Sample Report Formats

Research Article Front matter Title Abstract

Body Introduction Background Theory Experimental section Results Discussion Conclusions

End matter References and notes

Proposal Front matter Letter of Transmittal Title page Abstract Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables

Body Introduction Identify overall issue or problem State key technical issues State objectives Technical Approach

Theoretical context Method/experimental design Analytical approach Management Requirements

Timetable, resources, etc. Work Plan End matter Bibliography or references Resumes Appendixes

Consulting Report ("White Paper") Front matter Title Abstract or executive summary

Body Introduction Developed sections appropriate to subject and audience

End matter References Appendixes

Design and Feasibility Report Front matter Title Abstract

Body Introduction Issue

Problem statement Background Criteria (noted in order of importance) Additional issues and considerations Possibilities Recommendation with comparison of alternatives Detailed description of recommended option Conclusion

Action recommendations Issues to resolve End matter References Appendixes

Writing a Research Report

Standard Research Report Components Scientific and technical research reports generally follow a conventional format that includes a title, an abstract, a reference (or Literature Cited) section and the components of the IMRAD structure.

The IMRAD structure Introduction answers "why?" Methods answers "when, where, how, how much?" Results answers "what?" And Discussion answers "so what?"

Writing Process No writing process works universally: whatever enables you to start and continue productively is fine. Consider what routines actually produce writing rather than procrastination, and do those.

Sample Writing Process Prewriting Make notes, scribble ideas: start generating text, drawing figures, sketching out presentation ideas. Ignore neatness, spelling, and sentence structure--get the ideas down. Analyze audience and purpose to focus your writing.

Writing Start with whatever section is easiest to write. Skip around to different sections as needed. Keep writing.

Revision Work on content first, then structure, and then style. Keep focused on your main purpose: communicating, reasoning, and presenting clearly. Ask for comments from people who will offer useful critiques. Circle back to prewriting as needed.

Editing Check all data for accuracy. Review everything for grammatical, mechanical, and usage errors.

Writing well is a complex and recursive process; few writers start with their title and write their text in order.

You should start writing whatever sections seem easiest; you can even start all sections simultaneously: write the section headers at the tops of clean sheets of paper, and prewrite whichever section appeals to you at any time.

Whatever process or starting point you choose, start now, so you have chance to revise and refine your work.

Guidelines and Suggestions

Title informative and specific concise understandable

Abstract offers complete but very selective summary of most significant ideas and information uses clear, precise wording (pare down text and increase precision through successive revisions) accurately reflects the paper's organization, emphasis, and content on a very small scale

Introduction Focuses on the overall issue, problem, or question that your research addresses. Provides sufficient context and background for the reader to understand and evaluate your research, including appropriate visual aids (drawings, etc.)

Defines specialized terms; introduces acronyms and non-standard abbreviations. Develops the rationale for your work: poses questions or research problems and outlines your main research focus.

Introduces your work: the nature and scope of your research, your hypotheses or objectives (may also include the rationale for your method selection and the potential significance of your work).

Methods This section includes enough detail that readers can trust the results and potentially reproduce them. It is written as a process description, not as a lab manual procedure.

Be precise, complete, and concise: include only relevant information—no unnecessary details, anecdotes, excuses, or confessions.

Sample Components of Methods Section Materials Methods exact specifications and quantities of experimental materials detailed experimental procedures organism identifications: genus, species, strain; sources; special characteristics techniques for tracking functional variables (timing, temperature, humidity, etc.) specific equipment and softwareanalytical techniques: assays, equations, statistical strategies

With all the detail, the section must be very well organized to make sense to the reader and to allow easy reference. Headers help to create a sense of order and coherence.

Results Organize logically and use headers to emphasize the ordered sections. Report; don't discuss or interpret. Findings are matters of fact; interpretation fluctuates with perspective, opinion, and current knowledge. Reasoned speculation belongs in discussion; important facts and objective observations that are unambiguously true belong in results.

Illustrate and summarize findings: organize data and emphasize trends and patterns with appropriate visuals. Integrate visuals with text: the text offers claims and general statements that the visual details support.

These are some of the qualities of a good Results section: relevant data clearly stated observations meticulous organization appropriate visuals with required labeling (e.g. titles, captions) efficiently correlated text and visuals (no repetition, useful correspondence) accuracy

Discussion This section offers your interpretations and conclusions about your findings.

The Discussion reflects your main intellectual contribution: This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to synthesize, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and reason effectively.

Your readers are looking for well- supported opinions, not for leaps of fancy or mere repetitions of your findings, so you will need to think carefully about your findings in order to draw conclusions that are neither too narrow nor too broad.

The following list offers content options and a possible sequence:

Interpret your results: evaluate, analyze, explain the significance and implications of your work— generalizations that you can draw from your results, principles that you support/disprove, conclusions about theoretical and/or practical implications.

Explain key limitations: questions left unanswered, major experimental constraints, lack of correlation, negative results.

Discuss agreement or contrast with previously published work; explain the significance of the corroboration or disjunction.

Offer general conclusions, noting your reasoning and main supporting evidence. Recommend areas for future study and explain your choices.