What is a Report, and How Does it Differ from an Essay?
A report is concise and follows a formal structure, typically used to communicate the results or findings of a project. In contrast, an essay is often written to express the writer's thoughts or analysis on a given topic and has a more flexible, discursive structure that allows for the writer’s discretion in organising ideas.
Purpose of the Report: Who and What Is It For?
Before writing a report, it's essential to clarify the intended audience and the purpose behind it. Always consider the needs of the reader and what information they require. Reports can be tailored for various audiences, such as:
Reports are generally assessed based on their content, structure, layout, language, and referencing. The focus of the report should be clear—whether you're reporting on an experiment, providing background information, or making recommendations.
Language of Report Writing
Reports use clear and concise language, often broken down into sections with distinct headings and sub-headings. Bullet points, numbering, and shorter paragraphs are common features. Both essays and reports are examples of academic writing. You are expected to use grammatically correct sentence structure, vocabulary and punctuation.
Structure and Organization
Reports are more structured than essays, often divided into distinct sections and sub-sections formatted with bullet points or numbering. Though the exact format can vary by discipline, typical report structures include:
Title Page
This should clearly and concisely state the report’s topic.
Abstract (or Executive Summary for business reports)
The abstract provides a brief summary of the report’s context, methods, findings, and conclusions. It is usually written last but placed at the beginning to give the reader a quick overview.
Table of Contents
This section helps readers navigate the report, showing the structure and layout of the document.
Introduction
The introduction outlines the background of the research, including the aims, objectives, and possibly a review of existing literature on the topic. Some reports also include "Terms of References," identifying who requested the report, its scope, and its limitations.
Methodology
If the report includes research, this section details the procedures and materials used, allowing others to replicate the work.
Results/Findings
This section objectively summarises the findings, often using tables, graphs, or figures to highlight key results and trends. Interpretation is saved for the discussion.
Discussion
Here, you critically evaluate your findings, assessing their significance, accuracy, and how they fit within the broader context of previous research.
Conclusion/Recommendations
The conclusion summarises the report’s outcomes, possibly providing recommendations for future research or actions to be taken.
References
This is a list of all sources cited in the report, following the appropriate referencing style for your institution
Appendices
Appendices provide supplementary information, such as data or statistics, that support points made in the report. If only one appendix is included, it's labelled "Appendix"; if more, they're labelled alphabetically or numerically.
Presentation and Layout
Since reports are divided into sections and often include visual elements like figures and tables, their layout is crucial. Ensure you follow any specific guidelines for font sizes, margins, and alignment as outlined by your lecturer or module handbook.