mbareport writing
Post on 21-Jan-2015
257 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Report Writing
Col Hamid Hussain Naqvi (retd)
Definition
Business Report is an impartial, objective, planned presentation of facts to one or more persons for specific, significant business purpose.
2
Types of Reports
Annual Reports
Sales Reports
Feasibility Reports
Inspection Reports
Audit Reports
Progress Reports
White Papers
A Report Is A Text Expression Of Research You Have Carried Out,Therefore, It Is:IMPORTANT TO GET IT RIGHT!
Presentation Layout Components Formatting Writing Style
Checking Editing Evaluating Referencing Proof reading
Presentation Is important because: It affects the initial impression of the work
Good presentation can ensure the examiner or reader can easily see what you have done
You need to show that you can present work in a professional manner
Layout Line spacing should be double spaced
Margins should be 1.5” top & 1” bottom
If bound then a larger margin should be allowed on the left
Print on one side of the paper only
Components of Reportsa.Prefatory parts of a Report Cover Page Title Page Letter of Transmittal Table of Contents List of Illustrations Executive Summary
Covering Page
Title
Author's name
Module Name/submitted to
Date of Submission
Title Page
Balance the following lines:* Name of the report in all caps (e.g. Final
Report)* Receiver’s name, title, and organization* Team name and team members* Date submitted (month/year)
No page number on title page (page 1 is executive summary)
Letter of Transmittal Announce the topic and explain who
authorized it. Briefly describe the project and preview
the conclusions – if the reader is supportive.
Close expressing appreciation for assignment, suggesting follow-up actions, acknowledging the help of others, and offering to answer questions.
Table of Contents Show the beginning page number
where each report heading appears in the report (do not put page number range, just the first page number).
Connect headings to page numbers with dots.
Headings should be grammatically parallel
Include major section headings and sub-headings
No page number on TOC page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary........................... 1
Introduction ....................................... 2 Background Purpose Scope Research Questions Report Organization
Research and Analysis...................... 4 Methodology Findings
Conclusions & Recommendations..... 6
Appendices........................................ 7 Appendix 1: Survey questions Appendix 2: Client proposal Appendix 3: PowerPoint slides
Executive Summary Include
challenge statement (client focused) a little background (type of organization, what
they do, size, when established) goals team focused a little research summary (techniques/sources )
conclusions and recommendations (all, but summarized)
This is first page of report (page 1) Typically 1-2 pages
Introduction
Background: Provide a full description of the challenge.
Purpose: challenge/motivation for report Include significance of challenge
Scope: Clarify the scope and limitations of report.
b. Report Body Introduction
Purpose and Scope;Limitations, Assumptions, and Methods
Background/History of the Problem Body
Presents and interprets data Conclusions and Recommendations
C . Supplemental Parts References or Works Cited Appendixes
Interview transcripts, questionnaires, and previous reports
PLANANALYZE THE SITUATIONDefine Your Purpose and Develop an Audience Profile
GATHER INFORMATIONDetermine audience needs and obtain the information necessary to satisfy those needs
SELECT THE RIGHT MEDIUMSelect the best medium for delivering your message
ORGANIZE THE INFORMATIONDefine your main idea,limit your scope,select a direct or an indirect approach, and outline your content
WRITEADAPT TO YOUR AUDIENCEBe sensitive to audience needs with a “you” attitude, politeness,positive emphasis and bias –free language.Build a strong relationship with your audience by establishing your credibility and protecting your company’s image.Control your style with a conversational tone,plain English and appropriate voice
COMPOSE THE MESSAGEChoose strong words that will help you create effective sentences and coherent paragraphs
Formatting the ReportTitles, sections, paragraphs and numbering
needed because:-
It divides your work up into logical sections – makes it easier to follow
A content page provides reference point, by headings for reader to find what he wants
It is easy to cross reference by referring to paragraphs e.g. ‘further clarification is given on
this point (paragraph 2.1)’
● Degree of Heading Numeral-Letter Combination:
1st I.Introduction 2d A. 2d B. 2d C.
1st II. 2d A.Text/ 3d 1.Discussion 3d 2. 2d B. 3d 1. 3d 2. 4th a.
4th b. 5th (1)
5th (2)
19
1st III. 2d A.Text/ 3d 1.Discussion 3d 2. 2d B. 3d 1. 3d 2.
1st IV.
2d A.
3dh 1.
3d 2. 2d B.
3d 1. 3d 2.
Terminal 1st 2d
20
FormatReportTitle
Section Heading
Sub Sections
Sub-paragraphHeading
A REPORT ON COMPUTER CRIME AND THE INTERNET
SECTION ONE - LEGAL ISSUES
1.1 Introduction ……………………………..1.2 Data Protection Act……………………………..
SECTION TWO - CREDIT CARD FRAUD 2.1 Introduction……………………………..2.2 Security Issues 2.2.1 Network Security Protocols……………………………..
Supplemental parts
Appendices Put ‘extra’ material in here – longer explanations of
topics discussed in the report – evidence of research used – source data etc.
Referencing This where you refer the reader to other work within the
report or its appendices Author Name (Year) Title, PP. (2-5).
Glossary Used to explain any ‘jargon’ or difficult words that
needed to be used in the main body of the report
How to Make References
1. Author Name (Year) Title, PP. (2-5).
23
Checking
Are there any spelling mistakes? Are there any proof errors?
e.g. ‘there’ ‘their’ OR ‘would of’ ‘would have’ Does the writing reflect the heading? Have you used quotes and citations
properly? Have you included all your sources in the
bibliography Is the format used the correct one?
Editing
Does it make sense? Has it got a beginning, middle, end Are you over the word count?
Check sentences to remove wordiness Is there something that would be more Appropriately put in an appendix?
Rearrange long sentences into 1 or 2 short ones Have you provided evidence for your statements
Evaluating
Have you achieved the aims and objectives of the report? Is all your material relevant?
Have you checked the marking criteria to see if you have met them?
Have you obtained any feedback from a critical reader to see if they have understood the report and whether they have noticed any defects
THANK YOU
top related