Learning Skills
How Do I Write a Report?
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Report writing differs from essay writing because it has a different purpose. Reports are common communication tools as they assist in the decision making process. Written for a particular purpose, they usually outline a problem, provide the relevant facts and ideas to the situation, and then recommend a course of action.
Reports are highly structured so that information they contain can be easily understood. Headings within the report allow the reader to select the parts they wish to read. Headings also enable each section of the report to stand-alone. The structure of a report is enhanced through the use of subheadings, diagrams, tables, graphs, illustrations etc.
As a student, you will be asked to write reports to show that you have investigated or researched a particular problem. Although each subject coordinator may have slightly different requirements and/or ways to structure reports, the following is an example of a basic report format. Remember to always check each Subject Outline for individual subject requirements.