Report Writing – the basics Materials developed by the Learner Development Unit at the University of Bradford Learner Development Unit www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learnerdevelopment/

What You Will Learn… How report writing differs from other styles of writing. Generic considerations when structuring reports. Some examples of good practise.

How report writing differs from other styles of writing.

Generic considerations when structuring reports.

Some examples of good practise.

The Plan… Essays and Reports - what’s the difference? Report writing style Structure Some differences in expectations of Report structures Producing a report & looking at samples of good reports

Essays and Reports - what’s the difference?

Report writing style

Structure

Some differences in expectations of Report structures

Producing a report & looking at samples of good reports

1. Essays and Reports What’s the difference? Activity: Spot the Difference In your group discuss and identify the ways in which written reports differ from other types of academic writing, namely essays.

1. Essays and Reports What’s the difference? Essays = ideas, concepts, hypothetical notions Reports = actualities in the past Analysis based, descriptive, summative, predict and recommend

Essays = ideas, concepts, hypothetical notions

Reports = actualities in the past

Analysis based, descriptive, summative, predict and recommend

2. Report writing style Active vs. passive voice Headings, sub-sections and sub-headings vs. in-text signposting Essentials vs. Essentials, supportings and ‘nice-to-haves’

Active vs. passive voice

Headings, sub-sections and sub-headings vs. in-text signposting

Essentials vs. Essentials, supportings and ‘nice-to-haves’

Activity: True or False Game 2. Report writing style Report titles are shorter and punchier than essay titles. TRUE Using complicated, long sentences is OK in reports because they are written for people who know what you’re talking about. FALSE Reports must be short, that’s the point of them FALSE Essays rely on the reader reading the whole thing, where a report does not TRUE Essays tend to use the 1st person singular and plural whereas reports don’t need this. FALSE Spelling, grammar and referencing are not as important in reports as in essays. You just need to het the message across. FALSE It is not suitable to break information down using bullet points in an essay. TRUE

3. Structure Activity: Common Essential Structures Work in pairs. Using the cards make a decision about which aspects of structure are common sections/features of a report. Some may not be, which do you think are not necessarily common or essential? Are there different expectations of report sections on your course? What are they?

Work in pairs. Using the cards make a decision about which aspects of structure are common sections/features of a report.

Some may not be, which do you think are not necessarily common or essential?

Are there different expectations of report sections on your course? What are they?

4. Differences in expectations of Report Features Caught between simulation and assessment Reports for research Reports for professional purposes

Caught between simulation and assessment

Reports for research

Reports for professional purposes

5. Report Samples Producing a report: Deciding/refining the issues and planning Gather the information together Analyse/evaluate/understand the information Write up the report

Producing a report:

Deciding/refining the issues and planning

Gather the information together

Analyse/evaluate/understand the information

Write up the report

Check out the report samples. How do they compare with your previous report-writing experience? How do they differ from other reports you’ve seen? In what ways? 5. Report Samples

Check out the report samples.

How do they compare with your previous report-writing experience?

How do they differ from other reports you’ve seen? In what ways?

What next? What have you learnt? What will you do next? Check out our website for more learning materials or to contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learner development Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/

What have you learnt? What will you do next?

Check out our website for more learning materials or to contact us for 1-2-1 advice and support: www.brad.ac.uk/lss/learner development

Come along to another workshop: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/lssworkshops/