opening of the introduction could be like this:

In the age of digital interconnectedness, social media platforms have revolutionised the way we communicate, share information, and interact with others. The allure of virtual networks, however, comes hand in hand with growing concerns about their impact on mental health. As these platforms become an integral part of our daily lives, it is crucial to examine the intricate relationship between social media usage and its potential consequences on individuals’ psychological well-being, a pressing issue that forms the focal point of this academic report.

5. Providing Context for the Report

A well-contextualised introduction is paramount to the comprehension of the matter of the report. You should first delve into the background and history of the topic to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of its evolution over time. This historical perspective lays the groundwork for appreciating the report’s relevance in the present context.

Moreover, describing the current relevance and significance of the topic bridges the gap between theory and practice. It highlights the practical implications and real-world applications, enticing readers to explore further. In addition to how to write a report introduction, it is essential to address the previous research or related studies to showcase the existing body of knowledge and identify gaps that the current report aims to fill.

By combining historical context, present-day relevance, and existing research, the introduction forges a clear pathway for readers to navigate through the report’s findings, enriching their understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.

Let’s have a look at an example from the sample report introduction:

The exponential rise of social media has transformed the dynamics of social interactions, communication, and information dissemination, transcending geographical boundaries. With billions of users actively engaging on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, the implications on mental health have garnered significant attention from researchers, health professionals, and society at large. This report endeavours to delve into the multifaceted impacts of social media on mental health, analysing its effects on emotional well-being, self-esteem, and psychological distress.

6. Formulating a Clear Thesis Statement

As we go on to learn how to write an introduction of a report, we should know about the thesis statement. A strong thesis statement is like the backbone of your whole work. It’s the core purpose and focus of what you are doing. When you define the main objective and scope in your thesis, it gives your readers a sneak peek into what you are trying to achieve.

To make it effective, keep the thesis concise and specific. Avoid any vagueness or ambiguity . This will help sharpen the direction of the report and guide your readers to understand the main argument better.

When your thesis aligns with the objectives of your report, everything flows more smoothly. It acts as a navigational tool, guiding you and your readers through all the details and helping everyone grasp the subject matter better. So, get ready to make your report shine with a killer thesis statement!

Let’s have an example of a thesis statement from the introduction of a report:

This report aims to explore the complexities of the relationship between social media usage and mental health, considering both positive and negative aspects. By synthesising existing research, psychological theories, and empirical evidence, we seek to shed light on the various mechanisms through which social media can influence mental health outcomes. Ultimately, this examination underscores the importance of promoting digital well-being and fostering responsible social media use for individuals of all ages.

7. Outlining the Report Structure

An effectively outlined report structure serves as a roadmap for readers. It gives readers a clear and organised overview of what’s inside. First off, listing the major sections or points give them a quick glimpse of how it’s all laid out.

And here’s the trick: a brief description of each section helps readers know what to expect. That way, they can read with focus and easily find what they need later.

When you highlight the logical progression of the report, it keeps everything flowing smoothly. Each section builds upon the previous ones, creating a cohesive narrative. This way, readers can get a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Putting it all together, a well-structured report becomes a valuable guide for your readers. It leads them through all the details and ensures a rewarding and informed reading experience.

Do’s & Don’ts of How to Make a Report Introduction

Concluding on How to Write a Good Introduction for a Report

A strong introduction forms the backbone of your report, as it plays a pivotal role in engaging readers and guiding their journey through the study’s contents. By recapitulating the significance of a well-crafted introduction, we underscore how it captivates readers from the outset, fostering their interest and curiosity.

The introduction sets the tone for the entire report, shaping readers’ perceptions and expectations. As this guide highlights the key elements for creating an effective introduction and how to start writing a report introduction, we encourage students to apply these principles to their own reports. By doing so, they can elevate the impact of their work, leaving a lasting impression on their readers.

We hope that this guide will help you through the introduction process. You can further go on to read how to write a conclusion for a report , so that you can create an excellent report for you.

Laura Brown, a senior content writer who writes actionable blogs at Crowd Writer.

How To Write A Report For A Formal Or Academic Occasion?

If you are immersed in academic, research, or the business world, it is likely that sooner or later (or even right now), you will have to face the task of report writing. Therefore, knowing how to write a report can save your life.

Here you can find a practical guide which will help you know the appropriate techniques needed in writing a report so that it will comply with standards. If you follow these steps to the letter, you will not only learn the art of making a report, but you will be the best at it.

What Is Report Writing?

Before getting into a subject and teaching you  how to write a good paper , you need to know clearly what you are facing. Therefore, the first thing is to delve a bit into the concept and define it.

A formal report or report essay is a text written in prose form, exposing the results of an investigation, a business process, or the analysis of a particular topic.

This type of report is used as an expository tool in different areas such as business, scientific, literary, or even in the legal field.

A report paper aims to present the reader with an analysis of results in the framework of an investigation, with special emphasis on the conclusions and processes that led to a certain result.

In the business area, brief reports are used to account for progress in different processes within the company or to disclose timely information requested by external entities.

Types Of Reports

There are various types of reports from projects or business to lab reports, let’s take a look at these two generic types.

Business Or Project Report

Business report writing is an assignment which the writer or researcher is required to analyze a situation while using standard management theories to arrive at some recommendations for an improved result.

An example, within a business organization, can be when workers are evaluated or when another company is studied. In essence, we can have a report as a tool used in a research study or in a scientific field.

Academic Report

Another general type is an academic report. These could be book reports, movie reviews, research, and even lab reports.

Academic reports are different from other types with one of the reasons being that they must be written and structured according to a recommended style format such as APA or MLA.

Report Writing Format And Style

If your teacher or instructor doesn’t state otherwise, APA or AP is the best formatting style for writing academic and business reports or other journalistic writings.

Also, the best type of writing style used for producing reports is the formal type. To achieve this, you may want to steer clear of the active voice and use the passive voice more. The active voice sound subjective. Meanwhile, report writing is supposed to be objective and devoid of personal opinions and views.

Report Structure

To write an effective report, you must choose and maintain a certain structure. Check out the correct way to structure your paper.

Executive Summary

Executive summaries are frequently used more in business reports than academic ones. They are used in situations where the entire report is voluminous. Like a newspaper news article, the writer or researcher seeks to capture the entire gist in a few paragraphs before presenting the full paper.

The introduction is the presentation of your report where you must explain in brief words what the work is about. To make an effective introduction, you must answer these questions: what, how, where, and why. If you answer each of these questions and join them with logical connectors, you will surely have a great introduction.

Body Paragraphs

In developing the body paragraphs, you have to expose the subject in the most accurate way possible, explaining the results found through the use of clear arguments.

The body is dedicated to the analysis of the facts. Then, you move on to the synthesis, that is, to the phase which you interpret what happened and get the useful indications for the future.

Finally, you must finalize the text of the document with the conclusions. You take stock of all your work. The conclusion, as the name implies, is the synthesis of what is addressed in your report. Try to write brief conclusions that summarize the most relevant points of the topic addressed

The appendix cannot be mistaken for references, citations, or the bibliography. Appendices, in short, are added text which necessarily aren’t the main idea raised in the article, but are important in the making of the written report.

In principle, to write a report, you can use this standard structure:

• Introduction
• Presentation of the subject treated
• Motivations for choosing the topic
• Purpose of the work
• Phases and hours of work
• People involved in the work and their role
• Body paragraphs
• Presentation of the aspects examined
• Methods followed
• Work evaluation
• Possible difficulties encountered
• Final reflections on the evidence that emerged from the document
• Proposals for the future

Important Report Writing Tips

Before you begin a report,  there are some talking points, tips and report writing skills such as fact gathering,  persuasive writing technique , theoretical knowledge, etc. which you must observe or put into practice even before getting the report prompt. Check them out:

• Choose your goal well

It will seem trivial to start from here, but the result you want to obtain from your report is really the axis of everything. So, before writing a single line of the report, you should ask yourself: “What is the goal I want to achieve? What is the message I want to convey?

• Put yourself in the role of the recipient

This suggestion is not only valid when a report is written. More generally, it’s worth it for every time you sit down and write any kind of document. Putting yourself in the shoes of your recipient is essential: it helps you process the information contained in your report, to make it more understandable.

• Make a list of the things you need to write

Before writing your report, you should know what issues to touch. In summary: writing a report does not make sense if you do not know where you want to go and how. Take a sheet and write on it what are the topics of the project and the order it touches them. It is about choosing the topic to start from, the central topics and the concepts on which to build the end of the report.

• Search authorized sources

Writing a report means being as objective as possible. In fact, this type of document is an analysis of fact and not a creative history. Therefore, your sources must be reliable and objective. You must mention them in the text of your report: they should be based on truth.

• Be simple, clear and concrete

For your reader, you have an obligation to be extremely clear. Here are some tips on how to be more understandable and, consequently, on how to write a report that is more effective:

• Write short sentences
• Use simple language
• Avoid subordinates: force the reader and eliminate concentration
• Be clear, precise, concrete: avoid whirling words full of smoke
• Avoid a baroque or presumptuous style
• Avoid any technical jargon, unless the report is read by those who understand it
• Use tables and charts

Writing a report means exposing facts in a concrete way. And what is better to support facts than a graph or table? Therefore, use these elements to clarify and give even more concreteness to the things you write in your report.

• Insert photos and images

Images and photographs are much more intuitive than words. This also applies when you need to write a report. Therefore, in your reports, insert photographs or images to document, clarify, and exemplify.

• Format the report text

Writing a report also needs giving it a nice look. This means formatting your text appropriately. For example:

• Choose the most appropriate format for maximum readability, both in case the document is printed or read on a monitor.
• Highlight the most important words and concepts in bold.
• Use numbered and bulleted lists for item lists.
• Divide the text into blocks to avoid an unpleasant effect that makes the text look like a single wall.
• Choose an effective title: A very important point of writing a report is what title to give the document. The title must be absolutely clear, you must say what the report contains. You must not be lazy or use word games. Probably, the best time to choose the title is at the end of the report, when the work is finished, and everything is clear.
• Use summaries

If your report is long, it should be divided into chapters. In this case, the use of abstracts is recommended. A summary is a short text, a hundred or two hundred words maximum, which is placed at the beginning of each chapter and explains to the reader what you will find in that part of the report.

• Read the document carefully

Re-reading what is written is an important phase of writing a report. Verify especially that there are no errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax in the report. Also, verify that the sentences are logically linked to each other. In addition, the topic of each sentence should always be clearly expressed.

• Take care of your spelling. Any text loses its seriousness if it has spelling errors.
• Before you start writing your report, you can make summaries to find your main ideas.
• Create a template where you put in words and the things you should say. This will help you at the time of writing to develop your ideas.
• In case you include specific data of an investigation, book, press release, or other documents that have a copyright, you must quote properly and include a bibliography.

To be a successful report writer, you must to know the concept and the various types. Report writing has a definitive structure and style to follow, as already revealed in this article. Try to follow them correctly, and you’d be assured of a great report paper.

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8.5 Writing Process: Creating an Analytical Report

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Identify the elements of the rhetorical situation for your report.
• Find and focus a topic to write about.
• Gather and analyze information from appropriate sources.
• Distinguish among different kinds of evidence.
• Draft a thesis and create an organizational plan.
• Compose a report that develops ideas and integrates evidence from sources.
• Give and act on productive feedback to works in progress.

