ENGLISH FOR

ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
Quarter 2
WRITES VARIOUS
REPORTS
OBJECTIVE Writes various reports
a. Survey Report
b. Science Laboratory Report
c. Field Report
VOCABULARY LIST
● Survey report is a paper which presents the
results of the author’s research.
● Field Report is usually used in the field of social
sciences to link theory and application. It contains
the author’s observation when out on the field and
analysis using theoretical concepts from the
discipline. Filed report can be personal and simple.
● Laboratory or Scientific Technical Report is
written by those in the sciences mainly to persuade
others to accept or reject hypothesis, record the
PRETEST A
Instructions: Arrange the following parts/section as it comes in a survey report and
complete the given flow chart in your notebook.
B. Instructions: Read each statement carefully. Write
True if you think the statement is correct and False if
you think the statement is incorrect.
[Link] single most important requirement for a laboratory report is clarity.
2. One function of a laboratory report is to read the data, present
conclusion, and make recommendations based on the experimental work.
3. The cover sheet has the course number and assigned lab section, the
title of the experiment, your name, your lab partner’s names, the date that
the lab was performed and your Teacher’s name.
4. The Lab Report structure begins with a Cover Sheet, Abstract, Data
Sheets, Graphs, Sample Calculations and Discussion of results.
5. The most important part of the Lab Report is the Sample Calculations.
General Guidelines for Writing the Survey/
Field/ Laboratory/ Scientific/ Technical
Report
[Link] Communicated Objective, accurate, and
honest presentation of facts and results
2. Basic Content
[Link] consist of eyewitness accounts or first- hand
information
[Link] contain facts, data, figures, or statistics on or
from people, events, phenomena, structure,
experiments, questionnaires, interviews, and library
research
c. May include materials and procedures or methods
3. Modes of Ordering
[Link] or time order
[Link] or space/spatial
[Link] – inductive and deductive
[Link] – Solution
[Link] and Effect f. Formal
4. Basic Qualities of a Good Report
[Link] not subjective point of view
[Link], not sloppy presentation of
facts, numbers, statistics, and data.
[Link], not false or incomplete details
and results
[Link] and direct sentences According to;
Laurel, Lucero, and Cruz (2016)
How to Write a Survey Report
After conducting a survey, all you need to do is to write the survey report. It
describes the survey, its results, and any patterns or trends found in the survey.
Most survey reports follow a standard organization, broken up under certain
headings. Each section has a specific purpose.
● Step 1 Divide the report into separate sections with headings. There might
be slight difference between reports, but the headings are typically the same.

