This Report Writing course covers the fundamental principles of managing reports and reporting resources. This is a two- day course that will provide the delegate with essential skills so that they can improve their Report Writing skills and increase productivity. The delegate receives a manual and an attendance certificate
This course will provide the delegate with skills that will help to master Project Management and other business courses.
It will lay down a solid foundation and understanding of reporting for employees responsible for producing and presenting reports. We recommend that the delegates attend our Time Management course as well.
This College Africa Group course will enhance the user’s skills on the subject and teaches fundamentals as well as strategies in an easy to follow, easy to
understand format and includes practical exercises which will assist in developing your report writing skills in the workplace.
This course falls under the section Leadership Training courses.
We almost run on demand as we try to accommodate the client’s work schedule when possible.
Contact Arnold + 27 083 778 4903 or email sales@collegeafricagroup.com for dates in your area?
Day 1 OUTLINE PROGRAMME: Expressing yourself clearly in writing
o Communication
o The FOG index
o Three components of report writing
o Identify your content
o Structure your report
o Review your style
o Selling one-to-one
o Making a project presentation
o Practical exercises are completed throughout the course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the end of the workshop the delegate will:
Identify the most useful content for your report and what is best left out
Develop a winning structure for your report
Communicate your message effectively in your report
Present their report on a one-to-one basis or to a group
Further points that will be covered and that the delegates will create during their exercises.
Day 2 Report Writing structure
o Title
o Abstract
o Table of contents
o Lists of tables, figures and graphs
o Introduction
o Body
o Conclusion
o References
Title
Table of Contents
The purpose of the table of contents is to give an overview of the subject matter and the structure of the report, so that readers can easily jump to a specific part of the text containing the information they need. The structure of the table of contents needs to be logical and transparent.
Formatting a table of contents
- Use “Contents” as a header for the table of contents.
- Use the correct indentation: main titles (Contents, Introduction, Conclusion and Appendices) should be left-aligned and titles of sections should be indented from the left margin. For each additional level, you should set an additional indent.
- Ensure your table of contents is structured in an orderly fashion. Make sure that titles or headings are as significant as possible.
- Divide all subjects in subtopics, but take into account that each subtopic could belong to only one subject of a higher level. Please note that each subtopic should have at least one other subtopic at the same level.
- Arrange all subtopics in a systematic manner, using a unique criterion.
- Use parallel structure for headings at the same level
Part Summary
-1: Discussing nonverbal communication
-2: Communicating through body positions
-3: Communicating through voice qualities
-4: Identifying types of social responsibilities
-5: Handling conflicting social responsibilities
Limit the depth of detail in a table of contents. Three (e.g. 3.1.1) or four (e.g. 3.1.1.1) subdivisions would suffice.
Make sure the table of contents contains and corresponds to the headings in the text.
Lists of Tables, figures and Graphs
Lists of tables, figures and graphs guide readers to find the information they are looking for in the body of the text. A list of symbols and abbreviations enables readers to quickly find the meaning of each symbol and abbreviation. For the author, writing and updating lists of symbols and abbreviations contributes to systematic notation and avoidance of double use of symbols.
Lists of tables, figures, graphs, symbols, formulas and abbreviations are generally provided after the table of contents.
Introduction
An introduction should capture the audience’s attention. Introductions generally start by identifying and situating a problem in the existing literature. Next, introductions describe how the project or research was conducted, formulate the purpose of the research or paper and highlight in which way it is making a new contribution to the field. Finally, the introduction indicates the main points as well as the outline of the report. Do not forget to mention the relevance of the work done.
Writing a strong introduction
Describe the problem statement and situate the problem in its wider context. If appropriate, the introduction defines key concepts and explains new concepts.
Frame your research within the existing literature and refer to previous work. Present a comprehensive yet brief literature review and cite the sources you have used both in the text and in a reference list. Provide a brief overview of your methodology or the procedures followed.
Finally, indicate the outline of the report with explicit reference to the different chapters and/or sections.
BODY
The body of the text explains in detail how the study was conducted, reports key findings and provides evidence supporting your conclusion.
Organizing the body of the text divides the main body of the text in chapters. Chapters should follow a logical outline and usually include the following three main parts: methodology, results and discussion and interpretation:
Methods:
describing the project (elaboration), while explaining the key working principle applied. The method section elaborates on the methodology used and makes objective arguments to justify the approach taken.
Results:
reporting results and analyses, focusing on key results and interpretations, acknowledging limitations and implications for the interpretation of results. The line of reasoning should be clear and well-supported and assumptions should be justified.
Discussion:
discussing main points in relation to the problem statement, analyzing and interpreting main findings through consistent reasoning and argumentation, eliminating alternative explanations and pointing to the significance of the results.
Check whether the body of the text is balanced. Long chapters could perhaps be split up in smaller chapters. If you have a few short chapters, verify whether they or not could be combined with other chapters.
Organizing chapters in sections
- Subdivide chapters in sections and do so in a systematic manner. Sections consist of associated paragraphs: lines of thought with each developing only one main idea. Check whether ideas are equally developed in each paragraph and that the length of your paragraphs is proportional to your paper.
- Ensure appropriate titles or headings. Use parallel structures for headings at the same level, to make your text easier to understand.
- Open each chapter with an introduction describing the procedure, main insights developed and the outline of the chapter.
- Close each chapter with a conclusion shortly summarizing the main results. Indicate and explain the connection with other chapters in the body of the text as well as what contribution the chapter has made to the whole of the paper.
CONCLUSION
The main text ends with a concluding section. Remember that this section will be read by prospective readers first, therefore it should be independent of the main body of the text.
Writing your conclusion
- Recapitulate your main findings, general conclusions and contributions.
- Briefly discuss your results if appropriate and provide an answer to the problem statement.
- Conclude with recommendations for improvement and/or suggestions for further research.
- Pay attention
- Do not add new information to your general conclusion.
- Relate your results to previous work, but do not include an extensive discussion.
- Identify the limitations of the study and explain their implications for the interpretation of the results.
REFERENCES
The reference section comprises a list of all sources that were cited in the text.
create during their exercises.
The delegate receives a Report Writing manual and an electronic attendance certificate on completion of the course.
We almost run on demand as we try to accommodate the client’s work schedule when possible. Contact Arnold + 27 083 778 4903 or email sales@collegeafricagroup.com for dates in your area?
ON, OFFSITE and VIRTUAL training are offered. See our Specials for Gauteng & KZN, other areas call Arnold 083 7784903. Offsite includes teas, light lunch, and an electronic attendance certificate. Group discounts apply. ONSITE, YOUR VENUE, a minimum of three delegates attending simultaneously. Prices on request.
These are great Report Writing resources
FAQs
- What is report writing and why is it important?
- Reports are written for a clear purpose and to a specific audience with a strategic plan in mind. Effective report writing can be difficult for some people, but everyone can improve their reporting skills in order to communicate more efficiently and effectively.
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- What makes a great report?
- It presents facts and articulates the evidence for a specific problem or project. It is concise and accurate.