You might think that writing comes easily to experienced writers—that they draft stories and college papers all at once, sitting down at the computer and having sentences flow from their fingers like water from a faucet. In reality, most writers engage in a recursive process, pushing forward, stepping back, and repeating steps multiple times as their ideas develop and change. In broad strokes, the steps most writers go through are these:

• Planning and Organization . You will have an easier time drafting if you devote time at the beginning to consider the rhetorical situation for your report, understand your assignment, gather ideas and information, draft a thesis statement, and create an organizational plan.
• Drafting . When you have an idea of what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it, you’re ready to draft. As much as possible, keep going until you have a complete first draft of your report, resisting the urge to go back and rewrite. Save that for after you have completed a first draft.
• Review . Now is the time to get feedback from others, whether from your instructor, your classmates, a tutor in the writing center, your roommate, someone in your family, or someone else you trust to read your writing critically and give you honest feedback.
• Revising . With feedback on your draft, you are ready to revise. You may need to return to an earlier step and make large-scale revisions that involve planning, organizing, and rewriting, or you may need to work mostly on ensuring that your sentences are clear and correct.

Considering the Rhetorical Situation

Like other kinds of writing projects, a report starts with assessing the rhetorical situation —the circumstance in which a writer communicates with an audience of readers about a subject. As the writer of a report, you make choices based on the purpose of your writing, the audience who will read it, the genre of the report, and the expectations of the community and culture in which you are working. A graphic organizer like Table 8.1 can help you begin.

Summary of Assignment

Write an analytical report on a topic that interests you and that you want to know more about. The topic can be contemporary or historical, but it must be one that you can analyze and support with evidence from sources.

The following questions can help you think about a topic suitable for analysis:

• Why or how did ________ happen?
• What are the results or effects of ________?
• Is ________ a problem? If so, why?
• What are examples of ________ or reasons for ________?
• How does ________ compare to or contrast with other issues, concerns, or things?

Consult and cite three to five reliable sources. The sources do not have to be scholarly for this assignment, but they must be credible, trustworthy, and unbiased. Possible sources include academic journals, newspapers, magazines, reputable websites, government publications or agency websites, and visual sources such as TED Talks. You may also use the results of an experiment or survey, and you may want to conduct interviews.

Consider whether visuals and media will enhance your report. Can you present data you collect visually? Would a map, photograph, chart, or other graphic provide interesting and relevant support? Would video or audio allow you to present evidence that you would otherwise need to describe in words?

Another Lens. To gain another analytic view on the topic of your report, consider different people affected by it. Say, for example, that you have decided to report on recent high school graduates and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the final months of their senior year. If you are a recent high school graduate, you might naturally gravitate toward writing about yourself and your peers. But you might also consider the adults in the lives of recent high school graduates—for example, teachers, parents, or grandparents—and how they view the same period. Or you might consider the same topic from the perspective of a college admissions department looking at their incoming freshman class.

Quick Launch: Finding and Focusing a Topic

Coming up with a topic for a report can be daunting because you can report on nearly anything. The topic can easily get too broad, trapping you in the realm of generalizations. The trick is to find a topic that interests you and focus on an angle you can analyze in order to say something significant about it. You can use a graphic organizer to generate ideas, or you can use a concept map similar to the one featured in Writing Process: Thinking Critically About a “Text.”

Asking the Journalist’s Questions

One way to generate ideas about a topic is to ask the five W (and one H) questions, also called the journalist’s questions : Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Try answering the following questions to explore a topic:

Who was or is involved in ________?

What happened/is happening with ________? What were/are the results of ________?

When did ________ happen? Is ________ happening now?

Where did ________ happen, or where is ________ happening?

Why did ________ happen, or why is ________ happening now?

How did ________ happen?

For example, imagine that you have decided to write your analytical report on the effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on high-school students by interviewing students on your college campus. Your questions and answers might look something like those in Table 8.2 :

Asking Focused Questions

Another way to find a topic is to ask focused questions about it. For example, you might ask the following questions about the effect of the 2020 pandemic shutdown on recent high school graduates:

• How did the shutdown change students’ feelings about their senior year?
• How did the shutdown affect their decisions about post-graduation plans, such as work or going to college?
• How did the shutdown affect their academic performance in high school or in college?
• How did/do they feel about continuing their education?
• How did the shutdown affect their social relationships?

Any of these questions might be developed into a thesis for an analytical report. Table 8.3 shows more examples of broad topics and focusing questions.

Gathering Information

Because they are based on information and evidence, most analytical reports require you to do at least some research. Depending on your assignment, you may be able to find reliable information online, or you may need to do primary research by conducting an experiment, a survey, or interviews. For example, if you live among students in their late teens and early twenties, consider what they can tell you about their lives that you might be able to analyze. Returning to or graduating from high school, starting college, or returning to college in the midst of a global pandemic has provided them, for better or worse, with educational and social experiences that are shared widely by people their age and very different from the experiences older adults had at the same age.

Some report assignments will require you to do formal research, an activity that involves finding sources and evaluating them for reliability, reading them carefully, taking notes, and citing all words you quote and ideas you borrow. See Research Process: Accessing and Recording Information and Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources for detailed instruction on conducting research.

Whether you conduct in-depth research or not, keep track of the ideas that come to you and the information you learn. You can write or dictate notes using an app on your phone or computer, or you can jot notes in a journal if you prefer pen and paper. Then, when you are ready to begin organizing your report, you will have a record of your thoughts and information. Always track the sources of information you gather, whether from printed or digital material or from a person you interviewed, so that you can return to the sources if you need more information. And always credit the sources in your report.

Kinds of Evidence

Depending on your assignment and the topic of your report, certain kinds of evidence may be more effective than others. Other kinds of evidence may even be required. As a general rule, choose evidence that is rooted in verifiable facts and experience. In addition, select the evidence that best supports the topic and your approach to the topic, be sure the evidence meets your instructor’s requirements, and cite any evidence you use that comes from a source. The following list contains different kinds of frequently used evidence and an example of each.

Definition : An explanation of a key word, idea, or concept.

The U.S. Census Bureau refers to a “young adult” as a person between 18 and 34 years old.

Example : An illustration of an idea or concept.

The college experience in the fall of 2020 was starkly different from that of previous years. Students who lived in residence halls were assigned to small pods. On-campus dining services were limited. Classes were small and physically distanced or conducted online. Parties were banned.

Expert opinion : A statement by a professional in the field whose opinion is respected.

According to Louise Aronson, MD, geriatrician and author of Elderhood , people over the age of 65 are the happiest of any age group, reporting “less stress, depression, worry, and anger, and more enjoyment, happiness, and satisfaction” (255).

Fact : Information that can be proven correct or accurate.

According to data collected by the NCAA, the academic success of Division I college athletes between 2015 and 2019 was consistently high (Hosick).

Interview : An in-person, phone, or remote conversation that involves an interviewer posing questions to another person or people.

During our interview, I asked Betty about living without a cell phone during the pandemic. She said that before the pandemic, she hadn’t needed a cell phone in her daily activities, but she soon realized that she, and people like her, were increasingly at a disadvantage.

Quotation : The exact words of an author or a speaker.

In response to whether she thought she needed a cell phone, Betty said, “I got along just fine without a cell phone when I could go everywhere in person. The shift to needing a phone came suddenly, and I don’t have extra money in my budget to get one.”

Statistics : A numerical fact or item of data.

The Pew Research Center reported that approximately 25 percent of Hispanic Americans and 17 percent of Black Americans relied on smartphones for online access, compared with 12 percent of White people.

Survey : A structured interview in which respondents (the people who answer the survey questions) are all asked the same questions, either in person or through print or electronic means, and their answers tabulated and interpreted. Surveys discover attitudes, beliefs, or habits of the general public or segments of the population.

A survey of 3,000 mobile phone users in October 2020 showed that 54 percent of respondents used their phones for messaging, while 40 percent used their phones for calls (Steele).

• Visuals : Graphs, figures, tables, photographs and other images, diagrams, charts, maps, videos, and audio recordings, among others.

Thesis and Organization

Drafting a thesis.

When you have a grasp of your topic, move on to the next phase: drafting a thesis. The thesis is the central idea that you will explore and support in your report; all paragraphs in your report should relate to it. In an essay-style analytical report, you will likely express this main idea in a thesis statement of one or two sentences toward the end of the introduction.

For example, if you found that the academic performance of student athletes was higher than that of non-athletes, you might write the following thesis statement:

student sample text Although a common stereotype is that college athletes barely pass their classes, an analysis of athletes’ academic performance indicates that athletes drop fewer classes, earn higher grades, and are more likely to be on track to graduate in four years when compared with their non-athlete peers. end student sample text

The thesis statement often previews the organization of your writing. For example, in his report on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Trevor Garcia wrote the following thesis statement, which detailed the central idea of his report:

student sample text An examination of the U.S. response shows that a reduction of experts in key positions and programs, inaction that led to equipment shortages, and inconsistent policies were three major causes of the spread of the virus and the resulting deaths. end student sample text

After you draft a thesis statement, ask these questions, and examine your thesis as you answer them. Revise your draft as needed.

• Is it interesting? A thesis for a report should answer a question that is worth asking and piques curiosity.
• Is it precise and specific? If you are interested in reducing pollution in a nearby lake, explain how to stop the zebra mussel infestation or reduce the frequent algae blooms.
• Is it manageable? Try to split the difference between having too much information and not having enough.

Organizing Your Ideas

As a next step, organize the points you want to make in your report and the evidence to support them. Use an outline, a diagram, or another organizational tool, such as Table 8.4 .

Drafting an Analytical Report

With a tentative thesis, an organization plan, and evidence, you are ready to begin drafting. For this assignment, you will report information, analyze it, and draw conclusions about the cause of something, the effect of something, or the similarities and differences between two different things.

Introduction

Some students write the introduction first; others save it for last. Whenever you choose to write the introduction, use it to draw readers into your report. Make the topic of your report clear, and be concise and sincere. End the introduction with your thesis statement. Depending on your topic and the type of report, you can write an effective introduction in several ways. Opening a report with an overview is a tried-and-true strategy, as shown in the following example on the U.S. response to COVID-19 by Trevor Garcia. Notice how he opens the introduction with statistics and a comparison and follows it with a question that leads to the thesis statement (underlined).

student sample text With more than 83 million cases and 1.8 million deaths at the end of 2020, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. By the end of 2020, the United States led the world in the number of cases, at more than 20 million infections and nearly 350,000 deaths. In comparison, the second-highest number of cases was in India, which at the end of 2020 had less than half the number of COVID-19 cases despite having a population four times greater than the U.S. (“COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic,” 2021). How did the United States come to have the world’s worst record in this pandemic? underline An examination of the U.S. response shows that a reduction of experts in key positions and programs, inaction that led to equipment shortages, and inconsistent policies were three major causes of the spread of the virus and the resulting deaths end underline . end student sample text

For a less formal report, you might want to open with a question, quotation, or brief story. The following example opens with an anecdote that leads to the thesis statement (underlined).

student sample text Betty stood outside the salon, wondering how to get in. It was June of 2020, and the door was locked. A sign posted on the door provided a phone number for her to call to be let in, but at 81, Betty had lived her life without a cell phone. Betty’s day-to-day life had been hard during the pandemic, but she had planned for this haircut and was looking forward to it; she had a mask on and hand sanitizer in her car. Now she couldn’t get in the door, and she was discouraged. In that moment, Betty realized how much Americans’ dependence on cell phones had grown in the months since the pandemic began. underline Betty and thousands of other senior citizens who could not afford cell phones or did not have the technological skills and support they needed were being left behind in a society that was increasingly reliant on technology end underline . end student sample text

Body Paragraphs: Point, Evidence, Analysis

Use the body paragraphs of your report to present evidence that supports your thesis. A reliable pattern to keep in mind for developing the body paragraphs of a report is point , evidence , and analysis :

• The point is the central idea of the paragraph, usually given in a topic sentence stated in your own words at or toward the beginning of the paragraph. Each topic sentence should relate to the thesis.
• The evidence you provide develops the paragraph and supports the point made in the topic sentence. Include details, examples, quotations, paraphrases, and summaries from sources if you conducted formal research. Synthesize the evidence you include by showing in your sentences the connections between sources.
• The analysis comes at the end of the paragraph. In your own words, draw a conclusion about the evidence you have provided and how it relates to the topic sentence.