Abstract – Introduction - Background – Statement

of the Problem – Materials – Method or
Procedure – Results – Discussion - Summary –
Conclusion, and Recommendations.
● Step 2 One-to-Two-page summary
paraphrasing the report.
A summary condenses the main points of
the report into few pages. It should
include: . Methodology . Key results of the
survey . Conclusions drawn from the
results of the survey. . Recommendations
based on the results of the survey.
● Step 3 State the objectives of the
survey in the background section.
Start the section by saying why the survey
was conducted. Explain the hypothesis and
goals of the survey.
It contains the target population: Who is
being studied, Variables of the study: What
is the survey trying to study? Is the study
looking for associations or relationships
between two things? And the purpose of the
study: How will this information be used?
● Step 4 Provide background
information by explaining similar
research and studies. This research
can help you determine if your survey
results support current beliefs on the
topic or disagree with them. Write 2 or
more pages explaining the issue and
how other researches have
approached it.
● Step 5 Explain the Method
and Results Explain how the
study was conducted in the
methodology section. This section
helps readers understand how the
survey was conducted. This
section may be several pages
long.
● Step 6 Describe what type of
questions were asked in the
methodology section. Common
types of questions include multiple
choice, interviews, and rating scales.
Describe the general theme of the
questions. Example “Participants were
asked to answer questions about their
daily routine and dietary practices
● Step 7 Report the results of
the survey in a separate
section. Once you have detailed
the methodology of the survey in
full, start a new section that
shows the results of the survey.
This section is usually several
pages long.
● Step 8 Point out any
interesting trends in the
results section. To help your
readers understand the
significance of your survey,
highlight the interesting
patterns, trends, or observations.
● Step 9 Analyze your results
State the implications of your
survey at the beginning of the
conclusion. At the beginning of this
section, write a paragraph that
summarizes the key takeaway points
of your survey. Ask yourself what
readers should learn from the survey.
● Step 10 Make recommendations about
what needs to be done about the issue.
Once you have reported the results of the
survey, state what the reader should take away
from the survey. What does the data imply?
What action should people take based on the
results? This part might be few pages long.
Example: More research needs to be done on
this topic or Current guidelines or policy need
to be changed. The company or institution
needs to take action.
● Step 11 Include graphs,
charts, surveys, and
testimonies in the
appendices
● Step 12 Polish your
report.
Laboratory or scientific
technical report
◦Laboratory or scientific technical report
is written by those in the sciences mainly
to persuade others to accept or reject a
hypothesis, record the details for future
researches, and document a current
phenomenon for future reference or
comparison. (Laurel [Link]., 2016)
Guidelines for Lab reports
A laboratory report has three main functions:
1. To provide a record of the experiments and
raw data included in the report.
2. To provide sufficient information to
reproduce or extend the data, and
3. To analyze the data, present conclusions and
make recommendations based on the
experimental work
General Comments
The most important requirement for a
laboratory report is clarity. In short, a
report should be readable therefore
spelling and grammar must be
correct.
Lab Report Structure
I. Cover Sheet
This page has the course number and
assigned lab section, the title of the
experiment, your name, your lab
partner’s names, the date that the lab
was performed and your TA’s name
II. Abstract
The purpose of this page is to help a reader decide if your
paper is of interest to him/her. (This section is the executive
summary in a corporation or government report; it is often
the only section that a manager reads.) The abstract should
be able to stand by itself, and it should be brief. Generally, it
consists of three parts which answer these questions:
✔ What did you do? - A statement of the purpose of the
experiment, a concise description of the experiment and
physics principles investigated.
✔ What were your results? – Highlight the most significant
results of the experiment.
✔ What do these results tell you? – depending
on the type of experiment, this is conclusions
and implications of the results or it may be
lessons learned from the experiment.

