report assignment example pdf

8.5 Writing Process: Creating an Analytical Report

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify the elements of the rhetorical situation for your report.
Find and focus a topic to write about.
Gather and analyze information from appropriate sources.
Distinguish among different kinds of evidence.
Draft a thesis and create an organizational plan.
Compose a report that develops ideas and integrates evidence from sources.
Give and act on productive feedback to works in progress.

You might think that writing comes easily to experienced writers—that they draft stories and college papers all at once, sitting down at the computer and having sentences flow from their fingers like water from a faucet. In reality, most writers engage in a recursive process, pushing forward, stepping back, and repeating steps multiple times as their ideas develop and change. In broad strokes, the steps most writers go through are these:

Planning and Organization . You will have an easier time drafting if you devote time at the beginning to consider the rhetorical situation for your report, understand your assignment, gather ideas and information, draft a thesis statement, and create an organizational plan.
Drafting . When you have an idea of what you want to say and the order in which you want to say it, you’re ready to draft. As much as possible, keep going until you have a complete first draft of your report, resisting the urge to go back and rewrite. Save that for after you have completed a first draft.
Review . Now is the time to get feedback from others, whether from your instructor, your classmates, a tutor in the writing center, your roommate, someone in your family, or someone else you trust to read your writing critically and give you honest feedback.
Revising . With feedback on your draft, you are ready to revise. You may need to return to an earlier step and make large-scale revisions that involve planning, organizing, and rewriting, or you may need to work mostly on ensuring that your sentences are clear and correct.

Considering the Rhetorical Situation

Like other kinds of writing projects, a report starts with assessing the rhetorical situation —the circumstance in which a writer communicates with an audience of readers about a subject. As the writer of a report, you make choices based on the purpose of your writing, the audience who will read it, the genre of the report, and the expectations of the community and culture in which you are working. A graphic organizer like Table 8.1 can help you begin.

Summary of Assignment

Write an analytical report on a topic that interests you and that you want to know more about. The topic can be contemporary or historical, but it must be one that you can analyze and support with evidence from sources.

The following questions can help you think about a topic suitable for analysis:

Why or how did ________ happen?
What are the results or effects of ________?
Is ________ a problem? If so, why?
What are examples of ________ or reasons for ________?
How does ________ compare to or contrast with other issues, concerns, or things?

Consult and cite three to five reliable sources. The sources do not have to be scholarly for this assignment, but they must be credible, trustworthy, and unbiased. Possible sources include academic journals, newspapers, magazines, reputable websites, government publications or agency websites, and visual sources such as TED Talks. You may also use the results of an experiment or survey, and you may want to conduct interviews.

Consider whether visuals and media will enhance your report. Can you present data you collect visually? Would a map, photograph, chart, or other graphic provide interesting and relevant support? Would video or audio allow you to present evidence that you would otherwise need to describe in words?

Another Lens. To gain another analytic view on the topic of your report, consider different people affected by it. Say, for example, that you have decided to report on recent high school graduates and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the final months of their senior year. If you are a recent high school graduate, you might naturally gravitate toward writing about yourself and your peers. But you might also consider the adults in the lives of recent high school graduates—for example, teachers, parents, or grandparents—and how they view the same period. Or you might consider the same topic from the perspective of a college admissions department looking at their incoming freshman class.

Quick Launch: Finding and Focusing a Topic

Coming up with a topic for a report can be daunting because you can report on nearly anything. The topic can easily get too broad, trapping you in the realm of generalizations. The trick is to find a topic that interests you and focus on an angle you can analyze in order to say something significant about it. You can use a graphic organizer to generate ideas, or you can use a concept map similar to the one featured in Writing Process: Thinking Critically About a “Text.”

Asking the Journalist’s Questions

One way to generate ideas about a topic is to ask the five W (and one H) questions, also called the journalist’s questions : Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Try answering the following questions to explore a topic:

Who was or is involved in ________?

What happened/is happening with ________? What were/are the results of ________?

When did ________ happen? Is ________ happening now?

Where did ________ happen, or where is ________ happening?

Why did ________ happen, or why is ________ happening now?

How did ________ happen?

For example, imagine that you have decided to write your analytical report on the effect of the COVID-19 shutdown on high-school students by interviewing students on your college campus. Your questions and answers might look something like those in Table 8.2 :

Asking Focused Questions

Another way to find a topic is to ask focused questions about it. For example, you might ask the following questions about the effect of the 2020 pandemic shutdown on recent high school graduates:

How did the shutdown change students’ feelings about their senior year?
How did the shutdown affect their decisions about post-graduation plans, such as work or going to college?
How did the shutdown affect their academic performance in high school or in college?
How did/do they feel about continuing their education?
How did the shutdown affect their social relationships?

Any of these questions might be developed into a thesis for an analytical report. Table 8.3 shows more examples of broad topics and focusing questions.

Gathering Information

Because they are based on information and evidence, most analytical reports require you to do at least some research. Depending on your assignment, you may be able to find reliable information online, or you may need to do primary research by conducting an experiment, a survey, or interviews. For example, if you live among students in their late teens and early twenties, consider what they can tell you about their lives that you might be able to analyze. Returning to or graduating from high school, starting college, or returning to college in the midst of a global pandemic has provided them, for better or worse, with educational and social experiences that are shared widely by people their age and very different from the experiences older adults had at the same age.

Some report assignments will require you to do formal research, an activity that involves finding sources and evaluating them for reliability, reading them carefully, taking notes, and citing all words you quote and ideas you borrow. See Research Process: Accessing and Recording Information and Annotated Bibliography: Gathering, Evaluating, and Documenting Sources for detailed instruction on conducting research.

Whether you conduct in-depth research or not, keep track of the ideas that come to you and the information you learn. You can write or dictate notes using an app on your phone or computer, or you can jot notes in a journal if you prefer pen and paper. Then, when you are ready to begin organizing your report, you will have a record of your thoughts and information. Always track the sources of information you gather, whether from printed or digital material or from a person you interviewed, so that you can return to the sources if you need more information. And always credit the sources in your report.

Kinds of Evidence

Depending on your assignment and the topic of your report, certain kinds of evidence may be more effective than others. Other kinds of evidence may even be required. As a general rule, choose evidence that is rooted in verifiable facts and experience. In addition, select the evidence that best supports the topic and your approach to the topic, be sure the evidence meets your instructor’s requirements, and cite any evidence you use that comes from a source. The following list contains different kinds of frequently used evidence and an example of each.

Definition : An explanation of a key word, idea, or concept.

The U.S. Census Bureau refers to a “young adult” as a person between 18 and 34 years old.

Example : An illustration of an idea or concept.

The college experience in the fall of 2020 was starkly different from that of previous years. Students who lived in residence halls were assigned to small pods. On-campus dining services were limited. Classes were small and physically distanced or conducted online. Parties were banned.

Expert opinion : A statement by a professional in the field whose opinion is respected.

According to Louise Aronson, MD, geriatrician and author of Elderhood , people over the age of 65 are the happiest of any age group, reporting “less stress, depression, worry, and anger, and more enjoyment, happiness, and satisfaction” (255).

Fact : Information that can be proven correct or accurate.

According to data collected by the NCAA, the academic success of Division I college athletes between 2015 and 2019 was consistently high (Hosick).

Interview : An in-person, phone, or remote conversation that involves an interviewer posing questions to another person or people.

During our interview, I asked Betty about living without a cell phone during the pandemic. She said that before the pandemic, she hadn’t needed a cell phone in her daily activities, but she soon realized that she, and people like her, were increasingly at a disadvantage.

Quotation : The exact words of an author or a speaker.