The paragraph below illustrates the point, evidence, and analysis pattern. Drawn from a report about concussions among football players, the paragraph opens with a topic sentence about the NCAA and NFL and their responses to studies about concussions. The paragraph is developed with evidence from three sources. It concludes with a statement about helmets and players’ safety.

student sample text The NCAA and NFL have taken steps forward and backward to respond to studies about the danger of concussions among players. Responding to the deaths of athletes, documented brain damage, lawsuits, and public outcry (Buckley et al., 2017), the NCAA instituted protocols to reduce potentially dangerous hits during football games and to diagnose traumatic head injuries more quickly and effectively. Still, it has allowed players to wear more than one style of helmet during a season, raising the risk of injury because of imperfect fit. At the professional level, the NFL developed a helmet-rating system in 2011 in an effort to reduce concussions, but it continued to allow players to wear helmets with a wide range of safety ratings. The NFL’s decision created an opportunity for researchers to look at the relationship between helmet safety ratings and concussions. Cocello et al. (2016) reported that players who wore helmets with a lower safety rating had more concussions than players who wore helmets with a higher safety rating, and they concluded that safer helmets are a key factor in reducing concussions. end student sample text

Developing Paragraph Content

In the body paragraphs of your report, you will likely use examples, draw comparisons, show contrasts, or analyze causes and effects to develop your topic.

Paragraphs developed with Example are common in reports. The paragraph below, adapted from a report by student John Zwick on the mental health of soldiers deployed during wartime, draws examples from three sources.

student sample text Throughout the Vietnam War, military leaders claimed that the mental health of soldiers was stable and that men who suffered from combat fatigue, now known as PTSD, were getting the help they needed. For example, the New York Times (1966) quoted military leaders who claimed that mental fatigue among enlisted men had “virtually ceased to be a problem,” occurring at a rate far below that of World War II. Ayres (1969) reported that Brigadier General Spurgeon Neel, chief American medical officer in Vietnam, explained that soldiers experiencing combat fatigue were admitted to the psychiatric ward, sedated for up to 36 hours, and given a counseling session with a doctor who reassured them that the rest was well deserved and that they were ready to return to their units. Although experts outside the military saw profound damage to soldiers’ psyches when they returned home (Halloran, 1970), the military stayed the course, treating acute cases expediently and showing little concern for the cumulative effect of combat stress on individual soldiers. end student sample text

When you analyze causes and effects , you explain the reasons that certain things happened and/or their results. The report by Trevor Garcia on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is an example: his report examines the reasons the United States failed to control the coronavirus. The paragraph below, adapted from another student’s report written for an environmental policy course, explains the effect of white settlers’ views of forest management on New England.

student sample text The early colonists’ European ideas about forest management dramatically changed the New England landscape. White settlers saw the New World as virgin, unused land, even though indigenous people had been drawing on its resources for generations by using fire subtly to improve hunting, employing construction techniques that left ancient trees intact, and farming small, efficient fields that left the surrounding landscape largely unaltered. White settlers’ desire to develop wood-built and wood-burning homesteads surrounded by large farm fields led to forestry practices and techniques that resulted in the removal of old-growth trees. These practices defined the way the forests look today. end student sample text

Compare and contrast paragraphs are useful when you wish to examine similarities and differences. You can use both comparison and contrast in a single paragraph, or you can use one or the other. The paragraph below, adapted from a student report on the rise of populist politicians, compares the rhetorical styles of populist politicians Huey Long and Donald Trump.

student sample text A key similarity among populist politicians is their rejection of carefully crafted sound bites and erudite vocabulary typically associated with candidates for high office. Huey Long and Donald Trump are two examples. When he ran for president, Long captured attention through his wild gesticulations on almost every word, dramatically varying volume, and heavily accented, folksy expressions, such as “The only way to be able to feed the balance of the people is to make that man come back and bring back some of that grub that he ain’t got no business with!” In addition, Long’s down-home persona made him a credible voice to represent the common people against the country’s rich, and his buffoonish style allowed him to express his radical ideas without sounding anti-communist alarm bells. Similarly, Donald Trump chose to speak informally in his campaign appearances, but the persona he projected was that of a fast-talking, domineering salesman. His frequent use of personal anecdotes, rhetorical questions, brief asides, jokes, personal attacks, and false claims made his speeches disjointed, but they gave the feeling of a running conversation between him and his audience. For example, in a 2015 speech, Trump said, “They just built a hotel in Syria. Can you believe this? They built a hotel. When I have to build a hotel, I pay interest. They don’t have to pay interest, because they took the oil that, when we left Iraq, I said we should’ve taken” (“Our Country Needs” 2020). While very different in substance, Long and Trump adopted similar styles that positioned them as the antithesis of typical politicians and their worldviews. end student sample text

The conclusion should draw the threads of your report together and make its significance clear to readers. You may wish to review the introduction, restate the thesis, recommend a course of action, point to the future, or use some combination of these. Whichever way you approach it, the conclusion should not head in a new direction. The following example is the conclusion from a student’s report on the effect of a book about environmental movements in the United States.

student sample text Since its publication in 1949, environmental activists of various movements have found wisdom and inspiration in Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac . These audiences included Leopold’s conservationist contemporaries, environmentalists of the 1960s and 1970s, and the environmental justice activists who rose in the 1980s and continue to make their voices heard today. These audiences have read the work differently: conservationists looked to the author as a leader, environmentalists applied his wisdom to their movement, and environmental justice advocates have pointed out the flaws in Leopold’s thinking. Even so, like those before them, environmental justice activists recognize the book’s value as a testament to taking the long view and eliminating biases that may cloud an objective assessment of humanity’s interdependent relationship with the environment. end student sample text

Citing Sources

You must cite the sources of information and data included in your report. Citations must appear in both the text and a bibliography at the end of the report.

The sample paragraphs in the previous section include examples of in-text citation using APA documentation style. Trevor Garcia’s report on the U.S. response to COVID-19 in 2020 also uses APA documentation style for citations in the text of the report and the list of references at the end. Your instructor may require another documentation style, such as MLA or Chicago.

Peer Review: Getting Feedback from Readers

You will likely engage in peer review with other students in your class by sharing drafts and providing feedback to help spot strengths and weaknesses in your reports. For peer review within a class, your instructor may provide assignment-specific questions or a form for you to complete as you work together.

If you have a writing center on your campus, it is well worth your time to make an online or in-person appointment with a tutor. You’ll receive valuable feedback and improve your ability to review not only your report but your overall writing.

Another way to receive feedback on your report is to ask a friend or family member to read your draft. Provide a list of questions or a form such as the one in Table 8.5 for them to complete as they read.

Revising: Using Reviewers’ Responses to Revise your Work

When you receive comments from readers, including your instructor, read each comment carefully to understand what is being asked. Try not to get defensive, even though this response is completely natural. Remember that readers are like coaches who want you to succeed. They are looking at your writing from outside your own head, and they can identify strengths and weaknesses that you may not have noticed. Keep track of the strengths and weaknesses your readers point out. Pay special attention to those that more than one reader identifies, and use this information to improve your report and later assignments.

As you analyze each response, be open to suggestions for improvement, and be willing to make significant revisions to improve your writing. Perhaps you need to revise your thesis statement to better reflect the content of your draft. Maybe you need to return to your sources to better understand a point you’re trying to make in order to develop a paragraph more fully. Perhaps you need to rethink the organization, move paragraphs around, and add transition sentences.

Below is an early draft of part of Trevor Garcia’s report with comments from a peer reviewer:

student sample text To truly understand what happened, it’s important first to look back to the years leading up to the pandemic. Epidemiologists and public health officials had long known that a global pandemic was possible. In 2016, the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) published a 69-page document with the intimidating title Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents . The document’s two sections address responses to “emerging disease threats that start or are circulating in another country but not yet confirmed within U.S. territorial borders” and to “emerging disease threats within our nation’s borders.” On 13 January 2017, the joint Obama-Trump transition teams performed a pandemic preparedness exercise; however, the playbook was never adopted by the incoming administration. end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: Do the words in quotation marks need to be a direct quotation? It seems like a paraphrase would work here. end annotated text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: I’m getting lost in the details about the playbook. What’s the Obama-Trump transition team? end annotated text

student sample text In February 2018, the administration began to cut funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; cuts to other health agencies continued throughout 2018, with funds diverted to unrelated projects such as housing for detained immigrant children. end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: This paragraph has only one sentence, and it’s more like an example. It needs a topic sentence and more development. end annotated text

student sample text Three months later, Luciana Borio, director of medical and biodefense preparedness at the NSC, spoke at a symposium marking the centennial of the 1918 influenza pandemic. “The threat of pandemic flu is the number one health security concern,” she said. “Are we ready to respond? I fear the answer is no.” end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: This paragraph is very short and a lot like the previous paragraph in that it’s a single example. It needs a topic sentence. Maybe you can combine them? end annotated text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: Be sure to cite the quotation. end annotated text

Reading these comments and those of others, Trevor decided to combine the three short paragraphs into one paragraph focusing on the fact that the United States knew a pandemic was possible but was unprepared for it. He developed the paragraph, using the short paragraphs as evidence and connecting the sentences and evidence with transitional words and phrases. Finally, he added in-text citations in APA documentation style to credit his sources. The revised paragraph is below:

student sample text Epidemiologists and public health officials in the United States had long known that a global pandemic was possible. In 2016, the National Security Council (NSC) published Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents , a 69-page document on responding to diseases spreading within and outside of the United States. On January 13, 2017, the joint transition teams of outgoing president Barack Obama and then president-elect Donald Trump performed a pandemic preparedness exercise based on the playbook; however, it was never adopted by the incoming administration (Goodman & Schulkin, 2020). A year later, in February 2018, the Trump administration began to cut funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaving key positions unfilled. Other individuals who were fired or resigned in 2018 were the homeland security adviser, whose portfolio included global pandemics; the director for medical and biodefense preparedness; and the top official in charge of a pandemic response. None of them were replaced, leaving the White House with no senior person who had experience in public health (Goodman & Schulkin, 2020). Experts voiced concerns, among them Luciana Borio, director of medical and biodefense preparedness at the NSC, who spoke at a symposium marking the centennial of the 1918 influenza pandemic in May 2018: “The threat of pandemic flu is the number one health security concern,” she said. “Are we ready to respond? I fear the answer is no” (Sun, 2018, final para.). end student sample text

A final word on working with reviewers’ comments: as you consider your readers’ suggestions, remember, too, that you remain the author. You are free to disregard suggestions that you think will not improve your writing. If you choose to disregard comments from your instructor, consider submitting a note explaining your reasons with the final draft of your report.

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• Writing well

How to write a report

• Starting well
• How to write an annotated bibliography
• How to write a case study response
• How to write a critique
• How to write an empirical article
• How to write an essay
• How to write a literature review
• How to write a reflective task
• Finishing well

Elements of a report

Example report structure.

This page should include:

• the report title, which states the report’s purpose
• your name and the name of the person receiving the report (place in the bottom right-hand corner)
• the submission date.

Executive summary

An executive summary is a paragraph that provides the reader with a quick overview of the entire report, including its purpose, context, methods, major findings, conclusions and recommendations. It is often easier to write the executive summary once the report has been completed.

This is placed on a separate page between the title page and the table of contents. This may often be the only part of the report that is actually read.

Table of contents

The table of contents lists the main sections (headings) of the report, and the page on which each begins. If your report includes tables, diagrams or illustrations, these are listed separately on the page after the table of contents.

Introduction

The introduction should:

• discuss the importance or significance of the research or problem to be reported
• define the purpose of the report
• outline the issues to be discussed (scope)
• inform the reader of any limitations to the report, or any assumptions made.