Note: Write the abstract after all the other

sections are completed. You need to know all in
your report before you can write a summary of
it.
III. Data Sheets
For each experiment, the lab manual has one
or more data sheets for recording raw data, as
well as intermediate and final data values.
These are not for doodling, but for recording
your data. Record the data neatly in pen. If
your data values are so sloppily recorded that
you must recopy them, then the accuracy of
the data is questionable. This fact will be
reflected in your laboratory performance
score. If there is a mistake, then draw a single
The values that you record on your data
sheet must have:
• Units (such as kg for kilograms)
• Reasonable uncertainty estimates for
given instruments and procedures
• Precision consistent with uncertainty
(proper significant digits)
• Propagation of error for calculated
quantities
• Your lab instructor’s initials
IV. Graphs
You must follow the guidelines in the lab
manual for all graphs. The first graphs of
the semester must be made by hand, not
computer software. After your lab
instructor gives permission, you may use
computer software to make graphs.
Those graphs must also conform to the
guidelines in the lab manual. Remember
that when plotting data with units, both
V. Sample Calculations
Show calculations in a neat and orderly outline form.
Include a brief description of the calculation, the equation,
numbers from your data substituted into the equation and
the result. Do not include the intermediate steps. Numbers
in the sample calculations must agree with what you
recorded in your data sheet. For calculations repeated
many times, you only include one sample calculation.
Answers should have the proper number of significant
figures and units. Typing the equation into the lab report is
not required; it is easier and faster to print these
calculations neatly by hand. If you wish to type this section,
then use the equation editor in Microsoft Word. Your Lab
instructor can give you information on using the equation
VI. Discussion of Results
This is the most important part of the lab report; it
is where you analyze the data. (In the future, you
may not actually collect data; a lab technician or
other people may collect the raw data. Regardless
of your discipline, the most challenging and
rewarding part of your work will be analyzing the
data.) Begin the discussion with the experimental
purpose and briefly summarize the basic idea of
the experiment with emphasis on the
measurements you made and transition to
discussing the results. State only the key results
Your discussion should address questions such
as:
• What is the relationship between your
measurements and your results?
• What trends were observable?
• What can you conclude from the graphs that you
made?
• How did the independent variables affect the
dependent variables? (For example, did an increase in
a given measured (independent) variable result an
increase or decrease in the associated calculated
(dependent) variable?
Then describe how your experimental results
substantiate /agree with the theory. (This is not a
single statement that your results agree or
disagree with the theory.) When comparison values
are available, discuss the agreement using either
uncertainty and/or percent differences. This leads
into the discussion of the sources of error. In your
discussion of sources of error, you should discuss
all those things that affect your measurement, but
which you can’t do anything about given the time
and equipment constraints of this laboratory.
Included in this would be a description of sources
Your analysis should describe the qualitative
effect of each source of error (e.g. friction
slowed motion, causing a smaller value of
acceleration to be measured) and, where
possible, provide an estimate of the
magnitude of the errors they could induce.
Describe only the prominent sources of error
in the experiment. For example, the precision
of the triple balance beam, a fraction of a
gram, compared to the 250.0 g lab cart is not
significant. Note that a tabulation of all
Your discussion should address questions
such as:
• Are the deviations due to error /
uncertainty in the experimental method, or
are they due to idealizations inherent in the
theory (or both)?
• If the deviations are due to experimental
uncertainties, can you think of ways to
decrease the amount of uncertainty.
• If the deviations are due to idealizations in
the theory, what factors has the theory,
The following template maybe helpful
to you in writing your Lab Report.
Name ________________
Date of Lab ___________
Partner’s last names _____________
Title___________________
Abstract [Link] 9 An abstract is a short summary
giving the most important information about your experiment. It
should be brief and include the following:
Title: should be descriptive of the content.
Objective: 1 or 2 sentences telling why this study is important. This
should include your question. That is, what you are testing and why
is this important.
Hypothesis: 1 sentence stating the hypothesis that you are testing.
Methods: 2-3 sentences. A brief summary of your procedure
explaining: How exactly did you set up the experiment?
Results: 1-2 sentences. Briefly tell what your data reveals. Quantify
your results. Example 90% of the plants grew in 2 weeks.
Conclusion: 1-2 sentences.
Summarize your results, be specific. Was the hypothesis supported or
Data and Observation Displays data in
organized manner such as charts, graphs,
illustrations, etc. and brief statements
describing data displays.
Analysis of Data: Gives the reader
quantitative interpretation of the data. That
is comparison using percentage, ratio, and
statistical results. Calculations Show work,
include units, and clearly label your results
Discussion of Results: . States if hypothesis (es) have been
supported or rejected by the results of the study. . Discuss why
the hypothesis (es) are supported or rejected, using the data
analysis as evidence. . Discuss any problems that may have
altered results such as a constant variable that could not be
controlled, human error, or error due to instrumentation etc.
suggests future questions for research concerning this study,
or suggestions for further investigations. Source: Pinterest

Note: Lab reports should be written on a bond paper, typed,

double spaced, Times New Roman print, 12 font, 1 inch
margins, pages numbered. Each heading is bold, capitalized
and underlined.
 Field Report
A field report is usually used in the field of
social sciences to link theory and application. It
usually contains the author’s observations
when out on the field and an analysis using
theoretical concepts from the discipline.
Although research papers are formal in tone
and style, field reports can be personal and
simple (Barrot, 2016)
The purpose of a field report in the social
sciences is to describe the observation of
people, places, and/or events and to analyze
that observation data in order to identify and
categorize common themes in relation to the
research problem underpinning the study. The
content represents the researcher’s
interpretation of meaning found in data that
has been gathered during one or more
observational events. Source: USC Libraries.
Here are some important things to remember when writing a
field report:

Systematically observe and accurately record the

varying aspects of a situation. Keep in mind what you
will observe, where you should conduct your
observations, and the method by which you will collect
and record your data.

