Approach Tends to be focused more on the problem and is action
oriented Tends to be focused more on analysis of situation without necessarily providing solutions Topic/Focus Usually set by other with a specific expected end result/findings Usually set by others as a topic to be answered Context This is submitted for aiding the decision making, problem solving and term of reference, but will attract criticisms and compliments. This is for academic world submitted for markings Summary Normally given, sometimes with key recommendations and conclusions Not included often
Audience reading Reports are likely to be skimmed through looking at the key information Likely to be read thoroughly to understand the content Introduction Must be included, it sets the scenes to appear in the report Included sometimes to brief the content Discussion/ analysis Included Included Conclusion Yes included as it give sums up the information Yes included as it sums up the information Recommendations This is must in a report as comparison has to be made and writers opinion had to be mentioned after thorough research Usually not made as the topic is generic which do not require a recommendation Layout techniques - Paragraph tends to be shorter, informative - Sections and subsections are numbered drawing attention of the reader - Bullet points sometimes used - Paragraphs are usually long - Sections and subsections are not numbered - Bullet points not often used Tables/ Graphics Widely used to represent the data Not used Expression of opinion They are expressed at the conclusion or recommendations as the general content should be facts and findings They are expressed throughout the content Style - Tends to be impersonal and objective - Sentences and words tends to be shorter - Can be personal and subjective or impersonal and objective - Maybe sometimes it gains high readability scores due to use of professional jargons - The sentences and words tends to be lengthy - Mostly gain high readability because of academic jargons Referencing quotation Usually referencing is light as primary data can be used as much as the secondary data Essays are written fully referring on the secondary data and fact in place, so referencing is must Authoring Usually collective author Mostly individual author Relationship to spoken Presentation Reports mostly lead to spoken presentations Not likely to involve spoken presentations