Discussion or body

This contains the main substance of the report, organised into sections with headings and subheadings rather than paragraphs. The body of a report can include the following:

• A description of the issue or situation which is being reported on. This may include a literature review of the research on that issue.
• The method of data collection, if applicable - this should include what you did and why, such as a survey or interview, and the size and selection criteria of the study sample.
• A discussion and analysis of the data collected - this should comment on the reliability and accuracy of the data and relate the findings to your report’s purpose and current literature.

This summarises the key findings from the discussion section and may be numbered here for clarity. Relate your conclusion to the objectives of the report and arrange your points logically so that major conclusions are presented first. Some reports may require a discussion of recommendations, rather than a conclusion.

Recommendations

These are subjective opinions about what action you think could be followed. They must be realistic, achievable and clearly relate to the conclusion of the report.

Reference list

This must contain all the material cited in the report. It must be accurate and consistent with a standard referencing style. Refer to QUT cite .

These contain extra supporting information that is put at the end of the report so as not to distract the reader from the main issues. They contain detailed information, such as questionnaires, tables, graphs and diagrams. Appendices should be clearly set out and numbered in the order they are mentioned in the text.

Note that this is a generic example only. Your table of contents may vary depending on the type and function of your report. Please check with your lecturer which headings are appropriate for your purposes.

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the report 1.2 Issues to be discussed and their significance 1.3 Research methods 1.4 Limitations and assumptions

2. Discussion

2.1 Literature review 2.1.1 Issue 1 2.1.2 Issue 2 2.1.3 Issue 3

2.2.1 Procedures 2.2.2 Sample size 2.2.3 Selection criteria

2.3 Discussion and analysis of data

2.3.1 Issue 1 2.3.2 Issue 2 2.3.3 Issue 3 2.3.4 Reliability and accuracy of data

3. Conclusions

4. recommendations.

4.1 Recommendation 1 4.2 Recommendation 2

5. References

6. appendices.

• Read the assignment criteria clearly and clarified what needs to be in the report and what type of report it is to be?
• Provided a title page?
• Provided an executive summary?
• Provided a table of contents?
• Provided an introduction?
• Provided the literature review?
• Explained the method of how the data was gathered?
• Discussed the results and findings?
• Come to a conclusion?
• Made some recommendations?
• Provided references in the correct format?
• Included any appendices?
• Checked punctuation and spelling?

Further information

• University of NSW: Report Writing Support

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Types of Assignment

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• Academic poster
• Annotated bibliography
• Project Proposal
• Dissertation or final year project
• Literature review
• Critical Assessment - Assessing Academic Journal Articles
• Systematic Review (Postgraduate resource)
• Presentation
• Reports in Microsoft Word

Attend a workshop

Find out more about the Library and Academic Skills workshop programme here .

Type of Assignment: Report

A report is a formal document that presents information, findings, or analysis on a particular topic, issue, or event. It typically includes an introduction, body, and conclusion, and may contain sections such as; summary, methodology, results, discussion, and recommendations. Reports are often used to communicate research findings, evaluate projects or initiatives, inform decision-making, or provide updates on progress. They are commonly used in academic, business, government, and professional contexts.

In University various formats are used to present information and learning. A report assignment is asking you to present the information using a certain format (Headings and sub-headings are common). Understanding the assignment task includes understanding the formatting required and the digital elements.

Check out our guide on breaking down the assignment task: Starting an Assignment.

For support with Word and the digital skills required to create a report contact the TILE team.

Report: Things you need to know...

Reports are like burgers, they have a top and bottom (Introduction and a conclusion) but what goes in-between can vary greatly depending on the writer and the purpose of the report. Typically, at University reports are used to evidence learning and to segment different topics for easier reader understanding (though it can also help the writer too as it helps in the creation of the content as well).

Reports are usually written to record the methodology, results and conclusions of an investigation (this may be as a result of primary research (often practical and undertaken by you) or secondary (analysis of current literature and evidence).

They are written for easy reading and discussion so headings, sub-headings, numbering, bullet points, images, tables and graphs can all be used.  Use concise, business-like language so that the reader of your report can easily understand.

Reports can be written in a variety of ways, there is not just one correct way (check assignment guidelines). A report may consist of sections such as:

• Title  - be specific.
• Introduction - aim(s), objectives and why this is an important area for investigation?
• Methodology – what you did to investigate and/or research this subject?
• Findings and discussion – what you found out and what the findings mean?
• Conclusions – what conclusions you made? 
• Recommendations - if needed.
• Title page  - be specific.
• Executive summary  - highlights and key points from the report
• Table of contents
• Introduction  – aim(s), objectives and why this is an important topic
• The main body portion  – what you found out and what the findings mean?
• Conclusion  – what conclusions you made? 
• Recommendations  - if needed.

An appendix comprises supplementary and extra content that is not crucial to the main body of the text, yet it can aid in offering a more comprehensive comprehension of the research problem or provide information that is too extensive to be incorporated within the main paper.

The appendix provides the reader with information needed to understand or clarify an element discussed within the main body e.g. the questions used in a survey.

• Report structure What sections to include when writing a formal academic report.
• Make a selected page Landscape

Need to know more...

Try doing an advanced search, for example "report writing" + business in order to find resources appropriate to your subject area..

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How to Write a Business Report: A Step By Step Guide with Examples

Table of contents

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What Is a Business Report?

Importance of creating business reports, types of business reports, what should be included in a business report, how to write a business report: an 11-step guide.

• Business Report Examples

Although there’s a variety of business reports that differ in many aspects, in short, a business report definition would be the following:

A business report is an informative document that contains important data such as facts, analyses, research findings, and statistics about a business with the goal to make this information accessible to people within a company.

Their main purpose is to facilitate the decision-making process related to the future of the business, as well as to maintain effective communication between people who create the reports and those they report to.

A good business report is concise and well-organized, looks professional, and displays the relevant data you can act on. The point is to reflect upon what you’ve achieved so far (typically, over the past month, quarter or year) and to use the data to create a new strategy or adjust the current one to reach even more business goals.

Business reports should be objective and based on the data. When stating the facts, people rely on numbers rather than giving descriptions. For instance, instead of saying “our conversion rate skyrocketed”, you would display the exact percentages that back up that claim.

Business reporting matters for several reasons, among which the most important ones are:

Recognizing Opportunities to Grow

Detecting issues and solving them quickly, evaluating a potential partner, having a paper trail, keeping things transparent for the stakeholders, setting new company goals.

In fact, over half of the companies that contributed to Databox’s state of business reporting research confirmed that regular monitoring and reporting brought them significant concrete benefits.

If you never look back at what you’ve achieved, you can’t figure out what you’ve done well and what you can leverage in the future for even better results.

When you analyze a specific aspect of your business over a specific time period and present the data you gathered in a report, you can detect an opportunity to grow more easily because you have all the information in one place and organized neatly.

Is it time to introduce new products or services? Is there a way to enhance your marketing strategy? Prepare a report. Can you optimize your finances? Write a financial business report . Whatever decision you need to make, it’s easier when you base it on a report.

Reports are essential for crisis management because they can introduce a sense of calmness into your team. Putting everything on paper makes it easier to encompass all the relevant information and when you know all the facts, you can make a more accurate and effective decision about what to do next.

Writing business reports regularly will also help you identify potential issues or risks and act timely to prevent damage and stop it from escalating. That’s why monthly reporting is better than doing it only once a year.

Having an insight into your finances , operations and other business aspects more regularly allows you to have better control over them and mitigate potential risks more effectively.

Different types of business reports may be accessible to the general public. And if they’re not, specific situations may require a company to send them over to the person requesting them. That may happen if you’re considering a partnership with another company. Before making the final decision, you should learn about their financial health as every partnership poses a certain risk for your finances and/or reputation. Will this decision be profitable?

Having an insight into a company’s business report helps you establish vital business relationships. And it goes the other way around – any potential partner can request that you pull a business report for them to see, so writing business reports can help you prove you’re a suitable business partner.

In business, and especially in large companies, it’s easy to misplace information when it’s communicated verbally. Having a written report about any aspect of your business doesn’t only prevent you from losing important data, but it also helps you keep records so you can return to them at any given moment and use them in the future.

That’s why it’s always good to have a paper trail of anything important you want to share with colleagues, managers, clients, or investors. Nowadays, of course, it doesn’t have to literally be a paper trail, since we keep the data in electronic form.

Writing business reports helps you keep things transparent for the stakeholders, which is the foundation of efficient communication between these two sides.

You typically need to report to different people – sometimes they’re your managers, sometimes they’re a client. But your company’s stakeholders will also require an insight into the performance of your business, and relying on reports will help you maintain favorable business relationships. A business report shows you clearly how your company is performing and there isn’t room for manipulation.

Once you set business goals and the KPIs that help you track your progress towards them, you should remember they’re not set in stone. From time to time, you’ll need to revisit your goals and critical metrics and determine whether they’re still relevant.

When you write a business report and go through it with your team members or managers, you have a chance to do just that and determine if you’re efficient in reaching your goals. Sometimes, new insights will come up while writing these reports and help you identify new objectives that may have emerged.

Depending on your goals and needs, you’ll be writing different types of business reports. Here are five basic types of business reports .

Informational Report

Analytical report, research report, explanatory report, progress report.

Informational reports provide you with strictly objective data without getting into the details, such as explaining why something happened or what the result may be – just pure facts.

An example of this type of business report is a statement where you describe a department within your company: the report contains the list of people working in this department, what their titles are, and what they’re responsible for.

Another example related to a company’s website could look like this Google Analytics website traffic engagement report . As we explained above, this report shows objective data without getting too much into the details, so in this case, just the most important website engagement metrics such as average session duration, bounce rate, sessions, sessions by channel, and so on. Overall, you can use this report to monitor your website traffic, see which keywords are most successful, or how many returning users you have, but without further, in-depth analysis.

Analytical reports help you understand the data you’ve collected and plan for the future based on these insights. You can’t make business decisions based on facts only, so analytical reports are crucial for the decision-making process.

This type of business report is commonly used for sales forecasting. For instance, if you write a report where you identify a drop or an increase in sales, you’ll want to find out why it happened. This HubSpot’s sales analytics report is a good example of what metrics should be included in such a report, like average revenue per new client or average time to close the deal. You can find more web analytics dashboard examples here.

From these business reports, you can find out if you will reach your goals by implementing your current strategy or if you need to make adjustments.

Research is critical when you’re about to introduce a change to your business. Whether it’s a new strategy or a new partner, you need an extensive report to have an overview of all important details. These reports usually analyze new target markets and competition, and contain a lot of statistical data.

While not the same, here is an example of an ecommerce dashboard that could help track each part of a campaign in detail, no matter whether you are launching a new product, testing a new strategy, and similar. Similar to a research report, it contains key data on your audience (target market), shows your top-selling products, conversion rate and more. If you are an online store owner who is using paid ads, you can rely on this report to monitor key online sales stats in line with Facebook Ads and Google Analytics. See more ecommerce dashboards here.

As you might guess from its name, you write the explanatory report when it’s necessary for you to explain a specific situation or a project you’ve done to your team members. It’s important to write this report in a way that everyone will be able to understand.

Explanatory reports include elements like research results, reasons and goals of the research, facts, methodology, and more. While not exactly an explanatory report, this example of a HubSpot marketing drilldown report is the closest thing to it, as it helps marketers drill into an individual landing page performance, and identify how good their best landing pages are at converting, or which ones have the best performance.

A progress report is actually an update for your manager or client – it informs them about where you stand at the moment and how things are going. It’s like a checkpoint on your way towards your goal.

These reports may be the least demanding to write since you don’t need to do comprehensive research before submitting them. You just need to sum up your progress up to the point when the report was requested. This business report may include your current results, the strategy you’re implementing, the obstacles you’ve come across, etc. If this is a marketing progress report you can use marketing report templates to provide a more comprehensive overview.

