Report writing Vida Zorko Adapted from Nada Vukadinović’s ‘Report Writing’ with kind permission of the author
Report should give answers to the questions: Why do we have problems with…? Who/What causes the problem? How can we change things for better? Given the choices, which plan/solution is the best?
Plan your report use a concept map for structuring ideas make a contents list rearrange parts if necessary work as a team keep focus on the problem
Introduction write it when all the parts of the main body have been finished you can appoint a person who will write the introduction & conclusion
Central part explain the reasons for the problem that you have investigated make sub-headings as necessary reference your sources! insert pictures, graphs, charts, statistics as necessary
Conclusion give solutions to the problem make recommendations
Language and style do not use colloquialisms, use formal style do not use abbreviated forms (don’t, aren’t) mind punctuation (commas, colons, etc.) make paragraphs with a blank line in between make clear titles and subtitles (be consistent in using the size of font) mind typing and avoid spelling mistakes, use the spell checker. Make sure to proof read the report before you submit it.
Avoid plagiarism! do not copy directly from literature! Direct copying is called plagiarism and is a serious offence. It is the same as theft of intellectual property. you are allowed to quote but you must acknowledge the source copying can be immediately detected and may be the reason that your report fails
Other points the report must be typewritten and paginated the whole report should be 8-10 pages long use 1.5 spacing submit the report within the deadline
Assessment criteria - Content assessed by the subject teacher research analysis use of sources relevance of materials problem coverage documentation appropriate technical vocabulary
Assessment criteria - Language assessed by the language teacher grammar cohesion structure layout appropriate vocabulary word order spelling paragraphing punctuation