Report Writing

Report Writing

Reports differ from essays in a number of ways:

• The structure is defined with headings and sub-headings.
• The language is more direct.
• They usually have 'terms of reference' - to outline a problem or process, to provide solutions or give recommendations.
• They are often written for a defined audience.
• They include specific sections such as an abstract or executive summary, a contents page and aims/objectives of the report.

Reports are often used as assessments in business, science or engineering subjects and simulate tasks you might be asked to do in a work situation. For example you may be asked to imagine you are a management consultant who has been contracted to report on a company's marketing strategy or a consultant engineer asked to put forward the advantages and disadvantages of a new process technique.