In response to whether she thought she needed a cell phone, Betty said, “I got along just fine without a cell phone when I could go everywhere in person. The shift to needing a phone came suddenly, and I don’t have extra money in my budget to get one.”

Statistics : A numerical fact or item of data.

The Pew Research Center reported that approximately 25 percent of Hispanic Americans and 17 percent of Black Americans relied on smartphones for online access, compared with 12 percent of White people.

Survey : A structured interview in which respondents (the people who answer the survey questions) are all asked the same questions, either in person or through print or electronic means, and their answers tabulated and interpreted. Surveys discover attitudes, beliefs, or habits of the general public or segments of the population.

A survey of 3,000 mobile phone users in October 2020 showed that 54 percent of respondents used their phones for messaging, while 40 percent used their phones for calls (Steele).

Visuals : Graphs, figures, tables, photographs and other images, diagrams, charts, maps, videos, and audio recordings, among others.

Thesis and Organization

Drafting a thesis.

When you have a grasp of your topic, move on to the next phase: drafting a thesis. The thesis is the central idea that you will explore and support in your report; all paragraphs in your report should relate to it. In an essay-style analytical report, you will likely express this main idea in a thesis statement of one or two sentences toward the end of the introduction.

For example, if you found that the academic performance of student athletes was higher than that of non-athletes, you might write the following thesis statement:

student sample text Although a common stereotype is that college athletes barely pass their classes, an analysis of athletes’ academic performance indicates that athletes drop fewer classes, earn higher grades, and are more likely to be on track to graduate in four years when compared with their non-athlete peers. end student sample text

The thesis statement often previews the organization of your writing. For example, in his report on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Trevor Garcia wrote the following thesis statement, which detailed the central idea of his report:

student sample text An examination of the U.S. response shows that a reduction of experts in key positions and programs, inaction that led to equipment shortages, and inconsistent policies were three major causes of the spread of the virus and the resulting deaths. end student sample text

After you draft a thesis statement, ask these questions, and examine your thesis as you answer them. Revise your draft as needed.

Is it interesting? A thesis for a report should answer a question that is worth asking and piques curiosity.
Is it precise and specific? If you are interested in reducing pollution in a nearby lake, explain how to stop the zebra mussel infestation or reduce the frequent algae blooms.
Is it manageable? Try to split the difference between having too much information and not having enough.

Organizing Your Ideas

As a next step, organize the points you want to make in your report and the evidence to support them. Use an outline, a diagram, or another organizational tool, such as Table 8.4 .

Drafting an Analytical Report

With a tentative thesis, an organization plan, and evidence, you are ready to begin drafting. For this assignment, you will report information, analyze it, and draw conclusions about the cause of something, the effect of something, or the similarities and differences between two different things.

Introduction

Some students write the introduction first; others save it for last. Whenever you choose to write the introduction, use it to draw readers into your report. Make the topic of your report clear, and be concise and sincere. End the introduction with your thesis statement. Depending on your topic and the type of report, you can write an effective introduction in several ways. Opening a report with an overview is a tried-and-true strategy, as shown in the following example on the U.S. response to COVID-19 by Trevor Garcia. Notice how he opens the introduction with statistics and a comparison and follows it with a question that leads to the thesis statement (underlined).

student sample text With more than 83 million cases and 1.8 million deaths at the end of 2020, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. By the end of 2020, the United States led the world in the number of cases, at more than 20 million infections and nearly 350,000 deaths. In comparison, the second-highest number of cases was in India, which at the end of 2020 had less than half the number of COVID-19 cases despite having a population four times greater than the U.S. (“COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic,” 2021). How did the United States come to have the world’s worst record in this pandemic? underline An examination of the U.S. response shows that a reduction of experts in key positions and programs, inaction that led to equipment shortages, and inconsistent policies were three major causes of the spread of the virus and the resulting deaths end underline . end student sample text

For a less formal report, you might want to open with a question, quotation, or brief story. The following example opens with an anecdote that leads to the thesis statement (underlined).

student sample text Betty stood outside the salon, wondering how to get in. It was June of 2020, and the door was locked. A sign posted on the door provided a phone number for her to call to be let in, but at 81, Betty had lived her life without a cell phone. Betty’s day-to-day life had been hard during the pandemic, but she had planned for this haircut and was looking forward to it; she had a mask on and hand sanitizer in her car. Now she couldn’t get in the door, and she was discouraged. In that moment, Betty realized how much Americans’ dependence on cell phones had grown in the months since the pandemic began. underline Betty and thousands of other senior citizens who could not afford cell phones or did not have the technological skills and support they needed were being left behind in a society that was increasingly reliant on technology end underline . end student sample text

Body Paragraphs: Point, Evidence, Analysis

Use the body paragraphs of your report to present evidence that supports your thesis. A reliable pattern to keep in mind for developing the body paragraphs of a report is point , evidence , and analysis :

The point is the central idea of the paragraph, usually given in a topic sentence stated in your own words at or toward the beginning of the paragraph. Each topic sentence should relate to the thesis.
The evidence you provide develops the paragraph and supports the point made in the topic sentence. Include details, examples, quotations, paraphrases, and summaries from sources if you conducted formal research. Synthesize the evidence you include by showing in your sentences the connections between sources.
The analysis comes at the end of the paragraph. In your own words, draw a conclusion about the evidence you have provided and how it relates to the topic sentence.

The paragraph below illustrates the point, evidence, and analysis pattern. Drawn from a report about concussions among football players, the paragraph opens with a topic sentence about the NCAA and NFL and their responses to studies about concussions. The paragraph is developed with evidence from three sources. It concludes with a statement about helmets and players’ safety.

student sample text The NCAA and NFL have taken steps forward and backward to respond to studies about the danger of concussions among players. Responding to the deaths of athletes, documented brain damage, lawsuits, and public outcry (Buckley et al., 2017), the NCAA instituted protocols to reduce potentially dangerous hits during football games and to diagnose traumatic head injuries more quickly and effectively. Still, it has allowed players to wear more than one style of helmet during a season, raising the risk of injury because of imperfect fit. At the professional level, the NFL developed a helmet-rating system in 2011 in an effort to reduce concussions, but it continued to allow players to wear helmets with a wide range of safety ratings. The NFL’s decision created an opportunity for researchers to look at the relationship between helmet safety ratings and concussions. Cocello et al. (2016) reported that players who wore helmets with a lower safety rating had more concussions than players who wore helmets with a higher safety rating, and they concluded that safer helmets are a key factor in reducing concussions. end student sample text

Developing Paragraph Content

In the body paragraphs of your report, you will likely use examples, draw comparisons, show contrasts, or analyze causes and effects to develop your topic.

