Mastering the Basics of Report Writing: Structure, Design, and Key Practices

1. Basics of Report Writing M. Hammouda

2. Opener What first do you think of when you hear Report writing? In groups compile a common list. (5 minutes)

3. Objectives • What ? • Why ? • What it should focus on? • Steps to report writing • Document design / report structure • What features a good report? • Technical problems / challenges • Report types • Some key DO’s and DON’Ts • Tasks

4. Preface Without publication, science is dead. (Gerald Piel) Work, finish, publish. (Michael Faraday)

5. The cover page should communicate an appropriate message, i.e., in line with its expected use.

6. -What is a report? a prepared account of what happened, about a particular event, presented in formal and organized format backed with statistical evidence.

7. 5 Steps to Report Writing1 • Define the problem • Gather the necessary information • Analyze the information • Organize the information • Write the report

8. Document Design • Use no more than 2 fonts. • Use no more than 2/3 colours. • Use glossy paper /smooth and shiny. • Use white space. • Use templates. • Use parallelism. طبقاٌ لـ/ وفقاً لـ /بالإشارة إلى • Avoid double emphasis.

9. Report Structure There are no “set in stone” rules for the structure of a report but most reports will include some or all of the following:

10. Types of reports • Informational: • Events / activities / staff meetings / Progress sheet • Analytical • Marks analysis / Test results/ Written work / class visits / Micro teaching • Persuasive • a project / remedial plan / enrichment plan

11. N.B. Writing a report is a skill, that can’t be summarized in a set of rules, but like any craft can be learnt mainly through lots of practice and feedback.

12. Gratitude is the memory of the heart.