1. How to prepare better reports
Taken from Essential Study
Skills,
Burns & Sinfield pp197/208

2. What is a report?
 A document designed
to deal with the real
world
 A practical document
that describes, details
or analyses a situation
in the real world
 The reader should be
able to make decisions
or take action at the
end of it

3. The “Why” question
 Why am I writing
this report? – what
am I trying to
achieve
 Why am I writing
this report – what
do I want my
reader to think and
do after reading
my report?

4. Think about the reader
 Who is my reader?
 What can I expect my reader to already know about
this topic?
 How can I deal with this in my report?
 What can I expect my reader to believe about my
topic?
 How can I deal with this in my report?
 What language, tone, style will my reader respond
to?
TIP: When drafting reports, think of the language,
evidence and examples that will influence real
reader

5. 10 steps to success
1. Prepare to research  Tip: You will need to allow
2. Follow the action plan – time for your seminar
systematic and targeted tutor to give you
research feedback on your report –
3. Review your notes or it will be difficult to
reflect on how to improve
4. Plan the body your work!
5. Write the first draft
6. Leave it  Tip: when getting work
7. Review, revise, edit back always make a note
8. Proof read of three things you do
9. Copy/type and hand in well, and three ways you
could improve and develop
10. Getting it back your practice

6. Typical report structure:
 Title Page  Conclusion
 Contents  Recommendations
 Introduction  Bibliography
 Methodology  Appendices
 Findings:  Glossary
- with strap headlines

7. What makes a report?
Title page Abstract
 Title and sub-title –  A synopsis or summary is the
usually divided by a colon : gist of what your report is
 Date – places report in real about
time  It could include: overall aims,
 Authors name and position specific objectives, the task,
– when you write a report, procedures or methodology,
you are often asked to key findings, key
write as though you are a recommendations
particular person in an  Tip: as it refers to the
organisation whole report – write it last!
 Distribution list

8. Contents page
 Contents - lists clearly
all the major sections
of the report,
including subsections
and appendices – with
page numbers
 Tip: Check out the
contents pages of
books – how do they
help you as a reader?

9. Introductions and Bodies………..
 Introduction – Should help the reader
understand the what, why and how of your
report. It needs:
 Background – why you are interested in the topic
or why the report was necessary
 terms of reference – aim or purpose of your
research
 the methodology – research methods you used to
put the report together – literature review, or
something more practical: interviews, visits
 Body – small word, most work! Main part of
your report

10. Conclusions and recommendations
(nearly finished by now!)
 Each part of the body
should have a
conclusion that points
out the implications of
your findings,
 Each conclusion should
lead to a
recommendation –
recommendations tell
the reader what to do
about something…

11. And finally:
 Appendices
 do not count within the
word count!
 Use sparingly – they
should not be longer than
your main work!
 To show your reader
some of things you have
used to compile your
report
 Bibliography
 Use Harvard system
 Glossary – a list of
unusual words

12. Further assistance:
 The learning
development unit
www/londonmet.ac.uk/ldu
 Has tutors that will
work with you one to
one
 You can collect a
handout on how to write
reports, essays etc etc
 Write2learn online
guide to academic
writing available 24
hours on webCT