Continuously analyze your observations. Always look

for the meaning underlying the actions you observe.
Ask yourself: What’s going on here? What does this
observed activity mean? What else does this relate to?
Here are some important things to remember when writing a field report:

Keep the report’s aims in mind while you are observing.

Focus and pay attention to details, observation site or field,
with a clear plan about what you want to observe and
record in relation to the research problem. Consciously
observe, record, and analyze what you hear and see in the
context of a theoretical framework. This is what separates
data gathering from reporting.

The theoretical framework guiding your field research

should determine what, when, and how you observe and act
as the foundation from which you interpret your findings in
relation to the underlying assumptions embedded in the
theoretical framework. Source: USC
How to record your observations:
1. Note Taking
2. Photography
3. Video and Audio Recordings
4. Illustrations/Drawings
What are the things to be
documented while observing?
● Physical setting. The characteristics of an
occupied space and the human use of the space
where the observations are being conducted
● Objects and material culture. The presence,
placement and arrangement of Objects that
impact the behavior or actions of those being
observed.
● Use of language. Listen to what is being said,
how is it being said, and the tone of
The Structure and writing Style
Most field reports in social sciences include the following
elements

I. Introduction
It should describe the research problem, the
specific objectives of your research and the important
theories or concepts behind your field of study. It tells
about the nature of the organization or setting where you
are conducting the observation, what type of
observations you have conducted, what your focus was,
when you observed, and the methods you used for
II. Description of Activities
Provide enough details to place the analysis that will follow into
proper context. A useful method to thoroughly describe varying aspects
of an observed situation is to answer the “Five W’s of Investigative
Reporting.

What – describe what you observed. Ex. As a student, what is your

impression of using ICT such as Computer and Projector as a tool in
learning research subject?

Where - Provide information about the setting of your observation.

Example arrangement or groupings of students in a class in relation to
student- teacher learning interaction.
When - Record factual data on the day and the
beginning and ending time of each observation.
Who - Note background and demographic
information about individuals being observed
ex. Age, gender, ethnicity etc. Record also who
is doing what and saying what, as well as who
is not doing or saying what.
Why - Describe the reasons for selecting
situations to observe. Note why something
happened.
III. Interpretation and Analysis
Place the analysis and interpretations
of your field observations within the
larger context of the theoretical
assumptions and issues you described
in the introduction
Here are some questions to ask when analyzing
your observations:

✔ What is the meaning of what you have observed?

[Link] 12
✔ Why do you think what you have observed
happened? What evidence do you have for your
reasoning?
✔ What events or behaviors were typical or
widespread? If appropriate, what was unusual or
out of the ordinary?
✔ Do you see any connections or patterns
in what you observed?
✔ Why did the people you observed
proceed with an action in the way that
they did? What are the implications of
this?
✔ Did the stated or implicit objectives of
what you are observing match to what
was achieved?
✔ What were the strengths and
weaknesses of the observations you
recorded?
✔ Did you see connections between
what you observed, and the findings
of similar studies identified from your
review of related literature?
✔ Have you learned something from
IV. Conclusion and
Recommendations
It is the summary of the entire study
which emphasize the importance of
your observations. You should also
include your recommendations based
on the results of the study. The
conclusion should not be more than
two or three paragraphs.
V. Appendix
This is where you would place
information that is not essential to
explaining your findings but supports
your analysis, validates the conclusions
and the reader understand the overall
report. Ex. Figures, tables, graphs,
charts, statistics, pictures, maps etc.
VI. References List all
sources that you consulted
and gathered information
from while writing your
field report.
PRACTICE TASKS
PRACTICE TASK I (Survey Report)
Instructions: Read the sample report,
“Fast-Food Addiction”. In your notebook,
answer the following comprehension
questions.
Sample Report