Paragraphs developed with Example are common in reports. The paragraph below, adapted from a report by student John Zwick on the mental health of soldiers deployed during wartime, draws examples from three sources.

student sample text Throughout the Vietnam War, military leaders claimed that the mental health of soldiers was stable and that men who suffered from combat fatigue, now known as PTSD, were getting the help they needed. For example, the New York Times (1966) quoted military leaders who claimed that mental fatigue among enlisted men had “virtually ceased to be a problem,” occurring at a rate far below that of World War II. Ayres (1969) reported that Brigadier General Spurgeon Neel, chief American medical officer in Vietnam, explained that soldiers experiencing combat fatigue were admitted to the psychiatric ward, sedated for up to 36 hours, and given a counseling session with a doctor who reassured them that the rest was well deserved and that they were ready to return to their units. Although experts outside the military saw profound damage to soldiers’ psyches when they returned home (Halloran, 1970), the military stayed the course, treating acute cases expediently and showing little concern for the cumulative effect of combat stress on individual soldiers. end student sample text

When you analyze causes and effects , you explain the reasons that certain things happened and/or their results. The report by Trevor Garcia on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is an example: his report examines the reasons the United States failed to control the coronavirus. The paragraph below, adapted from another student’s report written for an environmental policy course, explains the effect of white settlers’ views of forest management on New England.

student sample text The early colonists’ European ideas about forest management dramatically changed the New England landscape. White settlers saw the New World as virgin, unused land, even though indigenous people had been drawing on its resources for generations by using fire subtly to improve hunting, employing construction techniques that left ancient trees intact, and farming small, efficient fields that left the surrounding landscape largely unaltered. White settlers’ desire to develop wood-built and wood-burning homesteads surrounded by large farm fields led to forestry practices and techniques that resulted in the removal of old-growth trees. These practices defined the way the forests look today. end student sample text

Compare and contrast paragraphs are useful when you wish to examine similarities and differences. You can use both comparison and contrast in a single paragraph, or you can use one or the other. The paragraph below, adapted from a student report on the rise of populist politicians, compares the rhetorical styles of populist politicians Huey Long and Donald Trump.

student sample text A key similarity among populist politicians is their rejection of carefully crafted sound bites and erudite vocabulary typically associated with candidates for high office. Huey Long and Donald Trump are two examples. When he ran for president, Long captured attention through his wild gesticulations on almost every word, dramatically varying volume, and heavily accented, folksy expressions, such as “The only way to be able to feed the balance of the people is to make that man come back and bring back some of that grub that he ain’t got no business with!” In addition, Long’s down-home persona made him a credible voice to represent the common people against the country’s rich, and his buffoonish style allowed him to express his radical ideas without sounding anti-communist alarm bells. Similarly, Donald Trump chose to speak informally in his campaign appearances, but the persona he projected was that of a fast-talking, domineering salesman. His frequent use of personal anecdotes, rhetorical questions, brief asides, jokes, personal attacks, and false claims made his speeches disjointed, but they gave the feeling of a running conversation between him and his audience. For example, in a 2015 speech, Trump said, “They just built a hotel in Syria. Can you believe this? They built a hotel. When I have to build a hotel, I pay interest. They don’t have to pay interest, because they took the oil that, when we left Iraq, I said we should’ve taken” (“Our Country Needs” 2020). While very different in substance, Long and Trump adopted similar styles that positioned them as the antithesis of typical politicians and their worldviews. end student sample text

The conclusion should draw the threads of your report together and make its significance clear to readers. You may wish to review the introduction, restate the thesis, recommend a course of action, point to the future, or use some combination of these. Whichever way you approach it, the conclusion should not head in a new direction. The following example is the conclusion from a student’s report on the effect of a book about environmental movements in the United States.

student sample text Since its publication in 1949, environmental activists of various movements have found wisdom and inspiration in Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac . These audiences included Leopold’s conservationist contemporaries, environmentalists of the 1960s and 1970s, and the environmental justice activists who rose in the 1980s and continue to make their voices heard today. These audiences have read the work differently: conservationists looked to the author as a leader, environmentalists applied his wisdom to their movement, and environmental justice advocates have pointed out the flaws in Leopold’s thinking. Even so, like those before them, environmental justice activists recognize the book’s value as a testament to taking the long view and eliminating biases that may cloud an objective assessment of humanity’s interdependent relationship with the environment. end student sample text

Citing Sources

You must cite the sources of information and data included in your report. Citations must appear in both the text and a bibliography at the end of the report.

The sample paragraphs in the previous section include examples of in-text citation using APA documentation style. Trevor Garcia’s report on the U.S. response to COVID-19 in 2020 also uses APA documentation style for citations in the text of the report and the list of references at the end. Your instructor may require another documentation style, such as MLA or Chicago.

Peer Review: Getting Feedback from Readers

You will likely engage in peer review with other students in your class by sharing drafts and providing feedback to help spot strengths and weaknesses in your reports. For peer review within a class, your instructor may provide assignment-specific questions or a form for you to complete as you work together.

If you have a writing center on your campus, it is well worth your time to make an online or in-person appointment with a tutor. You’ll receive valuable feedback and improve your ability to review not only your report but your overall writing.

Another way to receive feedback on your report is to ask a friend or family member to read your draft. Provide a list of questions or a form such as the one in Table 8.5 for them to complete as they read.

Revising: Using Reviewers’ Responses to Revise your Work

When you receive comments from readers, including your instructor, read each comment carefully to understand what is being asked. Try not to get defensive, even though this response is completely natural. Remember that readers are like coaches who want you to succeed. They are looking at your writing from outside your own head, and they can identify strengths and weaknesses that you may not have noticed. Keep track of the strengths and weaknesses your readers point out. Pay special attention to those that more than one reader identifies, and use this information to improve your report and later assignments.

As you analyze each response, be open to suggestions for improvement, and be willing to make significant revisions to improve your writing. Perhaps you need to revise your thesis statement to better reflect the content of your draft. Maybe you need to return to your sources to better understand a point you’re trying to make in order to develop a paragraph more fully. Perhaps you need to rethink the organization, move paragraphs around, and add transition sentences.

Below is an early draft of part of Trevor Garcia’s report with comments from a peer reviewer:

student sample text To truly understand what happened, it’s important first to look back to the years leading up to the pandemic. Epidemiologists and public health officials had long known that a global pandemic was possible. In 2016, the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) published a 69-page document with the intimidating title Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents . The document’s two sections address responses to “emerging disease threats that start or are circulating in another country but not yet confirmed within U.S. territorial borders” and to “emerging disease threats within our nation’s borders.” On 13 January 2017, the joint Obama-Trump transition teams performed a pandemic preparedness exercise; however, the playbook was never adopted by the incoming administration. end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: Do the words in quotation marks need to be a direct quotation? It seems like a paraphrase would work here. end annotated text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: I’m getting lost in the details about the playbook. What’s the Obama-Trump transition team? end annotated text

student sample text In February 2018, the administration began to cut funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; cuts to other health agencies continued throughout 2018, with funds diverted to unrelated projects such as housing for detained immigrant children. end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: This paragraph has only one sentence, and it’s more like an example. It needs a topic sentence and more development. end annotated text

student sample text Three months later, Luciana Borio, director of medical and biodefense preparedness at the NSC, spoke at a symposium marking the centennial of the 1918 influenza pandemic. “The threat of pandemic flu is the number one health security concern,” she said. “Are we ready to respond? I fear the answer is no.” end student sample text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: This paragraph is very short and a lot like the previous paragraph in that it’s a single example. It needs a topic sentence. Maybe you can combine them? end annotated text

annotated text Peer Review Comment: Be sure to cite the quotation. end annotated text

Reading these comments and those of others, Trevor decided to combine the three short paragraphs into one paragraph focusing on the fact that the United States knew a pandemic was possible but was unprepared for it. He developed the paragraph, using the short paragraphs as evidence and connecting the sentences and evidence with transitional words and phrases. Finally, he added in-text citations in APA documentation style to credit his sources. The revised paragraph is below:

student sample text Epidemiologists and public health officials in the United States had long known that a global pandemic was possible. In 2016, the National Security Council (NSC) published Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents , a 69-page document on responding to diseases spreading within and outside of the United States. On January 13, 2017, the joint transition teams of outgoing president Barack Obama and then president-elect Donald Trump performed a pandemic preparedness exercise based on the playbook; however, it was never adopted by the incoming administration (Goodman & Schulkin, 2020). A year later, in February 2018, the Trump administration began to cut funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaving key positions unfilled. Other individuals who were fired or resigned in 2018 were the homeland security adviser, whose portfolio included global pandemics; the director for medical and biodefense preparedness; and the top official in charge of a pandemic response. None of them were replaced, leaving the White House with no senior person who had experience in public health (Goodman & Schulkin, 2020). Experts voiced concerns, among them Luciana Borio, director of medical and biodefense preparedness at the NSC, who spoke at a symposium marking the centennial of the 1918 influenza pandemic in May 2018: “The threat of pandemic flu is the number one health security concern,” she said. “Are we ready to respond? I fear the answer is no” (Sun, 2018, final para.). end student sample text

A final word on working with reviewers’ comments: as you consider your readers’ suggestions, remember, too, that you remain the author. You are free to disregard suggestions that you think will not improve your writing. If you choose to disregard comments from your instructor, consider submitting a note explaining your reasons with the final draft of your report.

