HOW TO WRITE A REPORT
A report is a document that presents information in an organized format
for a specific audience and purpose. Although summaries of reports may
be delivered orally, complete reports are almost always in the form of
written documents
Usage[edit]
In modern business scenario, reports play a major role in the progress of
business. Reports are the backbone to the thinking process of the
establishment and they are responsible, to a great extent, in evolving an
efficient or inefficient work environment.
The significance of the reports includes:
Reports present adequate information on various aspects of the
business.
All the skills and the knowledge of the professionals are
communicated through reports.
Reports help the top line in decision making.
A rule and balanced report also helps in problem solving.
Reports communicate the planning, policies and other matters
regarding an organization to the masses. News reports play the role
of ombudsman and levy checks and balances on the establishment.
Attributes[edit]
One of the most common formats for presenting reports is IMRAD—
introduction, methods, results, and discussion. This structure, standard
for the genre, mirrors traditional publication of scientific research and
summons the ethos and credibility of that discipline. Reports are not
required to follow this pattern and may use alternative methods such as
the problem-solution format, wherein the author first lists an issue and
then details what must be done to fix the problem. Transparency and a
focus on quality are keys to writing a useful report. Accuracy is also
important. Faulty numbers in a financial report could lead to disastrous
consequences.
Standard elements[edit]
Reports use features such as tables, graphics, pictures, voice, or
specialized vocabulary in order to persuade a specific audience to
undertake an action or inform the reader of the subject at hand. Some
common elements of written reports include headings to indicate topics
and help the reader locate relevant information quickly, and visual
elements such as charts, tables and figures, which are useful for
breaking up large sections of text and making complex issues more
accessible. Lengthy written reports will almost always contain a table of
contents, appendices, footnotes, and references. A bibliography or list of
references will appear at the end of any credible report and citations are
often included within the text itself. Complex terms are explained within
the body of the report or listed as footnotes in order to make the report
easier to follow. A short summary of the report's contents, called
an abstract, may appear in the beginning so that the audience knows
what the report will cover. Online reports often contain hyperlinks to
internal or external sources as well.
Verbal reports differ from written reports in the minutiae of their format,
but they still educate or advocate for a course of action. Quality reports
will be well researched and the speaker will list their sources if at all
possible.
Structure of a report[3][edit]
A typical report would include the following sections in it:
Title page
Executive summary
Table of contents
Introduction
Discussion or body
Conclusion
Recommendations
Reference list
Appendices.
Types[edit]
Some examples of reports are:
Annual reports
Auditor's reports
Book reports
Bound report
Retail report
Census reports
Credit reports
Demographic reports
Expense report
Experience report
Incident report
Inspection reports
Military reports
Police reports
Policy reports
Informal reports
Progress reports
Investigative reports
Technical or scientific reports
Trip reports
White papers
Appraisal reports
Workplace reports[4][unreliable source?