Fast – Food Addiction

1.) It is no secret that the US is leading the world in its swelling
obesity. The nation is subsisting on a diet of high-calorie
convenience food. In fact, Americans have increased their spending
on fast – food items from $6 billion to nearly $160 billion annually
over the past four decades. What may come as a shock, however, is
the accumulation of evidence suggesting that the main ingredients
in the typical “hamburger, fries, and cola” are addictive compounds
that keep customers lining up for their next fix.
2.) The key culprits are sugar and fat. Empirical
studies reveal that the heavy dosage of these
substances in today’s super-sized standard of a fast
–food meal can trigger brain activity similar to that
endured when a person is on hard drugs. A
representative individual serving at McDonald’s or
Burger King can dish out up to 2000 calories,
including more than a cup of sugar and 84 grams of
fat. Single – handedly, this meal sized portion meets
the full daily caloric requirement for the average
woman. Moreover, it exceeds the recommended
daily allowances of both sugar and fat for any
3.) Whereas heroin is an opiate, both sugar and
fat stimulate endogenous opioids such as beta –
endorphins in the hypothalamus, just above the
brain stem. These naturally occurring painkillers
activate the release of dopamine, a
neurotransmitter, into a small cluster of cells
located in the midbrain called the nucleus
acumens. Here, dopamine functions to elicit
feelings of pleasure or euphoria. What’s more, it
motivates an individual to proactively repeat any
action that originally fueled its production. In
the case of sugar and fat, purported addiction is
4.) To validate reports that fat and sugar behave in a drug
–like fashion, researchers have conducted laboratory
studies demonstrating that they induce classic addictive
symptoms. For example, eliminating sugar from the
nutritional regime of rats that are used to a primarily
sweet diet produced anxiety asymptomatic of heroin and
nicotine withdrawal. Moreover, increased tolerance to
addictive food substances was noted. In one experiment,
rats were fed a chocolate drink containing a high ratio of
both fat and sugar. Although the animals were found to
ingest increasing amounts of the potent liquid, their total
production, of resulting brain opiates was, in fact,
diminished.
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the main issue in the introductory
paragraph?
Answer: ______________________________________.
2. In the next paragraph, what are considered as
the culprits? Answer:
_______________________________________.
3. How many calories are there in a serving of
burger? How many calories a day is required of the
average woman?
Answer:
4. Draw a diagram based on paragraph 3 showing the
path from sugar and fats in the body to addiction.
[Link] 14
Answer: _____________________________________________.
5. Based on paragraph 4, what are two scientific proofs
that sugar and fat behave like drugs causing addiction.
Answer: _____________________________________________.
6. How did the author conclude the report?
Answer: ____________________________________________
7. What caution was suggested in the conclusion?
Answer: ______________________________________________.
PRACTICE 2
Instructions: From the sample report, ‘Fast-Food Addiction”, fill in the blank with
the correct content.
1. Statement of the Problem 1
2. Cause of the Problem 2
3. Analysis of the cause 3
4. Proof 4
5. Application of the research 5
PRACTICE TASK III
Instruction: Write at least 5 - sentence summary of
the sample report given on your notebook.
Example: 1. Obesity is caused by fast-food addiction.
2. _________________________________.
3. _________________________________.
4. _________________________________.
5. _________________________________.
PRACTICE TASK IV
Using the table below, prepare a substitute meal and
snack for the usual fast food items. Be guided by the
given sample.
Fast – food meal/snacks Substitute

Chicken, rice, Cola or soft drinks Fish or vegetable, rice, fresh fruit juice
POST TEST
Interview at least 2 members of your
family about the kind of food that they eat
every day. Write a report comparing the
nutritional value of their food intake.
Follow the structure, steps and guidelines
in writing a survey report.
ASSIGNMENT
Interview or observe at least two people
(at home or a neighbor) – one who has
gained pounds, and another who has lost
some. Then, let each one writes two
separate reports on the noted respective
regimens. Let them include diets,
exercises, and other practices.