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Writing your assignment

The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA.

The purpose of a report is to investigate an issue and 'report back' findings which allow people to make decisions or take action and depending on your course. The report may require you to record, to inform, to instruct, to analyse, to persuade, or to make specific recommendations, so it is important to check your task instructions and identify the approach you are required to take. Your completed report should consist of clear sections which are labelled with headings and sub-headings, and are logically sequenced, well developed and supported with reliable evidence . In this section you will learn more about writing a report, including process, structure and language use. The report writing checklist at the end of this section can help you finalise your report.

The main purpose of a report is usually to investigate an issue and report back with suggestions or recommendations to allow people to make decisions or take action.
You will need to find information on the issue by reading through course materials and doing further research via the UniSA Library and relevant databases.
Report writing requires you to plan and think, so give yourself enough time to draft and redraft, and search for more information before you complete the final version.
The report is typically structured with an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion and a reference list.
It usually has headings and subheadings to organise the information and help the reader understand the issue being investigated, the analysis of the findings and the recommendations or implications that relate directly to those findings.
A report can also include dot points or visuals such as graphs, tables or images to effectively present information.
Always check the task instructions and feedback form as there might very specific requirements for the report structure.

Locate the task instructions in your course outline and/or on your course site, and use this activity to plan your approach.

Reports overview (pdf)
Using headings in your writing (pdf)
Abstracts and introductions (pdf)
Writing introductions (pdf)
Writing paragraphs (pdf)
Literature reviews (pdf)
Writing conclusions (pdf)
Constructing graphs, tables and diagrams (pdf)
Psychology example report (pdf)
More example reports (link)

Click through the slides below to learn about the key characteristics of academic writing.

Academic vocabulary and phrases (pdf)
Expressing yourself clearly and concisely (pdf)
Tentative language (pdf)
Writing objectively (pdf)
Academic phrasebank - Courtesy: Uni of Manchester (link)

How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting.

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom, you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report.

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea.

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom, Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's English Journal, Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

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Sample Report Assignment

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SAMPLE REPORT: The ‘Stylish’ Report

i) Look at the assignment instructions below

ii) Now read the sample report. Read the accompanying comments on the side as you go.

iii) Is this is a well-written report in your view? Could it be improved in any way do you think?

ASSIGNMENT 2: The Stylish Report

Background Colin Coif and Pamela Perm are the owners and operators of a hairdressing business Stylish specialising in ‘high end’ quality hairdressing services. Currently they operate two salons in inner Melbourne, one in Carlton and the other in South Melbourne. As a way of expanding their business, the owners are considering opening a new salon in the Prahran area. Your task Prepare a business report for the owners investigating: i) the overall viability of establishing a salon in the Prahran area; and ii) key management and marketing issues that need to be considered in ensuring the success

and profitability of any proposed new outlet.

Your report should include analysis of both the Mega and Task environments (see Bartol et al. 2008). You will also need to undertake additional research using a variety of sources (eg. hairdressing industry reports, relevant government regulations and local census data, the Yellow Pages etc.). The report should be approximately 2,500 words in length, excluding the Executive Summary and List of references.

ASSIGNMENT 2

THE STYLISH REPORT

Executive Summary

Stylish is a hairdressing business that currently owns and operates two hairdressing salons in inner

Melbourne. The study investigated whether the opening of an additional salon in the Prahran area is a

viable option for the business. The study consisted of an analysis of both the Mega and Task

environments, and was based on information collected from a variety of sources: industry research

reports, local government reports, and census data. The conclusion drawn from the analysis is that in

the present environment the company would benefit from an expansion of its outlets. A number of

recommendations are made concerning the establishing of the new proposed operation including, the

need to focus on high quality as opposed to low costs services, and to target the younger, male

customer base.

Comment [T1]: The EXECUTIVE SUMMARY comes at the beginning of a report. It should normally be quite brief, and provide a short sharp summary of the contents of the whole report. Elements to include are: *BACKGROUND to the study *PURPOSES of the study *METHODS used to conduct the study (eg. the analytical framework, the sources of data used) *The study’s main CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS

Comment [T2]: Note that an IMPERSONAL writing style is used in report writing. You tend not to make reference to yourself even though you are the author of the report. Write: “A number of recommendations are made” (PASSIVE VOICE) NOT “I/ We have made a number of recommendations” (ACTIVE VOICE)

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 3

Table of Contents i

1. Introduction 2

2. Findings 2

2.1 Mega Environment 2

2.1.1 Economic element 3

2.1.2 Legal/Political element 4

2.1.3 Technological element 4

2.1.4 Socio-cultural/demographic element 4

2.2 Task Environment 6

2.2.1 Customers and clients 6

2.2.2 Competitors 6

2.2.3 Labour Supply 7

2.2.4 Suppliers 8

2.2.5 Government Agencies 8

3. Conclusions and Recommendations 8

References 10

Comment [T3]: The TABLE OF CONTENTS should show the structure of the report, especially the relation between sections and sub-sections. Notice how this report is divided into three main sections (Introduction, Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations). The Findings section, which constitutes the body of the report, is then divided into two subsections, and a number of sub-subsections.

Comment [T4]: You will notice that each of the sections and subsections of the report is carefully NUMBERED (e.g. 2.1; 2.1.1). In reports you need to clearly indicate how the different sections relate to each other through the use of numbering. Hint: It is best to limit your NUMBERING to three levels – beyond this, it can be difficult for the reader to grasp the structure. i.e. DON’T use 2.1.1.1

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1. Introduction

Stylish is a hairdressing business that currently owns and operates two hairdressing salons in inner Melbourne: Carlton and South Melbourne. The owners of the business (hereon the client) are interested in expanding their operations, and have identified the Prahran area as a possible location for the establishing of a third salon. The purpose of this report is to provide preliminary information to the client about: i) the overall viability of establishing a salon in the Prahran area; and ii) key management and marketing issues that need to be considered in ensuring the success and profitability of any proposed new outlet. Note that the study considers the viability of the business in broad management and marketing terms only; it does not provide a comprehensive financial analysis of the proposed expansion. In the investigation of these issues, two analytical concepts were used, namely Mega Environment and Task Environment. The Mega Environment is concerned with the external environment in which a business operates; the Task Environment considers conditions that a business faces in its immediate environment (Bartol, Tein, Mathews, Sharma & Scott-Ladd 2008). Data for the study came from a range of sources related to both these environments including: industry research reports, local government reports, and census data. The report is divided into two main sections: a Findings section, which presents information about both environments as they relate to Stylish; and a Recommendations section which provides specific suggestions for the running of the proposed business.

2. Findings The viability of establishing a new salon was considered in relation to two broad areas the mega environment and the task environment (Bartol et al. 2008). Each of these areas is discussed below.

