CYPS – Foundation Degree How to write a report

Aims To examine the principles of writing reports.

Why are reports so important? Major channel for the communication of information. Will become (if not already) part of practitioners everyday work in terms of multiagency working. Can be used as a tool for decision making Writing is an essential skill for the successful practitioner / manager For OfSTED in 2008 you will be writing setting evaluation reports.

The academic ‘voice’ Avoid: Casual style First & second person (I, me, you) Contractions (don’t, can’t) Plagiarism Jargon Posing questions: answer them Practice: Use a formal style Be clear Be concise Be succinct Refer to appropriate sources

The academic ‘voice’

What is your purpose? Persuasion Reaction Explanation Justification Personal connection

An Essay would look like this

Reports and essays – what’s similar? Both require  Formal style  Introduction, body and conclusion  Analytical thinking  Application of relevant theoretical concepts  Referencing  Careful proofreading and neat presentation

Reports and essays Reports Presents information and findings from a task. Is meant to be scanned quickly by the reader to pick out particular information. Accessible and explanatory style Uses headings and sub-headings and is structured into sections. Bullet points can be used Have short concise paragraphs Uses graphics wherever possible (tables, graphs, illustrations) especially when describing results of research. Should include recommendations Essays Explore and idea or thesis Written for academic readers Complex and argumentative style Must be read carefully Do not have headings and subheadings Bullet points are not acceptable Ideas linked in cohesive paragraphs Do not use graphics Do not include recommendations Do not include appendices What is the difference?

The main sections of a report: What follows is list of the more common sections that constitute a report and roughly the type of information that will typically go in each section. The information that goes in each section might vary slightly if you are unsure ask a tutor for more guidelines on the format required.

Type of report Evaluative report  Make a judgement about the value/importance/worth of something. Reflective report  Reflective writing demonstrates an awareness of the learning process undergone during a task.

Writing a Report Report Structure A good structure for a report would be as follows: Title Page - showing the date, the author, the title of the report, the title provides a brief guide to the reader what the report is about. Aim for no more than 15 words in length. Table of contents - not including the title and contents page! (Not always necessary for short reports.)

Writing a Report - Body of report Introduction – what is the report about Discussion – This is a crucial part of the report since it is here that you show your understanding of what you have done, or read, and its context in the broader subject area, give your interpretation of the results and show that you understand the significant of your findings.  divided into sections and sub sections,  presented clearly and confined to fact rather than analysis/opinion.  Headings should be hierarchical and parallel  What you found out from your investigation  What those findings mean  How your findings relate to practice.

Writing a Report - Conclusion Summary of key findings Evaluation of key findings Possibly, limitations of report This should:  Relate back to the findings in the body of the report  Include a clear summary of the main points  Outline the findings of the research There should be nothing in the conclusion that has not already been mentioned in the body of the report.

Writing a Report -recommendations These should:  Emerge from the conclusions  Provide suggestions for future action  are logically derived from the body of the report  Be justified based on findings, not just the opinion of the writer  are realistic in regard to the possibility of implementation

Writing a Report Bibliography-  Only books, journals, websites referred to in the report.  Referenced according to module handbook. Appendices –  containing supplementary material too detailed for the main body of the report, such as journal, article, planning, activity being evaluated or reflected upon.

What is a “good” report? A good report should be one which effectively conveys what the outcome of the project is or what the writer wants to say.

Report outline Title Page Table of contents Body of report Conclusion Recommendations Bibliography Appendices