In many companies, progress reports are done on a weekly or even daily basis. Here is an example of a daily sales report from Databox. HubSpot users can rely on this sales rep drilldown business report to see how individual each sales rep is performing and measure performance against goals. Browse through all our KPI dashboards here.

What does a great business report look like? If you’re not sure what sections your report should have, you’ll learn what to include in the following lines.

Business Report Formatting

Different types of reports require different lengths and structures, so your business report format may depend on what elements your report needs to have. For example, progress reports are typically pretty simple, while analytical or explanatory reports are a different story.

However, most reports will start with a title and a table of contents, so the person reading the report knows what to expect. Then, add a summary and move on to the introduction. After you’ve written the body and the conclusion, don’t forget to include suggestions based on your findings that will help your team create an actionable plan as you move forward.

After that, list the references you used while creating the report, and attach any additional documents or images that can help the person reading the report understand it better.

This outline may vary depending on what kind of report you’re writing. Short business reports may not need a table of contents, and informative reports won’t contain any analyses. Also, less formal reports don’t need to follow a strict structure in every situation.

Business Report Contents

When it comes to the contents of your report, keep in mind the person who’s going to read it and try to balance between including all the relevant information, but not overwhelming the reader with too many details.

• The introduction to the report should state the reason why you’re writing it, and what its main goal is. Also, mention what methodology and reporting software you’ve used, if applicable.
• The body of the report is where you’ll expose all your key findings, explain your methodology, share the important data and statistics, and present your results and conclusion.
• The conclusion , similarly to the summary you’ll add at the beginning of the report, briefly singles out the most important points and findings of the report.

If you decide to include more sections like recommendations, this is where you’ll suggest the next steps your team or the company may want to take to improve the results or take advantage of them if they’re favorable.

PRO TIP: Are You Tracking the Right Metrics for Your SaaS Company?

As a SaaS business leader, there’s no shortage of metrics you could be monitoring, but the real question is, which metrics should you be paying most attention to? To monitor the health of your SaaS business, you want to identify any obstacles to growth and determine which elements of your growth strategy require improvements. To do that, you can track the following key metrics in a convenient dashboard with data from Profitwell:

• Recurring Revenue. See the portion of your company’s revenue that is expected to grow month-over-month.
• MRR overview. View the different contributions to and losses from MRR from different kinds of customer engagements.
• Customer overview . View the total number of clients your company has at any given point in time and the gains and losses from different customer transactions.
• Growth Overview . Summarize all of the different kinds of customer transactions and their impact on revenue growth.
• Churn overview. Measure the number and percentage of customers or subscribers you lost during a given time period.

If you want to track these in ProfitWell, you can do it easily by building a plug-and-play dashboard that takes your customer data from ProfitWell and automatically visualizes the right metrics to allow you to monitor your SaaS revenue performance at a glance.

You can easily set it up in just a few clicks – no coding required.

To set up the dashboard, follow these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Get the template 

Step 2: Connect your Profitwell account with Databox. 

Step 3: Watch your dashboard populate in seconds.

Note : Other than text, make sure you include images, graphs, charts, and tables. These elements will make your report more readable and illustrate your points.

Whether you’re writing a specific type of business report for the first time or you simply want to improve the quality of your reports, make sure you follow this comprehensive guide to writing an effective business report.

• Do Your Research
• Create an Outline
• Determine Formatting Guidelines
• Think of an Engaging Title
• Write the Introduction
• Divide the Body of the Report into Sections
• Choose Illustrations
• Conclude Effectively
• Gather Additional Documentation
• Add a Summary
• Proofread Your Work

Step 1: Do Your Research

A well-planned report is a job half done. That means you need to do research before you start writing: you need to know who you’re writing for and how much they know about the topic of your report. You need to explore the best business dashboard software and templates you can use for your report.

Also, if you believe you will need additional resources and documents to add in the appendix, you should do it during this phase of report writing.

Step 2: Create an Outline

Once you’ve gathered the resources, it’s time to plan the report. Before you start writing, create an outline that will help you stick to the right structure. A business report is complex writing in which you can get lost very easily if you don’t have a clear plan.

Moreover, the report shouldn’t be complicated to read, so sticking to a plan will allow you to keep it concise and clear, without straying from the topic.

Step 3: Determine Formatting Guidelines

Most companies have their in-house formatting that every official document has to follow. If you’re not sure if such rules exist in your company, it’s time you checked with your managers.

If there arent’ any guidelines regarding formatting, make sure you set your own rules to make the report look professional. Choose a simple and readable format and make sure it supports all the symbols you may need to use in the report. Set up proper headings, spacing, and all the other elements you may need in Word or Google Docs.

Pro tip: Google Docs may be easier to share with people who are supposed to read your business report.

Step 4: Think of an Engaging Title

Even if you’re writing a formal business report, the title should be clear and engaging. Reports are typically considered dull as they’re a part of official business documentation, but there’s no reason why you can’t make them interesting to read. Your title should suit the report topic and be in different font size so the reader can recognize it’s a title. Underneath the title, you should add the name of the author of the report.

Step 5: Write the Introduction

A good introductory paragraph for a business report should explain to the reader why you’ve written the report. Use the introduction to provide a bit of background on the report’s topic and mention the past results if there’s been a significant improvement since your last report.

Step 6: Divide the Body of the Report into Sections

As this will be the most comprehensive part of your report, make sure you separate the data into logical sections. Your report is supposed to tell a story about your business, and these sections (such as methodology, hypothesis, survey, findings, and more) will help the data look well-organized and easy to read.

Step 7: Choose Illustrations

Of course, each of these sections should be followed with charts, graphs, tables, or other illustrations that help you make a point. Survey results are typically best displayed in pie charts and graphs, and these enable the reader to visualize the data better. From the formatting point of view, breaking the long text sections with illustrations makes the report more readable.

Pro tip: Using centralized dashboard solutions like Databox can bring your reporting game to the next level. Sign up for a forever-free trial now to see how you can use Databox to track and visualize performance easier than ever before .

Step 8: Conclude Effectively

Finish your report with a to-the-point conclusion that will highlight all the main data from the report. Make sure it’s not too long, as it’s supposed to be a summary of the body of the report. In case you don’t want to add a specific section for recommendations, this is where you can include them, along with your assessments.

Step 9: Gather Additional Documentation

If you’ve determined what additional documents, images, surveys, or other attachments you may need for your report, now is the time to collect them. Request access to those you may not be able to get on time, so you have everything you need by the deadline. Copy the documents you can use in the original form, and scan the documents you need in electronic format.

Step 10: Add a Summary

The summary is usually at the top of the report, but it’s actually something you should write after your report is completed. Only then will you know exactly what your most relevant information and findings are, so you can include them in this brief paragraph that summarizes your report’s main points.

The summary should tell the reader about the objective of the report, the methodology used, and even mention some of the key findings and conclusions.

Step 11: Proofread Your Work

It may seem like common sense, but this final step of the process is often overlooked. Proofreading your work is how you make sure your report will look professional because errors can ruin the overall impression the reader will form about your work, no matter how great the report is.

Look for any spelling or grammatical mistakes you can fix, and if you’re not sure about specific expressions or terminology, use Google to double-check it. Make sure your writing is to-the-point and clear, especially if you’re writing for people who may not know the industry so well. Also, double-check the facts and numbers you’ve included in the report before you send it out or start your reporting meeting.

Business Report Examples (with Ready-to-Use Templates)

Here, we’re sharing a few business reporting examples that you can copy, along with ready-to-use and free-to-download templates. If you don’t know where to start and what to include in different types of business reports, these business report examples are a great way to get started or at least get some inspiration to create yours.

Activity Report Example

Annual report example, project status report example, financial report example, sales report example, marketing report example.

Note : Each of the business report templates shared below can be customized to fit your individual needs with our DIY Dashboard Designer . No coding or design skills are necessary.

For reporting on sales activity, HubSpot users can rely this streamlined sales activity report that includes key sales metrics, such as calls, meetings, or emails logged by owner. This way, you can easily track the number of calls, meetings, and emails for each sales rep and identify potential leaks in your sales funnel. Check all our sales team activity dashboards here. Or if you are looking for dashboards that track general sales performance, browse through all Databox sales dashboards here.

If you’re preparing for annual reporting, you will benefit from choosing this HubSpot annual performance report . It contains all the relevant metrics, such as email and landing page performance, new contacts, top blog posts by page views, and more. See all our performance dashboard templates here.

Project status reports can be very similar to progress reports. If you’re in need of one of those, here’s an example of a Project overview dashboard from Harvest that shows that can help you create simple, but well-organized report based on metrics that matter: hours tracked, billable hours, billable amount split by team members., and more. Check out more project management dashboard templates we offer here.

Are you creating a financial report? You will find this QuickBooks + HubSpot integration a great choice for a financial performance dashboard that makes creating a report simple. This dashboard focuses on the essential financial report

ting metrics and answers all your revenue-related questions. See all Databox financial dashboards here.

If you’re tracking your sales team’s monthly performance, this sales report template will help you prepare an outstanding report. Check out all the vital productivity KPIs, track your progress towards your goals, and understand well how your current sales pipeline is performing. See all sales performance dashboards we have available here.

Marketing reports can be easily prepared by using this monthly marketing report template . With HubSpot’s reporting, you can determine where your website traffic is coming from, how your landing pages and specific blog posts are performing, and how successful your email campaigns are. Browse all Databox marketing dashboards or marketing report examples here.

Create a Professional Business Report in No Time with Databox

Does creating a business report still sound like a daunting task? It doesn’t have to be with Databox.

In times when we’re all trying to save our time and energy for things that matter rather than scattering valuable resources on tedious, repetitive tasks, it’s critical to optimize your business process. And we want to help you do just that.

Using a business reporting dashboard enables you to track data from all the different tools you’re using – but in one place. With Databox, you can monitor and report on performance in a single dashboard that is optimized for all your favorite devices and you can create streamlined and beautiful dashboards even if you are not that tech-savvy. (no coding or design skills are required).

Automating business reporting has never been easier. And with Databox, you can do exactly that in just a few clicks. Sign up now and get your first 3 business dashboards for free.

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Report writing

• Features of good reports
• Types of Report

Introduction

Organising your information, abstract / executive summary, literature review, results / data / findings, reference list / bibliography.

• Writing up your report

Useful links for report writing

• Study Advice Helping students to achieve study success with guides, video tutorials, seminars and appointments.
• Maths Support A guide to Maths Support resources which may help if you're finding any mathematical or statistical topic difficult during the transition to University study.

• Academic Phrasebank Use this site for examples of linking phrases and ways to refer to sources.
• Academic writing LibGuide Expert guidance on punctuation, grammar, writing style and proof-reading.
• Reading and notemaking LibGuide Expert guidance on managing your reading and making effective notes.
• Guide to citing references Includes guidance on why, when and how to use references correctly in your academic writing.

The structure of a report has a key role to play in communicating information and enabling the reader to find the information they want quickly and easily. Each section of a report has a different role to play and a writing style suited to that role. Therefore, it is important to understand what your audience is expecting in each section of a report and put the appropriate information in the appropriate sections.

The guidance on this page explains the job each section does and the style in which it is written. Note that all reports are different so you must pay close attention to what you are being asked to include in your assignment brief. For instance, your report may need all of these sections, or only some, or you may be asked to combine sections (e.g. introduction and literature review, or results and discussion). The video tutorial on structuring reports below will also be helpful, especially if you are asked to decide on your own structure.

• Finding a structure for your report (video) Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
• Finding a structure for your report (transcript) Read the transcript.