2.1 Mega Environment

The mega environment refers to the larger external environment in which an organisation operates, that is to say, broad societal conditions and trends. Significantly, the elements of the mega environment are ones that an organisation has little or no influence over. The mega environment can be divided into five main components: i) economic; ii) legal/political; iii) technological; iv) socio-cultural/demographic; and v) international/global (Bartol et al. 2008). The relevance of each of these areas is discussed in relation to Stylish.

Comment [T5]: The INTRODUCTION provides more detailed information about the first elements of the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, namely: *BACKGROUND, *PURPOSE and *METHOD Additional elements that are often included in a report introduction are: * SCOPE (what is and isn’t covered in the report), *STRUCTURE (how the report is organised). Note that the INTRODUCTION does NOT include any discussion of FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS or RECOMMENDATIONS).

Comment [T6]: PURPOSE

Comment [T7]: SCOPE

Comment [T8]: METHOD

Comment [T9]: STRUCTURE

Comment [T10]: This section describes part of the ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK used in the study – “the Mega Environment”. Central to all reports is the ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK. This is the key idea or concept that you use to analyse the findings of your study. Usually the ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK will come from the textbook or notes you are using in the unit of study. Hint: It is important to highlight the ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK in any report, and to show clearly that you understand its importance in your study.

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2.1.1 Economic element

The economic element refers to “systems of producing, distributing and consuming wealth” (Bartol et al. 2008, p. 72.). In considering the economic factors relating to the proposed business, it is not possible to overlook the impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), and its continuing aftermath. While Australia has so far resisted falling into recession, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) records that household incomes were significantly lower in 2009/10 than they were over 2007/08. In such an environment, consumers have remained highly cautious in their spending (Kusher 2011). IBIS World Report (2011, p. 5) states that: “movements in real household disposable income do affect the hairdressing and beauty industry”, although as a ‘necessity of life’ service, hairdressing is less generally affected than other consumer areas. It is noted that while recent conditions in the industry have been poor, the outlook over the period 2012 – 2015 is expected to be more positive with a projected average annual rate of growth of 3.6%, as indicated in Table 1 (IBIS 2011). These economic factors suggest that investment in the hairdressing industry, at least in the foreseeable future, is likely to be worthwhile.

Table 1: Revenue Outlook in the Hairdressing Industry (IBIS 2011)

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Revenue AUD Million

Comment [T11]: In presenting aspects of the ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK for the report, it is often necessary to define terms (eg. ‘the economic element’). Often direct quotes are used in such definitions, so as to be really precise about what it is that’s being discussed. Note that when you use a DIRECT QUOTE, you need to give the page number of the reference.

Comment [T12]: It is often useful to use TABLES and FIGURES in reports. When you do use these, you need to refer to the TABLE in your text (eg. “as indicated in Table 1”).

Comment [T13]: When using TABLES, you need always to give these a number (e.g. Table 1) and a title (e.g. Revenue

Outlook in Hairdressing Industry) along with where you sourced the information (e.g. IBIS 2011).

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2.1.2 Legal/Political element

The legal/political element refers to the “legal and governmental systems within which an organisation must function” (Bartol et al. 2008, p 72). The two major legal areas that need to be complied with in the hairdressing and beauty industry are occupational health and safety OHS), employment law. Occupational health and safety laws exist to ensure a hairdressing salon is safe for both employees and the public. Various employment laws prescribe minimum wages and training requirements for businesses in the industry. The client will already be compliant with these two areas, and so it is not expected that they would impose any additional burdens in the establishing of a new outlet. It is noted that the imminent introduction of the Federal Government’s Carbon Tax could result in additional costs e.g. higher electricity bills, as a result of energy companies passing on the costs of the carbon price (Clean energy future: helping small business 2011). In any proposed new outlet, the client can offset any potential additional energy costs through the use of energy-saving appliances and amenities.

2.1.3 Technological element

The technology element refers to “the current state of knowledge regarding production of products & services (Bartol et al. 2008). According to IBIS; “technology in the hairdressing industry has not changed dramatically in recent times” (IBIS 2011 p.24). The more significant technological developments have occurred in the beauty components of the industry (eg. laser treatments), though it is noted that these often require substantial economic investment, and may not be affordable for smaller scale operations (Service Skills Australia 2011). One area that is worth investing in is not technology concerned with the actual delivery of hairdressing and beauty services, but with ancillary technologies that support customer queries and bookings. Customers typically expect products and services to be delivered in a shorter time frame, and so salons need to invest in up-to-date IT facilities that will enable them to provide appropriate levels of customer service (Service Skills Australia 2011). Another important technology in the industry is social media (Facebook and Twitter) and its potential as a marketing tool. As Baltzan and Phillips (2010 p. 513) explain: “social networks help forge community with, and among, would-be customers”.

2.1.4 Socio-cultural/demographic element

The sociocultural/demographic element refers to the “attitudes, values, norms, beliefs, behaviours and associated demographic trends characteristic of a given geographic area” (Bartol et al. 2008, p. 73). Victoria is currently experiencing high population growth, lead only by NSW. It is interesting to note that while population growth is high in the state, the rate of growth in the hair and beauty industry in Victoria is relatively low (see Table 2). These data also point to relatively low volatility in the industry, suggesting that investment in the industry in Victoria is generally a sound proposition.

Comment [T14]: Notice how this subsection begins in the same way as the previous sub-section i.e. with a definition. You will see that all of the subsequent sections begin in the same way. Report writing often relies on predictable, repetitive structures.

Comment [T15]: This is another in-text reference to a TABLE

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Table 2 Growth rate and volatility in hairdressing and beauty

State/Territory

Average annual growth rate (2003-2007)

Volatility (2006)

Queensland 5.3% 42.5%

Western Australia 5.1% 40.3% New South Wales 3.8% 38.0% South Australia 3.0% 34.5% ACT 2.2% 48.7% Victoria 1.9% 37.7% Tasmania 1.9% 31.6% Northern Territory -2.4% 61.9%

More specifically in the Prahran area (the location of the proposed new outlet), the notable demographic trend is the relatively low average age of the populace, with the most populous group being in the 25-29 year segment (Population and household forecast: Prahran 2011). Population forecasts suggest that the area’s youthful character will continue into the future with the same segment expected to dominate in 2021. Other significant demographic features are the ethnic diversity of the populace, along with its relative affluence (Community profile: Prahran 2011). A significant trend in this younger inner urban demographic is the increasing interest shown by young men in grooming and appearance, sometimes associated with the so-called ‘metrosexual’ lifestyle (IBIS World Report 2011, p. 9). Such a trend has seen the decline of demand for traditional barbershop services, and dominance in inner urban areas of the unisex salon. While the hairdressing and beauty market continues to be dominated by the female customer base, major opportunities exist to expand product and service offerings for males. 2.1.5 International/global element The international/global element refers to “developments in countries outside of an organization’s home country with potential to influence the organization (Bartol et al. 2008, p. 32). The hairdressing industry in Australia is almost an entirely domestically-based industry, currently having virtually no import or export profile (IBIS 2010). The international element is thus not a relevant one to the proposed business plan. It is noted however that over the coming years, the door may become open for foreign franchises to establish themselves, and so this may have some impact on competition in the industry into the future (IBIS 2010).

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2.2 Task Environment

Along with analysis of the Mega Environment, the study also focused on the Task Environment as it relates to the proposed business. The Task Environment is made up of specific external elements that an organisation faces in their immediate environment, In this case, the task environment refers to the metropolitan area of Melbourne area, and more specifically the area of Prahran and its environs, which is where the proposed business would be located. Unlike the Mega Environment, the organisation can have influence over the task elements in this environment through extensive research and planning. Elements of Task Environment include customers and clients, labour supply, suppliers, competitors and government bodies (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76).

