2. Table of Contents
1. Title
2. Table of Contents
3. List of abbreviations and/or summary
Introduction
Body
4. Conclusion
Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendices
5. Bibliography
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3. List of Abbreviations:
If necessary, you should provide an alphabetical list of the abbreviations you have
used in the report, if they may not be familiar to all readers of the report. If you have
used a lot of technical terms, you should also provide a glossary ( an alphabetical list
of the terms, with brief explanations of their meanings).
Introduction:
Report writing is an essential skill for professionals in almost every field: accountants,
teachers, and information scientists to name a few. Your introduction needs to give
enough background information to provide a context for the report.
State the purpose of the report. Clarify the topics that will be covered in the scope of
the report, that is, what the report will cover. A report aims to inform, as clearly and
succinctly as possible. It should be easy to read and professional in its presentation.
Body:
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4. The content of the body depends on the purpose of the report. What topics of
information are included are organised under sub headings. Ensure the separate parts
of your report stand out clearly.
Ensure generous spacing between the elements of your report. That is, use 1.5
line spacing, size 12 font for the content
Use bold for subheadings.
Use dot points, numbers, and letters to articulate these elements.
Use tables and figures (graphs, illustrations for clarification) and label them.
E.g. Figure 1. or Table 1.
Number each page
Use consistent and appropriate formatting.
Use formal language.
The information you have found is written in the past tense.
Include current relevant data and information
Proofread your work for correct grammar, spelling, varied vocabulary.
Use in-text referencing whenever you refer to a particular author e.g.
(Author’s surname year of publication, page number) Include this source in
your bibliography
Conclusion:
Sum up the main points of the report. Do not include any new information here.
Recommendations:
These are suggestions for future action. They must be logically derived from the body
of the report. In the case of the Research a career assignment you are asked to
comment on your employment goals and the action you will take to achieve them
given the knowledge you have gained from your research.
Bibliography:
You are required to provide an alphabetical list of all the sources of your information
using the ‘Harvard’ style. Your Reference list must provide full and accurate details,
as it is the means by which the reader can follow up your sources.
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5. Appendices:
An appendix contains material that is too detailed, technical, or complex to include in
the body of the report (E.g. a long or complex table of figures), but which is referred
to in the report. Appendices are put at the very end of the report, after everything else.
Each appendix should contain different material.
Number each appendix clearly.
Bibliography
e.g.
University of Canberra 2009, Report Writing: Academic Skills Program viewed 23rd
November 2010 < http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/reports>
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