1. The most important page in your Term Report
The Executive Summary
The most important page in your Term Report

2. What Is An Executive Summary?
The first, and sometimes the only thing your audience reads.
The last thing you write.

3. Executive Summary Elements
For your reports, it should be no longer than 1 page
2 to 3 paragraphs
Subheads are not necessary, but you can use them if you want
Reflects the key points
Summarizes the entire report
For an example of an Executive Summary, see the Moodle site

4. Executive Summary Includes
Purpose of the report; why did you write it?
Methodology: what info. sources did you use?
Limits of research (example: it’s a private company; info hard to find.)
Findings, summarized in 2 to 3 sentences
Recommendations: what should happen next?

5. An Executive Summary Is Not…
The title page of your report
An incomplete description of your work, focusing only one aspect
The place to quote someone else’s opinion (no citations needed)

6. Helpful Hints Simplify!
Recycle statements from elsewhere in your report
Ask someone to read your Executive Summary. Based on that page alone, can he/she accurately predict what ideas you have developed in your report?

7. In Conclusion
An Executive Summary offers the highlights of your report. A reader could skip over it and not miss anything.
Make it as concise as possible. It is an overview or synopsis only.
Organize your Executive Summary in the same order as your report (why, how, what and what next).
Purpose, Methodology, Findings, Recommendations

8. Write The Executive Summary At The End!