2.2.1 Customers and clients

Customers and clients refer to “individuals and organisations purchasing products and services” (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76). As noted in 2.1.4, the Prahran area has a generally younger residential profile, and so this group needs to be the focus of the products and services that might be offered. It is also noted that the area is quite ethnically diverse, with 27.9% of its resident being born overseas. This suggests the need for flexibility in the types of hair and beauty services available. An important characteristic of the hair and beauty industry is the importance of a loyal customer base (IBIS, 2011). Typically customers will rely on the one salon if they are satisfied with the service they receive. It is thus important for a salon to build up a base of satisfied clients, to ensure repeat visits and attract new customers through good word-of-mouth, and effective marketing. Another feature of the potential customer base is the relative affluence of the Prahran area. This has implications for pricing strategies. IBIS (2011, p.13) notes that the hairdressing industry operates in an environment of “significant price competition”, though suggests that this is often based on a misconception “that price is the deciding factor for clients”. These facts suggest that the focus of any expanded business should be on the provision of high quality, as opposed to low cost services.

2.2.2 Competitors

Competitors refers to “other organisations offering (or with a high potential to offer) rival products/services” (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76) The Prahran area is generally well-served by hairdressing outlets. An online search under Hairdressers in Prahran identified 28 different salons (Yellow Pages 2011) with most of these offering medium to high-end services. Table 3 provides a list of the salons with highest turnover in the area.

Comment [T16]: This sub- section (Task Environment) is the second major part of the Findings section. Notice how the report uses a LINKING sentence here to indicate that the report is moving on to a new section.

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Table 3: Salons with highest turnover in Prahran area

Salon Average haircut prices Mens Ladies

High End, Middle, Low End

1. Mark Anthony 95 55 H 2. Ruben’s 95 55 H 3. La Bella Vita 85 70 H 4. Kaz 77 58 M 5. Deep Blue Sea 75 75 M 6. Rap Unzels 70 45 M 7. Snipz 65 50 M 8. Live And Let Dye 67 45 L 9. Hair Today - Gone

tomorrow 48 40 L

10. Shear Bliss 40 40 L

It is noted that there is wide differential pricing between female and male hairdressing. In some cases there is close to parity in pricing for both sexes; in other cases, female haircuts are close to twice the price of males. With the recommended focus on product and service offerings for males, it is suggested that pricing for these services be strongly competitive.

2.2.3 Labour Supply

Labour supply refers to individuals potentially employable by an organisation (diversity and characteristics of the labour market) (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76) Hairdressing is recognised as one of the ‘skill shortage professions’ by the federal government and is listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) (Service Skills Australia 2011). This means that the labour supply in the future will increasingly include staff from non-English speaking backgrounds. To take advantage of these opportunities, any prospective new outlet would need to achieve a good match between the cultural background of prospective staff and the ethnic profile of the area. The growing Asian (Chinese) composition of the Prahran area was previously noted (Section 2.1.4). Retention of talent is recognised as a significant issue for the hairdressing and beauty industries, with high turnover of staff often a problem for businesses (Service Skills Australia 2011). Increasingly it is seen as critical to fully engage employees in the industry both by developing the skill of employees, and providing clear career pathways (Service Skills Australia 2011). Support for staff to undertake Certificate IV and Diploma training is seen as an appropriate way of initiating this process.

Comment [T17]: This is an example of CROSS-REFERENCING – and can be a useful way to LINK material in different sections of the report

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2.2.4 Suppliers

Suppliers refers to “organisations and individuals supplying resources and organisation needs to conduct its operations” (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76). The main material resources needed for the proposed business are the variety of haircare products used in the salon. These will not represent a major cost to the business. It is suggested these are sourced at the most competitive rate via the internet. As stated in 2.1.3, a major organisational need is the use of up-to-date IT facilities that will enable the delivery of high levels of customer service (booking system etc.). It is suggested that careful selection is made of an appropriate supplier of these services.

2.2.5 Government Agencies

Government agencies refer to “agencies providing services and monitoring compliance with laws and regulations at local state or regional and national levels” (Bartol et al. 2011, p. 76). The main relevant agency of the proposed business will be City of Stonnington located at Prahran Town Hall. The main area of compliance is minimum hygiene standards required under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and related guidelines (Stonington Council: Personal Care 2011).

3. Conclusions and Recommendations The main question considered in this study was whether the establishing of a hairdressing salon in the Prahran area is a viable option for the client. Based on the preceding analysis, both of the mega and task environments, the conclusion drawn is that such an expansion of the business is likely to be a sound investment. The study also considered a range of marketing and management issues that would need to be considered to ensure the success of the business. Accordingly, the following recommendations are made:

the target customer base should be younger clients (20-30 age segment), with some emphasis on products and services for young males.

the focus should be on high quality as opposed to low costs services and products.

products and services should take account of the multicultural composition of the area, especially the growing number of residents from Asian backgrounds.

Comment [T18]: In presenting the CONCLUSIONS, it is always a good idea to remind the reader what the PURPOSE of the study was. Your main CONCLUSION will be your response to this purpose.

Comment [T19]: RECOMMENDATIONS are often set out as dot points. You will notice that all of the RECOMMENDATIONS here are framed around the word ‘should’. HINT: All RECOMMENDATIONS you make in a report must relate to your discussion in the early parts of the report. In other words, each RECOMMENDATION needs to flow on logically from the analysis you have made of that particular idea in the report.

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investment in technology should be primarily focused on ancillary technologies that support customer queries and bookings.

in line with the area’s younger and affluent demographic, marketing strategies should be mainly organised around the use of social media.

selection of staff should seek to reflect the demographics of the area, including recruitment of Asian background staff

to ensure the retention of staff, an emphasis should be placed on developing the skills of staff, and providing clear career pathway.

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References Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011, Household income and income distribution , viewed 10 September 2011, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ [email protected] /mf/6523.0

Baltzan, P & Phillips, A 2010, Business Driven Technology,4th edn, McGraw-Hill, New York. Bartol, K, Tein, M, Matthews, G, Sharma, B & Scott-Ladd, B 2011, Management A pacific rim focus, 6th edn, McGraw-Hill, Australia. Community profile: Prahran: What is our individual income? 2011, Profile id, viewed 10 September 2011, http://profile.id.com.au/Default.aspx?id=249&pg=124&gid=140&type=enum> Clean Energy Future: Helping Small Business 2011, Australian Government, viewed 10 September 2011, http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/helping-business/business-and-a-clean-energy-future/> IBIS World Report 2011, Hair Industry and Beauty Salons in Australia, viewed 10 September 2011, http://www.ibisworld.com.au/industry/home.aspx?partnerid=googlead&_kk=ibis%20world&_kt=4a9176d5-5a30-46dd-a666-916bceae2582&gclid=CJ7yuonekqsCFYMlpAodvHP4wA> Kusher, C 2011, Household income growth stalls over the 2009/10 financial year, RP Data Research Blog, viewed 10 September 2011, http://blog.rpdata.com/2011/09/household-income-growth-stalls-over-the-200910-financial-year/ Population and Household Forecast: Prahran 2010, Forecast id, viewed 10 September 2011, http://forecast2.id.com.au/templates/forecast2/Clients/249Ston/PDF/140.pdf> Service Skills Australia 2011, Hairdressing and Beauty Environmental Scan 2012 viewed 8 September 2011, Stonnington Council: Personal Care 2011, City of Stonnington, viewed 10 September 2011, http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/doing-business/personal-care-businesses/> Yellow Pages 2011, Sensis, viewed 10 September 2011, < http://www.yellowpages.com.au/search/listings?clue=hairdressers&locationClue=Prahran+VIC&x=36&y=20 Acknowledgement: Thanks to Jacqueline Chow and Robert Karwacki, two Swinburne students, who provided material for this sample report.

