Composition Writing Studio

Reports

The purpose of a report is to is to investigate, present and analyze information thoroughly and logically. A report not only demonstrates successful research skills, but analysis of information. 

Excerpt from The Call to Write by John Trimbur:

“Reports are a genre of writing that presents the results of research. Reports can be as simple as the morning weather report or as complex as an in-depth explanation of climate change, it’s causes and consequences. Sometimes the writer’s task is to organize information in a useful and accessible way. Other times, report writers analyze the research a draw conclusions.

The forms that report writing takes vary tremendously, depending on the writer’s setting and purposes. News reports and feature articles in newspapers and magazines, scholarly journals, briefings and fact sheets, brochures, informational websites, studies from government agencies and advocacy groups, community newsletters, corporations’ annual reports---all these are instances of report writing that informs and explains.”

In contrast to an essay, a report is typically formatted into various sections. A formal report may include the following:

  • Title Page
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References

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Last Updated: 6/27/22