• When writing an essay, you need to place your information  to make a strong argument
• When writing a report, you need to place your information  in the appropriate section

Consider the role each item will play in communicating information or ideas to the reader, and place it in the section where it will best perform that role. For instance:

• Does it provide background to your research? ( Introduction  or  Literature Review )
• Does it describe the types of activity you used to collect evidence? ( Methods )
• Does it present factual data? ( Results )
• Does it place evidence in the context of background? ( Discussion )
• Does it make recommendations for action? ( Conclusion )

• the purpose of the work
• methods used for research
• main conclusions reached
• any recommendations

The introduction … should explain the rationale for undertaking the work reported on, and the way you decided to do it. Include what you have been asked (or chosen) to do and the reasons for doing it.

- State what the report is about. What is the question you are trying to answer? If it is a brief for a specific reader (e.g. a feasibility report on a construction project for a client), say who they are.

- Describe your starting point and the background to the subject: e.g., what research has already been done (if you have to include a Literature Review, this will only be a brief survey); what are the relevant themes and issues; why are you being asked to investigate it now?

- Explain how you are going to go about responding to the brief. If you are going to test a hypothesis in your research, include this at the end of your introduction. Include a brief outline of your method of enquiry. State the limits of your research and reasons for them, e.g.

Introduce your review by explaining how you went about finding your materials, and any clear trends in research that have emerged. Group your texts in themes. Write about each theme as a separate section, giving a critical summary of each piece of work, and showing its relevance to your research. Conclude with how the review has informed your research (things you'll be building on, gaps you'll be filling etc).

• Literature reviews LibGuide Guide on starting, writing and developing literature reviews.
• Doing your literature review (video) Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
• Doing your literature review (transcript) Read the transcript.

The methods  should be written in such a way that a reader could replicate the research you have done. State clearly how you carried out your investigation. Explain why you chose this particular method (questionnaires, focus group, experimental procedure etc). Include techniques and any equipment you used. If there were participants in your research, who were they? How many? How were they selected?

Write this section  concisely  but  thoroughly  – Go through what you did step by step, including everything that is relevant. You know what you did, but could a reader follow your description?

Label your graphs and tables clearly. Give each figure a title and describe in words what the figure demonstrates. Save your interpretation of the results for the Discussion section.

The discussion ...is probably the longest section. It brings everything together, showing how your findings respond to the brief you explained in your introduction and the previous research you surveyed in your literature review. This is the place to mention if there were any problems (e.g. your results were different from expectations, you couldn't find important data, or you had to change your method or participants) and how they were, or could have been, solved.

• Writing up your report page More information on how to write your discussion and other sections.

The conclusions ...should be a short section with no new arguments or evidence. This section should give a feeling of closure and completion to your report. Sum up the main points of your research. How do they answer the original brief for the work reported on? This section may also include:

• Recommendations for action
• Suggestions for further research

If you're unsure about how to cite a particular text, ask at the Study Advice Desk on the Ground Floor of the Library or contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for help.

• Contact your Academic Liaison Librarian

The appendices ...include any additional information that may help the reader but is not essential to the report's main findings. The report should be able to stand alone without the appendices. An appendix can include for instance: interview questions; questionnaires; surveys; raw data; figures; tables; maps; charts; graphs; a glossary of terms used.

• A separate appendix should be used for each distinct topic or set of data.
• Order your appendices in the order in which you refer to the content in the text.
• Start each appendix on a separate page and label sequentially with letters or numbers e.g. Appendix A, Appendix B,…
• Give each Appendix a meaningful title e.g. Appendix A: Turnover of Tesco PLC 2017-2021.
• Refer to the relevant appendix where appropriate in the main text e.g. 'See Appendix A for an example questionnaire'.
• If an appendix contains multiple figures which you will refer to individually then label each one using the Appendix letter and a running number e.g. Table B1, Table B2. Do not continue the numbering of any figures in your text, as your text should be able to stand alone without the appendices.
• If your appendices draw on information from other sources you should include a citation and add the full details into your list of references (follow the rules for the referencing style you are using).

For more guidance see the following site:

• Appendices guidance from University of Southern California Detailed guidance on using appendices. Part of the USC's guide to Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper.
• << Previous: Types of Report
• Next: Writing up your report >>
• Last Updated: Aug 8, 2024 4:35 PM
• URL: https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reports

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Report writing

Report writing is an essential skill in many disciplines. Master it now at university and writing reports in the workplace will be easier.

A report aims to inform and sometimes to persuade. They should be written as clearly and succinctly as possible with evidence about a topic, problem or situation.

Here are some general guidelines but check with your lecturer for more detailed information about what is expected.

What is a report?

Differences between a report and an essay, a report is similar to an essay in that both need:.

• to be written in a formal style.
• an introduction, body and conclusion
• analytical thinking
• extensive researching for information and evidence to support a conclusion
• careful proofreading and neat presentation.

A report is different to an essay in that a report:

• is a presentation of facts and information, rather than a discussion of various opinions
• is often written for a very specific audience (e.g. an organisation that has commissioned a report)
• is structured so that it may be scanned quickly by the reader
• uses numbered headings and subheadings (e.g. 2.1 executive summary)
• uses short, concise paragraphs and dot points where applicable
• uses graphics wherever possible (tables, graphs, illustrations)
• may need an abstract (sometimes called an executive summary)
• makes recommendations
• does not always need references and a bibliography
• often has appendices.

How to write a report

Plan to write your report.

Ask some questions first:

• Who has requested the report?
• Why have they asked for a report?
• What do they need to know?
• How will the report be used?
• Who is/are my audience or audiences? (e.g. clients, lecturers, assessors, managers etc.)

Analyse your task

Analysing your task is very important. Here are some questions to explore:

• What type of report is needed? (e.g. experimental report, technical design proposal, business report)
• How long does your report need to be?
• What is required in the report?
• What is the problem/question to be solved?
• What is the aim of the report?
• What key points or issues need to be addressed?
• What information do you need to collect?

Types of reports for university

For all reports, you have to ensure that the conclusions that you draw are supported by the evidence that you find. At university, you will mostly be writing business, experimental/laboratory or technical reports.

Business report

A business report aims to:

• examine how an organisation can achieve an objective
• highlight a problem and suggest a solution
• offer information, interpretation (e.g. product surveys), analysis and recommendations.

Experimental/Laboratory report

An experimental report aims to report on:

• an experiment or research
• what was achieved during the course of the experiment?
• what was concluded and how this compares with previous published results?

Technical design report

A technical design report aims to:

• solve a problem
• recommend a design.

Typical format of a report

Layout of the report

Lay out the report for easy reading and comprehension. Many managers will only read the recommendations but will dip into the report for the details which they want to find quickly and easily. Use this checklist:

Further resources

• Bogg, D 2012, Report writing , MacGrawHill/Open University, Maidenhead, UK.
• Eunson, B 2012, Communicating in the 21st century, 3rd edn , Wiley, Sydney.
• Kuiper, S 2007, Contemporary business report writing , Thompson, Mason.
• A resource on report writing from the University of Canberra.
• An overview on reports from UOW Learning Co-Op
• University of NSW writing laboratory reports resource
• A resource on business reports from UOW
• A resource on technical reports from Monash university

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• How to write a lab report

How To Write A Lab Report | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on May 20, 2021 by Pritha Bhandari . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A lab report conveys the aim, methods, results, and conclusions of a scientific experiment. The main purpose of a lab report is to demonstrate your understanding of the scientific method by performing and evaluating a hands-on lab experiment. This type of assignment is usually shorter than a research paper .

Lab reports are commonly used in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This article focuses on how to structure and write a lab report.

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Table of contents

Structuring a lab report, introduction, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about lab reports.

The sections of a lab report can vary between scientific fields and course requirements, but they usually contain the purpose, methods, and findings of a lab experiment .

Each section of a lab report has its own purpose.

• Title: expresses the topic of your study
• Abstract : summarizes your research aims, methods, results, and conclusions
• Introduction: establishes the context needed to understand the topic
• Method: describes the materials and procedures used in the experiment
• Results: reports all descriptive and inferential statistical analyses
• Discussion: interprets and evaluates results and identifies limitations
• Conclusion: sums up the main findings of your experiment
• References: list of all sources cited using a specific style (e.g. APA )
• Appendices : contains lengthy materials, procedures, tables or figures

Although most lab reports contain these sections, some sections can be omitted or combined with others. For example, some lab reports contain a brief section on research aims instead of an introduction, and a separate conclusion is not always required.

If you’re not sure, it’s best to check your lab report requirements with your instructor.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Your title provides the first impression of your lab report – effective titles communicate the topic and/or the findings of your study in specific terms.

Create a title that directly conveys the main focus or purpose of your study. It doesn’t need to be creative or thought-provoking, but it should be informative.

• The effects of varying nitrogen levels on tomato plant height.
• Testing the universality of the McGurk effect.
• Comparing the viscosity of common liquids found in kitchens.

An abstract condenses a lab report into a brief overview of about 150–300 words. It should provide readers with a compact version of the research aims, the methods and materials used, the main results, and the final conclusion.

Think of it as a way of giving readers a preview of your full lab report. Write the abstract last, in the past tense, after you’ve drafted all the other sections of your report, so you’ll be able to succinctly summarize each section.

To write a lab report abstract, use these guiding questions:

• What is the wider context of your study?
• What research question were you trying to answer?
• How did you perform the experiment?
• What did your results show?
• How did you interpret your results?
• What is the importance of your findings?

Nitrogen is a necessary nutrient for high quality plants. Tomatoes, one of the most consumed fruits worldwide, rely on nitrogen for healthy leaves and stems to grow fruit. This experiment tested whether nitrogen levels affected tomato plant height in a controlled setting. It was expected that higher levels of nitrogen fertilizer would yield taller tomato plants.

Levels of nitrogen fertilizer were varied between three groups of tomato plants. The control group did not receive any nitrogen fertilizer, while one experimental group received low levels of nitrogen fertilizer, and a second experimental group received high levels of nitrogen fertilizer. All plants were grown from seeds, and heights were measured 50 days into the experiment.

The effects of nitrogen levels on plant height were tested between groups using an ANOVA. The plants with the highest level of nitrogen fertilizer were the tallest, while the plants with low levels of nitrogen exceeded the control group plants in height. In line with expectations and previous findings, the effects of nitrogen levels on plant height were statistically significant. This study strengthens the importance of nitrogen for tomato plants.

Your lab report introduction should set the scene for your experiment. One way to write your introduction is with a funnel (an inverted triangle) structure:

• Start with the broad, general research topic
• Narrow your topic down your specific study focus
• End with a clear research question

Begin by providing background information on your research topic and explaining why it’s important in a broad real-world or theoretical context. Describe relevant previous research on your topic and note how your study may confirm it or expand it, or fill a gap in the research field.

This lab experiment builds on previous research from Haque, Paul, and Sarker (2011), who demonstrated that tomato plant yield increased at higher levels of nitrogen. However, the present research focuses on plant height as a growth indicator and uses a lab-controlled setting instead.

Next, go into detail on the theoretical basis for your study and describe any directly relevant laws or equations that you’ll be using. State your main research aims and expectations by outlining your hypotheses .

Based on the importance of nitrogen for tomato plants, the primary hypothesis was that the plants with the high levels of nitrogen would grow the tallest. The secondary hypothesis was that plants with low levels of nitrogen would grow taller than plants with no nitrogen.

Your introduction doesn’t need to be long, but you may need to organize it into a few paragraphs or with subheadings such as “Research Context” or “Research Aims.”

A lab report Method section details the steps you took to gather and analyze data. Give enough detail so that others can follow or evaluate your procedures. Write this section in the past tense. If you need to include any long lists of procedural steps or materials, place them in the Appendices section but refer to them in the text here.

You should describe your experimental design, your subjects, materials, and specific procedures used for data collection and analysis.

Experimental design

Briefly note whether your experiment is a within-subjects  or between-subjects design, and describe how your sample units were assigned to conditions if relevant.

A between-subjects design with three groups of tomato plants was used. The control group did not receive any nitrogen fertilizer. The first experimental group received a low level of nitrogen fertilizer, while the second experimental group received a high level of nitrogen fertilizer.