Comment [T20]: The last section of your report is the list of REFERENCES. References are listed in alphabetical order, and should provide all relevant details about the sources you have used. You should check the format to be used in the library’s Harvard Style Guide. Note that you should only list those sources that have actually been CITED in the report

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Report Writing

It is quite common in the academe to require students to write a report about certain topics. This means that students need to study and examine a certain topic in order to analyze which information are necessary to include in the report. It also means that students need to comprehensively present the topic so that his/her peers can easily understand the topic. It may be quite a dilemma for students, but the skills that they acquire during such exercise will be useful when they enter the corporate world.

You might get confused as to what report this guide is trying to discuss. To make it clear, this is not about writing a report card ; this is about writing academic reports that may be a requirement for your subjects in school. By the simplest definition, academic report writing means any report writing assignment given in an academic setting. A report aims to spread information in a comprehensive and succinct manner. The report also presents evidence/s that supports the claims or relates to the issue being discussed in the report.

Regardless of the class or subject or topic your report is about, it has to be able to comprehensively present the issue along with the analysis; specific information and the relevant supporting details must be presented as well. Reports are usually tailored to fit a particular purpose and audience; therefore, you must take those into consideration before you go on and create an outline for the report . This guide will discuss necessary topics about report writing to help students out with their report requirements.

Typical Format of a Student Report

Before you start with your report, you must be able to determine and understand the contents that you need t include in your report as well as their specific purpose. Listed below are the typical contents found in a student or academic report :

Letter of Memorandum – The letter of memorandum states the purpose of the report, brief summary and/or recommendations, and acknowledges others who have contributed. Usually given by person or group who commissioned the report.
Title Page – The title page reflects the exact title of the report. It should clearly describe what the report is about and it should also include the name/s of the reporter as well as the date of publication.
Abstract or Executive Summary – This part of the report states the problem, how it was investigated, what was found, and what the findings mean. This usually consists of approximately 200 words.
Table of Contents – This contains a list of the major and minor topics discussed in the report along with the exact page number where they are located.
Introduction – The introduction sets the tone for the entire report, and it also gives some background information about the topic. This part also states the aim/purpose of the report and outlines of the sections of the report.
Main Body – The main body is organized into comprehensive sections that clearly discusses what was investigated, how it was investigated it, what was found along with the evidence/s, and interpretations of what was found.
Conclusion – This section presents a summary of the entirety of the report. It also explains what was achieved by the report, the significance of the findings, and a discussion and interpretation of the findings.
Recommendations – With the conclusion, a recommendation of what necessary or relevant action/s can be taken is included in this section of the report.
References – This section lists all the references, i.e., relevant books, magazines, scholarly journals and studies, etc., used as reference for the report.
Appendices – Other information that has not been included on the body of the report; for example, graphs, charts, tables, or other data.

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Importance of Report Writing to Students

Academic writing, specifically report writing , has played a huge role in shaping and developing students. It is a constant exercise in the academe and students usually dread this when being required to do so. However, there are advantages when making reports. Here are some of the reasons why report writing is important and useful to students:

1. Teaches students to analyze

Writing academic reports teaches students to analyze and breakdown the topics into comprehensive and logical sections. It also teaches students to understand the topic down to the simplest detail. It also teaches the students to go beyond merely describing the topic; it urges them to think about why it has been carried out and which uses its findings may have for the future. This allows them to fully take in what they have studied and decide on what these details hold in their report.

2. Allows students to convey their understanding

Since students develop their analyzing skills, writing reports also allow students to convey what they have understood based on their analysis. Reports generally present what the students were able to understand on the topic they have at hand. And since they were able to analyze the topics, they are urged to simply and clearly relay their understanding on the complexity of the topic. More specifically, reports are written to make complicated topics into simple presentation of data, thus, challenging and allowing students to clearly present what they have comprehended in an organized and comprehensive manner.

3. It has a strong focus on technique and style

Academic reports focus on the technique/s and how it should be used to best convey ideas. Reports generally follow a specific style and approach. Thus, it encourages students to stick to such standards. In return, if students learn and master such styles and techniques, it will be easier for them to make reports should their future job require them. It strengthens their writing and organization skills as well as their manner of presentation, which can be very useful when tasked with presenting reports and ideas during employment.

4. Teaches students to think critically and objectively

It teaches students to look at the both sides of the argument. Studying for the report and writing the report itself teaches students to always leave room for argument, it forces them to look at ideas and study different perspectives. Since they are forced to analyze the information and data that is given to them, they are also forced to critically and objectively look at those data in order to present them without bias. This will help them develop such skills that can help them as they go on about their lives.

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Essential Stages in Writing a Report

As all reports, academic reports need to be clear, concise, and well structured. When you are assigned to make a report for a class, you need to allocate time for planning and preparation. With that in mind, here are the essential stages in writing an effective report:

1. Understanding the report brief

This stage is the most important one. Before you start writing your report, you need to be confident that you have clearly understood the purpose of your report. Your report brief generally contains information relevant to your report; for example, the topic of your report, purpose, who it is written for, as well as the general instructions for the report writing . If there are matters that come off as unclear to you, do not hesitate to ask your teacher or instructor.

2. Gathering and selecting information

Since you generally have a clear understanding of what your report is about, you should start gathering the data that are relevant to your topic. This also means that you have to carefully select the data to include since you really can’t include everything that you think is related to your topic. This also means you need to be able to determine and identify the most significant and most relevant information to include in your report. With this, you will have to read on relevant literature in order to widen your understanding of the topic before looking into other forms of information such as questionnaires, surveys, etc.

3. Organizing your material

After gathering and selecting the information you include in your report, you have to be able to organize those information in a way that is is easy for your audience to understand. You should be able to determine what sequencing of the information is more cohesive and understandable. You can start by grouping together points that are related; this may result to the formation of sections and chapters. However, you need to remember to keep on referring to your report brief and cut out other information should you see fit.

4. Analyzing your material

Now that you have a somewhat clear representation of your report, you have to make sure everything you have included and outlined are relevant and necessary. Before you make the first draft of your report, take time to consider what you have on hand and make sure the points you offer are backed up with enough facts and evidence. What conclusions can be drawn from the material? What are the limitations or flaws in the evidence? Do certain pieces of evidence conflict with one another? Remember that your report must go beyond simply presenting the information you have gathered, you have to also relate it to the problem or issue described in the report brief.

5. Writing the report

After making sure that your report outline and what you have included in your outline are relevant and significant to the topic of your report, you can proceed to writing the report. You have to aim for a writing style that is direct and precise, and avoid babbling; make sure your make your points clearly and concisely. Everything must be written with a clear structure, the chapters, sections, and even individual paragraphs.

With this in mind, you need to introduce the main idea of the chapter/section/paragraph, explain and expand the idea, defining any key terms, present relevant evidence to support your point/s, comment on each piece of evidence showing how it relates to your point, and lastly, conclude each chapter/section/paragraph through showing its significance or relevance to the report as a whole or linking it to the next chapter/section/paragraph.

