1. Front Matter Transmittal Letter Front Cover Title Page Forward or Preface Abstract Table of Contents List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations and Symbols

2. Back Matter Reference Glossary Appendixes Index Distribution List Back Cover

3. Transmittal Letter Introduces the title of the report/manual May comment on the circumstances, conditions prompted the document May draw attention to important things not discussed in the document May acknowledge help received

4. Title Page Full title of the report – Indicate topic, thesis, scope, purpose Name of the writer Date of the report Name of the organization

5. Table of Content Assessing the value of a report Accessing certain information quickly

6. List of Illustrations List the figures List the tables Provide complete titles

7. Abstract What to include? – The subject of study – The scope of study – The purpose of study – The methods used – The results obtained – The recommendations made

8. Abstract What not to include? – The background of the study – Detailed discussion of methods used – Administrative details – Figures, tables, references – Any information that doesn’t appear in the report

9. Types of Abstract Descriptive abstract Informative abstract Evaluative/critical abstract

10. Executive Summary Complete overview of the report Elaborate than descriptive/informative abstract Content – Purpose and nature of study – Major findings – Conclusions – Recommendations

11. Appendix Function: clarifies, supplements Types of information – Passages from documents – Laws reinforcing text – Long list of charts, tables – Letters and other supporting documents – Full calculations – Raw data – Case histories – Data gathering tools (questionnaires, etc.) – Interview texts

12. Guidelines for Writing Appendices Keep it independent of the report – Make the content identifiable without referring back to the report If needed, add an introductory paragraph Arrange them in the order in which they appear in the text Begin each appendix on a new page Indentify with a title and a head Number them Refer to them in TOC