Describe human subjects in terms of demographic characteristics, and animal or plant subjects in terms of genetic background. Note the total number of subjects as well as the number of subjects per condition or per group. You should also state how you recruited subjects for your study.

List the equipment or materials you used to gather data and state the model names for any specialized equipment.

List of materials

35 Tomato seeds

15 plant pots (15 cm tall)

Light lamps (50,000 lux)

Nitrogen fertilizer

Measuring tape

Describe your experimental settings and conditions in detail. You can provide labelled diagrams or images of the exact set-up necessary for experimental equipment. State how extraneous variables were controlled through restriction or by fixing them at a certain level (e.g., keeping the lab at room temperature).

Light levels were fixed throughout the experiment, and the plants were exposed to 12 hours of light a day. Temperature was restricted to between 23 and 25℃. The pH and carbon levels of the soil were also held constant throughout the experiment as these variables could influence plant height. The plants were grown in rooms free of insects or other pests, and they were spaced out adequately.

Your experimental procedure should describe the exact steps you took to gather data in chronological order. You’ll need to provide enough information so that someone else can replicate your procedure, but you should also be concise. Place detailed information in the appendices where appropriate.

In a lab experiment, you’ll often closely follow a lab manual to gather data. Some instructors will allow you to simply reference the manual and state whether you changed any steps based on practical considerations. Other instructors may want you to rewrite the lab manual procedures as complete sentences in coherent paragraphs, while noting any changes to the steps that you applied in practice.

If you’re performing extensive data analysis, be sure to state your planned analysis methods as well. This includes the types of tests you’ll perform and any programs or software you’ll use for calculations (if relevant).

First, tomato seeds were sown in wooden flats containing soil about 2 cm below the surface. Each seed was kept 3-5 cm apart. The flats were covered to keep the soil moist until germination. The seedlings were removed and transplanted to pots 8 days later, with a maximum of 2 plants to a pot. Each pot was watered once a day to keep the soil moist.

The nitrogen fertilizer treatment was applied to the plant pots 12 days after transplantation. The control group received no treatment, while the first experimental group received a low concentration, and the second experimental group received a high concentration. There were 5 pots in each group, and each plant pot was labelled to indicate the group the plants belonged to.

50 days after the start of the experiment, plant height was measured for all plants. A measuring tape was used to record the length of the plant from ground level to the top of the tallest leaf.

In your results section, you should report the results of any statistical analysis procedures that you undertook. You should clearly state how the results of statistical tests support or refute your initial hypotheses.

The main results to report include:

• any descriptive statistics
• statistical test results
• the significance of the test results
• estimates of standard error or confidence intervals

The mean heights of the plants in the control group, low nitrogen group, and high nitrogen groups were 20.3, 25.1, and 29.6 cm respectively. A one-way ANOVA was applied to calculate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer level on plant height. The results demonstrated statistically significant ( p = .03) height differences between groups.

Next, post-hoc tests were performed to assess the primary and secondary hypotheses. In support of the primary hypothesis, the high nitrogen group plants were significantly taller than the low nitrogen group and the control group plants. Similarly, the results supported the secondary hypothesis: the low nitrogen plants were taller than the control group plants.

These results can be reported in the text or in tables and figures. Use text for highlighting a few key results, but present large sets of numbers in tables, or show relationships between variables with graphs.

You should also include sample calculations in the Results section for complex experiments. For each sample calculation, provide a brief description of what it does and use clear symbols. Present your raw data in the Appendices section and refer to it to highlight any outliers or trends.

The Discussion section will help demonstrate your understanding of the experimental process and your critical thinking skills.

In this section, you can:

• Interpret your results
• Compare your findings with your expectations
• Identify any sources of experimental error
• Explain any unexpected results
• Suggest possible improvements for further studies

Interpreting your results involves clarifying how your results help you answer your main research question. Report whether your results support your hypotheses.

• Did you measure what you sought out to measure?
• Were your analysis procedures appropriate for this type of data?

Compare your findings with other research and explain any key differences in findings.

• Are your results in line with those from previous studies or your classmates’ results? Why or why not?

An effective Discussion section will also highlight the strengths and limitations of a study.

• Did you have high internal validity or reliability?
• How did you establish these aspects of your study?

When describing limitations, use specific examples. For example, if random error contributed substantially to the measurements in your study, state the particular sources of error (e.g., imprecise apparatus) and explain ways to improve them.

The results support the hypothesis that nitrogen levels affect plant height, with increasing levels producing taller plants. These statistically significant results are taken together with previous research to support the importance of nitrogen as a nutrient for tomato plant growth.

However, unlike previous studies, this study focused on plant height as an indicator of plant growth in the present experiment. Importantly, plant height may not always reflect plant health or fruit yield, so measuring other indicators would have strengthened the study findings.

Another limitation of the study is the plant height measurement technique, as the measuring tape was not suitable for plants with extreme curvature. Future studies may focus on measuring plant height in different ways.

The main strengths of this study were the controls for extraneous variables, such as pH and carbon levels of the soil. All other factors that could affect plant height were tightly controlled to isolate the effects of nitrogen levels, resulting in high internal validity for this study.

Your conclusion should be the final section of your lab report. Here, you’ll summarize the findings of your experiment, with a brief overview of the strengths and limitations, and implications of your study for further research.

Some lab reports may omit a Conclusion section because it overlaps with the Discussion section, but you should check with your instructor before doing so.

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A lab report conveys the aim, methods, results, and conclusions of a scientific experiment . Lab reports are commonly assigned in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The purpose of a lab report is to demonstrate your understanding of the scientific method with a hands-on lab experiment. Course instructors will often provide you with an experimental design and procedure. Your task is to write up how you actually performed the experiment and evaluate the outcome.

In contrast, a research paper requires you to independently develop an original argument. It involves more in-depth research and interpretation of sources and data.

A lab report is usually shorter than a research paper.

The sections of a lab report can vary between scientific fields and course requirements, but it usually contains the following:

• Abstract: summarizes your research aims, methods, results, and conclusions
• References: list of all sources cited using a specific style (e.g. APA)
• Appendices: contains lengthy materials, procedures, tables or figures

The results chapter or section simply and objectively reports what you found, without speculating on why you found these results. The discussion interprets the meaning of the results, puts them in context, and explains why they matter.

In qualitative research , results and discussion are sometimes combined. But in quantitative research , it’s considered important to separate the objective results from your interpretation of them.

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• How to Write a Lab Report: Tips from Academic Researchers

Lab reports bridge the gap between classroom theory and laboratory practice. Writing a solid lab report demonstrates your understanding of the course material to your professor and shows your ability to apply these concepts in a practical setting. Let’s talk about how to write a lab report efficiently!

What is a Lab Report?

A lab report is a detailed playbook that guides you through your experiments in the lab. You don’t just do experiments: you write them up so that readers can see and understand how and why you did it and the results and implications of experimenting. The fundamental goal of lab report writing is to show that you can think critically, apply theories in practice, and effectively communicate your results. Lab reports are essential in Chemistry and Biology and are also required in fields like Sociology, Engineering, Nursing, and Forensic Studies. For example:

• Sociology researchers explore behavioural experiments or surveys
• Engineering students could be testing materials or new designs
• Nursing scholars often delve into clinical studies or simulations
• Forensic Studies are about crime scene investigations and analysis

Each field uses the lab report to force students to apply theory to practice, develop skills outside the lab, and engage in learning and professional growth. The UK writing service is a reliable solution if you have any challenges writing a lab report. It provides expert assistance to guide you through writing complexities, ensuring your reports comply with academic standards.

How Long Should a Lab Report Be?

The length of the report on lab work depends on the complexity of the experiment and the course requirements. However, most lab reports, including figures and graphs, are usually 2 to 10 pages long. The required report length is usually specified in the assignment, as there are no strict limits for this type of work.

What are the Rules For Writing a Lab Report?

A lab report must be clear and concise, written logically, using the past tense and third person, and include all the data and findings. A professional lab report writer can help you enhance the quality of your report by providing a lab report template, making it easier for you to communicate your research effectively and meet academic standards.

What is the Writing Style of a Lab Report?

A lab report should be written formally and objectively, avoiding personal pronouns and always aiming to communicate clearly and precisely. For this type of scientific work, it is better to use passive voice to shift the focus from the researcher to the action or the research subject. For example, " The solution was heated " rather than " We heated the solution. "

What Should Not Be Included In a Lab Report?

Do not add irrelevant details, personal opinions, or speculative statements to a lab report. Ensure the report discusses only factual and supported observations and stays focused on the experiment and its results.

How to Write a Lab Report: Structure with Examples

A proper lab report structure is essential to format it neatly and ensure every part communicates a specific aspect of your experiment. A well-organised lab report can enhance the reception of your scientific investigation by clearly presenting your methods and demonstrating rigorous methodology. Let’s look at each lab report section in detail to understand its purpose and importance.

1. Title Page: Your lab report cover page, front, or title page must present the first impression. The lab report title page has the leading information: you should describe the experimental topic accurately and concisely. This page will have all the contributors to the report (e.g., group members and instructors) and the date when the experiment took place.

2. Abstract: A lab report abstract summarises the whole report in an independent synopsis around 150-200 words. It briefly touches on what the experiment aimed to test, the methodology, the most significant findings, and the main conclusion. Abstracts are helpful because other researchers and students can quickly understand the work’s relevant context, determining whether or not the full report requires a thorough reading. Example:

This experiment investigated the effect of sunlight exposure on the growth of basil plants. It measured the changes in the height and number of leaves per basil plant grown under four different lighting conditions for 14 days. The results suggested that plants exposed to sunlight for at least six hours a day had grown 50 per cent larger than those exposed to less light.

3. Introduction: A lab report introduction explains the background information and sets up the experiment. It describes the scientific theory or principle being tested, lists the specific goals or hypotheses to be confirmed, and defines the experiment’s importance and relevance to the field. With professional report writing help , you can learn how to write lab report introductions that effectively communicate the necessary context. Expert guidance enables you to structure your thoughts coherently, refining your scientific narrative and enhancing the overall quality of your lab report.

4. Methods and Materials (Equipment): This section describes all the materials, tools, and procedures used in the experiment. It should include the precise chemical concentrations, brand models of the instruments, and a detailed description of the set-up that should allow the experiment to be done exactly as before by others. It is another pillar of the scientific method. Transparency is essential for the research process. It serves as a control for checks and validation by the broader scientific community so that results can be trusted and used as a basis for future research. Here’s a lab report example of the Methods and Materials section. For example:

We had four basil plants, a ruler, a light meter, and four environments: full sun, partial shade, indoors with artificial light, and complete darkness, in which we measured how each plant grew every two days.

5. Experimental Procedure: Next to it, in the Experimental Procedure section, comes a day-by-day account of what was done, a chronological record of every action and condition that occurred, from the initial measurement to the final result, all in language that is as detailed as possible. This way, if another researcher wants to repeat the experiment, they can do so under identical conditions. The section of a laboratory experiment report is crucial for verifying scientific findings, troubleshooting issues, and refining experiments through peer review.

6. Results: The Results section of a lab report is carefully structured and presented objectively, using the data collected during the experiment. The lab report format of this section usually includes tables, charts, or graphs to visually condense information. It is a crucial element, as everything that follows is an analysis, discussion, and conclusion based on the empirical findings of this section, which substantiates the report and identifies the work as scientific.

7. Discussion: The Discussion section analyses how the results relate to the original hypothesis and the broader field of research. Here, you interpret the data, assessing how the findings align with or challenge existing knowledge. This section should address any unexpected results, their potential implications, and possible reasons for their occurrence. The lab report discussion extends the impact of the findings, considering their practical or theoretical significance, connecting them to broader scientific concepts, and suggesting areas for further research.