6. Reviewing and redrafting

After you write the first draft of your report, you should definitely review your draft and make sure everything is cohesive, comprehensive, and logical. You need to remember that although your topic is complex, you need to be able to clearly explain its entirety in a brief manner. After being satisfied with your review, you can start redrafting to make sure your report fits the general instructions stated in the report brief. Aside from that, this is the time you make sure your report is easily understandable to your specified audience.

7. Presentation

You can turn your attention to the presentation after you are satisfied with the overall content or after your redrafting. You have to make sure that there are no misspellings and other errors in your chapter/section/subheading. In addition, you have to make sure that everything is clear and accurate. Check for consistency in numbering of chapters, sections, and appendices. Errors, be it the smallest detail, can leave a negative impression to your audience.

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Academic Assignment Samples and Examples

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Frequently Ask Questions?

How can these samples help you.

The assignment writing samples we provide help you by showing you versions of the finished item. It’s like having a picture of the cake you’re aiming to make when following a recipe.

Assignments that you undertake are a key part of your academic life; they are the usual way of assessing your knowledge on the subject you’re studying.

There are various types of assignments: essays, annotated bibliographies, stand-alone literature reviews, reflective writing essays, etc. There will be a specific structure to follow for each of these. Before focusing on the structure, it is best to plan your assignment first. Your school will have its own guidelines and instructions, you should align with those. Start by selecting the essential aspects that need to be included in your assignment.

Based on what you understand from the assignment in question, evaluate the critical points that should be made. If the task is research-based, discuss your aims and objectives, research method, and results. For an argumentative essay, you need to construct arguments relevant to the thesis statement.

Your assignment should be constructed according to the outline’s different sections. This is where you might find our samples so helpful; inspect them to understand how to write your assignment.

Adding headings to sections can enhance the clarity of your assignment. They are like signposts telling the reader what’s coming next.

Where structure is concerned, our samples can be of benefit. The basic structure is of three parts: introduction, discussion, and conclusion. It is, however, advisable to follow the structural guidelines from your tutor.

For example, our master’s sample assignment includes lots of headings and sub-headings. Undergraduate assignments are shorter and present a statistical analysis only.

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PDF Guide for writing assignment reports
In that case use font Times New Roman, font size 12 pt. Set the line spacing to 1.2, left and right margins to 2.5 cm, top and bottom margins to 2.3 cm. A nice result is obtained if in the 'Page setup' a gutter of 1 cm is inserted, where this value is alternating set to the left (odd pages) and right (even pages).
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Project details: - This assignment is worth 25% of the total mark. - Group of 5 will be formed for this project. There will be individual marking. - Submission: Colour printed copy, pdf copy ...
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Get your draft assignment written Once you've written a draft or first version of your essay / report, it's best to stop working on it for a while. Hopefully you haven't left your assignment to the last minute and have time to ignore it overnight or even for a couple of days. Then come back to it and read it through.
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B. General Report Formatting Guidelines The report is in A4 size. The sample cover page is given at the end of this guidelines. The report must be formatted with a font size of 12pt if Times New Roman and 1.5 line spacing. The margins and spacing to be used are given at the end of this guidelines.
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An assignment report has the structure of a typical scientific article: a preamble, an introduction, a description of the methods, the main results, a discussion of the results, and references. The preamble material is the title, author, and an abstract of the report. The introduction, for an assignment report, is usually short and factual.
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Some report assignments will require you to do formal research, an activity that involves finding sources and evaluating them for reliability, reading them carefully, taking notes, and citing all words you quote and ideas you borrow. ... For example, in his report on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Trevor Garcia wrote the ...
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This report utilizes a sociological perspective to identify two significant issues of the company, and makes two recommendations to ensure effective decision-making of the company in future. Sample of actual student work. Permission to reproduce this work, for this purpose, was received from the student.
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Use the section headings (outlined above) to assist with your rough plan. Write a thesis statement that clarifies the overall purpose of your report. Jot down anything you already know about the topic in the relevant sections. 3 Do the Research. Steps 1 and 2 will guide your research for this report.
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5.ensure your writing is accurate, concise and straightforward. 6.include diagrams with the right labels in the right place for your reader. 7.make sure your summary gives the whole picture in brief. 8.check the report for technical errors, typing errors and inconsistency. 9.consider design as well as content.
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report is about. Do not use a question as a title as this sounds as if you are still not sure of the outcomes after writing the report. An unclear title would be: Overview of events in the North West A better and clearer title which would tell the reader what the report is about would be: An investigation into differences between local
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A sample of a business-style report with an annotated format. Investigative report sample. Sample of an investigative report [PDF 500KB]. A resource for science, engineering and technology students. How to write an investigative report, including an annotated format. Assignment topics and editing. Interpreting assignment topics [PDF 370 KB ...
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poor impression and can make the report difficult to read and can also cost you marks. Report structure Title Page This should briefly describe the purpose of the report (if this is not obvious from the title of the work). You may also include your name, the date and for whom the report is written. Terms of Reference
PDF Writing a Business Report
required to write the assignment again. It's necessary to acknowledge the original source to avoid plagiarism. Include a reference list at the end of your report listing all the sources you have referred to in your assignment. You will need to know the book/article's title, its author, publisher, etc. of each source you use.
Writing your assignment: Write your report
The Writing your assignment resource is designed and monitored by Learning Advisers and Academic Librarians at UniSA. Write your report. The purpose of a report is to investigate an issue and 'report back' findings which allow people to make decisions or take action and depending on your course. The report may require you to record, to inform ...
Report Writing Format with Templates and Sample Report
2. Follow the Right Report Writing Format: Adhere to a structured format, including a clear title, table of contents, summary, introduction, body, conclusion, recommendations, and appendices. This ensures clarity and coherence. Follow the format suggestions in this article to start off on the right foot. 3.
How to Write a Book Report
This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph. ... This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book ...
How To Write A Lab Report
Introduction. Your lab report introduction should set the scene for your experiment. One way to write your introduction is with a funnel (an inverted triangle) structure: Start with the broad, general research topic. Narrow your topic down your specific study focus. End with a clear research question.
Sample Report Assignment
The report should be approximately 2,500 words in length, excluding the Executive Summary and List of references. Page 2. ASSIGNMENT 2. THE STYLISH REPORT. Page 3. ©Language and Learning Lab, FHEL, Swinburne. Executive Summary. Stylish is a hairdressing business that currently owns and operates two hairdressing salons in inner.
Report Writing
By the simplest definition, academic report writing means any report writing assignment given in an academic setting. A report aims to spread information in a comprehensive and succinct manner. The report also presents evidence/s that supports the claims or relates to the issue being discussed in the report.
Report Examples With Sample Templates [To Edit and Download]
The sales report sample template below comes with enough slides with charts to get your data organized nicely. Using the Visme editor, add slides in between the sample template slides to add explanatory content if necessary. Take advantage of Visme analytics to see how your report is performing.
PDF Sample Research Report
Edna Ryan and Anne Conlon provi de the following table, which shows that the proportion of women in the manufacturing industry peaked during the war, declined until 1959, and then began to increase gradually. Table 1. Proportion of women in the manufacturing industry. Males to every 100 females. 1932-3.
Academic Assignment Samples and Examples
The basic structure is of three parts: introduction, discussion, and conclusion. It is, however, advisable to follow the structural guidelines from your tutor. For example, our master's sample assignment includes lots of headings and sub-headings. Undergraduate assignments are shorter and present a statistical analysis only.
Molecular Shapes
Molecular Shapes Group Report Before leaving lab, answer the following questions upload to the group report assignment (As always: both partners should submit the same documents, but each must log in to Canvas and submit their own copies to the group report assignment). Include your name and your lab partner's name and submit the same file to both partners' Canvas accounts if and only if both ...