Saturday, November 17, 2012

Notes on Reports


Reports

A report is written for an informed reader who already knows something about the subject.

2 types:

  • provide information on a topic and a brief conclusion at the end.
  • identify weaknesses and strengths in a particular situation and makes recommendations or improvement.

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Reports are the most impersonal kind of writing. Avoid expressing personal opinions except in the conclusion. ( Use it constructions: It seems that / It was found that…)

 

Layout

  • Clear factual heading
  • Introduction (explain aim of report and how information was obtained)
  • Subheadings
  • Conclusion(sum up information and make recommendations if necessary)

 

Introducing the report

The aim / purpose of this report is to examine / evaluate / describe / outline...

It will also include / consider / suggest / recommend...

The report is based on a survey conducted among (college students)

This report looks at / describes…

 

Reporting an observation

It seems / appears that…

The majority / a minority of (students) felt that…

It was found that…

 

Predicting the future

The outlook for young people / jobs / the country is (far from) bright / optimistic / depressing

The future looks bleak / remains uncertain / is promising.

This seems unlikely in the near / foreseeable future.

 

Commenting


Interestingly / curiously / Oddly / Strangely / Surprisingly / Predictably

As might be (have been) expected

It is interesting that…

 

Generalising


In general / On the whole

In the main

Quoting

According to…

As … said…

In the words of …

 

Making recommendations

I would (strongly) recommend that (the school / company) should...

In the light of the results of the survey, I would strongly advise against...

I feel it would be to our advantage if...

It would be advisable for … to do…Perhaps … should consider +ing

I would suggest + verb + -ing: I would suggest including a section on our academic section

I suggest that…: I suggest that we ask for volunteers.

Should: We should advertise more widely.

I would recommend + verb + -ing : I would recommend asking students for their opinions.

I recommend that…: I recommend that we start a club.

It would be a good idea to…: It would be a good idea to ask workers for their opinions.

 


Summing up


To sum up/To summarise

On balance

In short

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