8. Conclusion: The lab report conclusion states the experiment's results, repeating how they work with the hypothesis and discussing general implications. It should summarise the research's accomplishments, critical successes, and limitations shortly. It also generally includes discussing what could be studied next and mentioning how future research could build on the present experiment. This part of the report brings a sense of closure to the study, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of what was done and why this matters to the field. Look at the example:

The experiment results show that the hypothesis that plants exposed to more sunlight will grow more than others is supported. The basil plants exposed to full sunlight grew more than those in the other conditions. More research can be done to find out how different light spectrums may affect plant growth.

9. References: The References section is a crucial element of the report, as it lists all sources the experiment was based on and which informed the report's writing. By accurately citing their sources, readers can follow the origin of ideas or findings introduced in the report, assess the basis and limits of the reporting, and access the sources for further study. The appendix lab report section should be placed after the References section and include supplementary material that isn’t essential to the main text of the report.

In Conclusion

Learning how to write a lab report isn’t just an integral part of your studies – it has a lasting impact on how your scientific investigation is received. If you learn how to write a university lab report, you’ll demonstrate that you grasp the rules of scientific research. It also showcases a valuable skill: your ability to communicate effectively. Getting this skill right can impact your grades and future academic and workplace career prospects.

The more you enhance your ability to write concise, clear, and well-organised lab reports, the better you'll be for success in any job, whether in research, industry, or any field requiring precise and clear communication.

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Mets reliever, a team favorite, to start rehab assignment Tuesday

• Updated: Aug. 19, 2024, 7:15 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 19, 2024, 7:00 a.m.

New York Mets pitcher Dedniel Núñez (72) will start a rehab assignment this week. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) AP

• Manny Gómez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NEW YORK — Before landing on the injured list, Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez emerged as one of the team’s favorite options out of the bullpen.

Ahead of the Mets ’ series finale against the Marlins on Sunday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced that the team is one step away from rejoining the team. Núñez expected to go on a rehab assignment Tuesday in Syracuse.

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Title Page Setup

A title page is required for all APA Style papers. There are both student and professional versions of the title page. Students should use the student version of the title page unless their instructor or institution has requested they use the professional version. APA provides a student title page guide (PDF, 199KB) to assist students in creating their title pages.

Student title page

The student title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation, course number and name for which the paper is being submitted, instructor name, assignment due date, and page number, as shown in this example.

Title page setup is covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 2.3 and the Concise Guide Section 1.6

Related handouts

• Student Title Page Guide (PDF, 263KB)
• Student Paper Setup Guide (PDF, 3MB)

Student papers do not include a running head unless requested by the instructor or institution.

Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the student title page.

Professional title page

The professional title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation(s), author note, running head, and page number, as shown in the following example.

Follow the guidelines described next to format each element of the professional title page.

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Angels to DFA Maligned Infielder Among Sweeping Roster Changes: Report

J.p. hoornstra | aug 16, 2024.

• Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are designating infielder Luis Guillorme for assignment among a series of big roster moves Friday.

Ok got it all now… Jack López and Niko Kavadas are coming up. Willie Calhoun and Luis Guillorme are being DFA’d That’s it. https://t.co/QwRZPQuPm1 — Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 16, 2024

As previously reported, the Angels are calling up former Notre Dame standout Niko Kavadas to make his major league debut.

The team is also designating Willie Calhoun for assignment while giving Jack López his first chance with a major league team since his brief cup of coffee with the Boston Red Sox.

Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group was the first to report Friday that Guillorme is also being designated for assignment.

Guillorme, 29, is hitting .218 with eight runs, six RBIs, a .285 on-base percentage and .290 slugging percentage in 124 at-bats this season, his first with the Angels.

The Angels acquired Guillorme from the Braves on May 9. Known primarily for his glove, he was an occasional target of criticism from manager Ron Washington.

After a recent loss to the Nationals, Washington criticized Guillorme for not handling a critical 10th-inning line drive off the bat of Alex Call, telling reporters "this is the big leagues."

When Guillorme failed to execute a squeeze bunt in a May game, Washington barely hid his displeasure with the veteran, saying "it wasn't anything I did wrong" in calling for the bunt .

to say Ron Washington threw Luis Guillorme under the bus is an understatement… pic.twitter.com/7Hgi8ZCWlb — BTH (@BeyondTheHalo) May 15, 2024

A former 10th-round draft pick out of Coral Springs Charter High School in 2013 by the New York Mets, Guillorme spent the first six seasons of his major league career (2018-23) in Queens. A free agent after last season, Guillorme signed on with the division-rival Braves.

In Atlanta, Guillorme played just nine games, batting .150. He was one of many veteran position players the Angels offerd a second chance to this season after they were cut early in the baseball calendar, including Niko Goodrum, Keston Hiura, and others.

Guillorme managed to fill a depth role on the Angels' infield even as the team's fortunes in the American League West and Wild Card races sank. Now, they'll move on from both Guillorme and Calhoun — who's now looking for his fifth organization in the last three seasons — and get a look at some fresh faces.

Calhoun, 29, accumulated 254 plate appearances over 68 games and slashed .245/.315/.380 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in.

After being drafted as the 316th overall pick in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB draft,  the Boston Red Sox traded Kavadas to the Angels  in exchange for right-handed pitcher Luis García at the trade deadline.

López re-signed with the Angels on a minor league deal after spending the entire 2023 season with Triple-A Salt Lake. He has played 104 Triple-A games this year, hitting 12 home runs and slashing .274/.333/.421.

J.P. HOORNSTRA

J.P. Hoornstra writes and edits Major League Baseball content for Halos Today, and is the author of 'The 50 Greatest Dodger Games Of All Time.' He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.

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Back to School: Using AI to Create Writing Assignments Students Actually Want to Do

You may even have fun grading them.

Getting students excited about the work you have to grade later can be one of the more frustrating things about teaching , but when an assignment hits the right chord, it has the potential to inspire and impact not just the classroom, but the whole school and beyond.

Reconciling the curriculum and assignments with standards and learning objectives sometimes established out of a teacher's control can really sap the creative side of your brain. 

Here's how artificial intelligence can help broaden your horizons when trying to create assignments that make a lasting impression and keep your classroom excited about learning. (And for more AI tips for the back-to-school season, check out CNET's guides on  how to use AI to keep up with important dates and  how to use Microsoft Copilot to create notes on pretty much anything.)

Since there will need to be a fair bit of refinement to create an assignment that is both fun to complete for students and fun to review and grade for educators, I've used ChatGPT , the AI chatbot that uses machine learning and large language models to generate conversational style answers to search queries, so that I could go back and forth brainstorming ideas.

Maintaining teacher and student sanity

My area of study is media and communications, so for this example I'm putting together an assignment on media literacy , or the ability to think and interact critically with everything from TikTok content to front-page news. 

The goal is to create an assignment that's fun, collaborative and impactful for college students who interact heavily with digital media but might not be questioning what they're consuming.

The secondary goal was to create an assignment I won't hate myself for creating when it comes time to grade it.

On my first attempt, ChatGPT gave me a fully built-out assignment according to specific learning objectives around media literacy for college-level students, but it was about as fun as you'd think writing a 500-word essay on media literacy might be -- not fun at all.

Refine for fun, collaboration and focus

Since this assignment is in part about getting students to actually interact with media online in a way that's more impactful than just lurking or liking from the digital shadows, I refined the prompt to include using the student body in the assignment somehow and requested less emphasis on written analysis that will ultimately only be seen and evaluated by the teacher.

Here's what it came back with:

I was actually impressed -- not only did ChatGPT have students interacting with and analyzing media, but it also created a multi-layered assignment that gave students the opportunity to see firsthand the impact media literacy can make on a community as well as an individual.

This assignment would also be a darn sight more enjoyable to grade than 30 to 50 500-word analytical essays about whether the source of a Brat summer post on TikTok can be trusted.

Finally, ChatGPT offered submission requirements (like linking to the social media content used in completing the assignment and screenshots of the online interactions) and grading criteria for the assignment and even some examples of how the assignment might be executed.

Its example in particular about analyzing the role of political memes was timely and felt like a fresh take on an evolving reality of campaign media.

I personally would love to see videos from students collaborating on a discussion with their peers about their perception of Kamala HQ 's content and the presence of former President Donald Trump across social media. 

And who knows -- maybe the students might actually enjoy it too.

With Triston Casas back, Red Sox cut likable veteran who took over at 1B

• Updated: Aug. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.
• | Published: Aug. 16, 2024, 3:25 p.m.

Dom Smith's time with the Red Sox is over now that Triston Casas is back. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) AP

• Chris Cotillo | [email protected]

BALTIMORE — With Triston Casas set to be activated off the injured list Friday night , the Red Sox are moving on from the player who has ably taken his place at first base for most of the past four months.

Boston has designated veteran first baseman Dominic Smith for assignment, as first reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray . Casas’ return meant that Smith was out of a starting job and the Red Sox determined that he, as a left-handed bat like Casas, was redundant on their roster.

Smith provided some big moments at the plate, heated up for a time and was a steady presence at first base during his time starting in Casas’ place. Manager Alex Cora praised his contributions Friday.

“He was outstanding. Outstanding,” Cora said. “It’s one of those that’s a tough decision. But one that everybody knew was going to happen. Roster-wise, it was hard to keep him with us. But he put great at-bats. He only had one bad defensive week . He didn’t make like two plays. But after that, he settled down. The picks at first base, the calmness for the guys around him was very important. In the clubhouse, huge. It was very important for those guys. Always upbeat, always ready to go. He found his groove two weeks ago or three weeks ago.

“He’s A-plus. A-plus. He’s a good player. He’s still young and he has a bright future, still, in the game.”

Smith, a 29-year-old who spent most of his career with the Mets, signed with the Red Sox on May 1 after exercising an opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Rays, who had him at Triple-A Durham . He played 83 games for Boston (including 69 starts), hitting .237 with six homers, 20 doubles and a .706 OPS while playing fine defense at first and becoming something of a fan favorite. His stock soared during a strong July that saw him hit .290 with three homers, 10 doubles and a .921 OPS in 24 games. He came back down to earth in August with an 8-for-34 line (235) and just three extra-base hits in 11 games.

Smith also shined on the mound for the Red Sox, logging three shutout innings in blowout games and allowing just two hits. He last pitched Sunday at Fenway in the ninth inning of a blowout loss and acknowledged the Fenway crowd with a tip of the cap as he left the field.

Smith has logged 1,330 career innings in left field but wasn’t a fit there considering the glut of outfielders on the active roster in Boston. The Red Sox will move forward with Connor Wong and Romy Gonzalez as their primary backup options to Casas at first base with Mickey Gasper, a catcher who can play the infield, also a consideration at the position for now.

Speaking to MassLive’s Sean McAdam last week, Smith shed light on his state of mind ahead of Casas’ return .

“That’s something above my pay grade,” said Smith when asked about his status when Casas returns. “I’m here to do my job and have fun. I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed here. Obviously, I’m making it kind of tough (for the Red Sox to let him go). I do love this environment, love this team. We’ll see what happens. It’s coming up pretty quickly.

“The front office respects me, as a player and a person, the way I came in and handled myself. Whatever happens, I’ll be forever grateful for this opportunity. There would never be any hard feelings. I’ve loved my time here in Boston. I wish it could be forever, but we can’t get what we want all the time. I just appreciated it all, enjoying it every day. It’s been fun. And it’s only been a few weeks (since he made some adjustments) and things are trending in the right direction, and there’s still so much more to give.”

The Red Sox will have seven days to waive or release Smith, who will likely find an opportunity with another club. The team also activated Cooper Criswell from the COVID injured list and optioned righty Chase Shugart to Triple-A before facing the Orioles.

“He was a pro about it,” Cora said. “We talked to him this morning. Let’s see what the future holds .When you have those conversations, thinking about the player, hopefully someone picks him up and he stays in the big leagues. If not, we’ll see what happens.”

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