1. Writing Information Reports
Kevin Cummins
Copyright

2. What is a report?
A report is a systematic, well organised document which analyses a subject or problem, and which may include:
Recording of a sequence of events
Interpreting the significance of these events or facts
Discussion of the outcomes of a decision or course of action
Making Educated conclusions on an event that has occurred.
Recommendations for the future.
Reports must always be:
Accurate
Concise
Clear
Well Structured

3. Structure of an Information Report
Introduction
May include a definition, classification or brief description
Description
Facts about the subject broken into paragraphs and using subheadings
Conclusion: Summary or concluding comment.

4. Initial preparation
Always analyse your subject carefully, making sure that you fully understand the topic, question or case,
Be certain that you know what the purpose of the report is, and who your audience will be. The clearer these things are in your mind, the easier the report will be to write and the more effective it will be.
When you are researching, planning and eventually writing, continually ask yourself
what the main purpose of the report is?
what your purpose is: is it to inform; to argue; to persuade; to evaluate?
What does your reader want to see in the report and what will they do with it?

5. Planning and research
You first need to decide your basic framework. With your main topic or question as a central focus, jot down your initial thoughts and start to group these together. You may find the Mind Mapping technique useful: Start to divide key ideas from subsidiary information, and continually ask yourself if everything is relevant; if it isn’t, then delete it.
You will now be able to plan your research. Ask yourself what you need to find out, maybe in the form of questions that need to be answered, then approach your reading from this starting point. If you have specific information to look for, it will make your reading easier and less time consuming.
Try not to gather too much information. Again, keeping your topic or question in mind, reject anything which is not 100% relevant. When you’re making notes, always try to summarise the main points as concisely as possible. Remember to make a comprehensive record of any sources consulted in order to be able to correctly reference these.

6. Task One – Day One
You work for a local newspaper and you have just returned from the biggest story of your life. One that will ensure a promotion. After looking at your notes from being at the scene, you now have to write your report and hand it in to the editor in 45 mins. Unfortunately, being so hyped up, have scribbled all the information down in no real order at
These Notes are on the next slide

7. Weapons and Substantial amount of cash found.
Royal Bank
Approx. 2am Wed 19th May
Weapons and Substantial amount of cash found.
Police 8 Officers – 3 Vehicles
2 Witnesses: We heard gunshots and saw an officer dive to the ground.
Old Abandoned Woollen Mill
90 Minute stand off
A young man and a woman from the City
Tattoo of a Spider
Car Swerved and ran off the Road.

8. Task Two – Planning and Researching
Today you are going to spend the entire lesson collecting data to write an information report about an issue of importance.
This topic will either be given to you by your teacher or can be selected by you.

9. The 4 Principles of Good Note taking
1. Know what kind of ideas you need to record
Focus your approach to the topic before you start any detailed research. Then you will read with a purpose in mind, and you will be able to sort out relevant ideas.
2. Don't write down too much
Your report must be an expression of your own thinking, not a patchwork of borrowed ideas. Plan therefore to invest your research time in understanding your sources and integrating them into your own thinking. Your note cards or note sheets will record only ideas that are relevant to your focus on the topic; and they will mostly summarize rather than quote.
3. Label your notes intelligently
Whether you use cards or pages for note-taking, take notes in a way that allows for later use.
4. Record your Sources
You will need to credit the sources where you found out your information in your references so be sure to record the name of the authors, books and internet addresses that you found your information.

10. Task Three
Today you are writing your information report on the subject you spent time researching all day yesterday.
Use your notes wisely and remember to revisit who your audience is? and what is your purpose?
You will need to include a table of references at the end of your report also.

11. For more information
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