INTELLIGENCE REPORT WRITING

• one of the most important aspects of

intelligence work
• intelligence information are turned into
reports for the use of intelligence analysts and
decision makers.
• systematic report writing-achieve the very
purpose of obtaining intelligence information
– to know the enemy.
Objectives
• Identify and understand the importance and value of
intelligence reports.
• Identify the different stages in preparing an
intelligence report.
• Identify the different techniques in writing accurate
and quality intelligence reports.
• Identify different intelligence products (reports) and
how they should be written.
• Write different intelligence reports using/applying the
different principles discussed.
Value of Intelligence Reports

Intelligence reports are:

• vital in intelligence work
• “life blood” of the intelligence process,
• tools for operating units in dealing with the
enemies
• serves an official record of information
• used as reference for future use
Writing accurate intelligence reports is as important
and risky as collecting information from the field.
Intelligence reports are used to:

inform/update our commanders/ bosses,

“decision-makers” on the:
– developments and activities,

– plans of target groups or concerns

Intelligence Analysts - depend hard on intelligence
reports to:

• come up with reliable analysis

• formulate necessary
recommendations to the end users.
Intelligence reports can also be:

used to lobby for additional support

like:
– hi-tech equipment
– more logistics
– additional budget for improving
intelligence monitoring
Intelligence reports:

• serve as bases for judging the

value and efficiency of an
intelligence unit. (basis for rating)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Preparation/Planning –
• organize the information
• identify main ideas
• produce a plan (coverage and presentation)
– consider user and previous level of knowledge
– security clearance to handle the information
– identify the type of intelligence needed,
– identify supporting documents, charts, diagrams
• stage where information gaps are identified and possible
course of action to be taken are considered.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Writing –
• convert information into written form
• make drafts of the report
• focus on getting ideas and information
• ensure the report meets the theme (subject)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Finalizing/Editing –
• concentrates on sentence structure
• final draft -looks to polish the product:
– correct spelling, grammar, format and vocabulary
change to improve the report
Intelligence report writer should consider some principles:

Remember the “ABC’s” – ACCURACY,

BREVITY, CLARITY and COMPLETENESS
Principles In Intelligence Report Writing:

ACCURACY –
– True representation of the FACTS
– Give EXACT names, addresses, time, and amounts
– Careful with spelling, numbers, and other details
– NEVER add anything not within the operator’s information
report.
– Put any comment or additional information in the “comment”
area.
Remember, intelligence work entails accuracy and
credibility on information. Do not put it at risk.
Principles In Intelligence Report Writing:

BREVITY –
– Report should not contain too much information
– Include the most significant information needed
– Avoid repetition of information
– Exclude irrelevant information that may lead to confusion of
the user
– Brevity is leaving out the details, yet the secret is attention to
details
Principles In Intelligence Report Writing:

CLARITY/COMPLETENESS –
– Must include all the relevant information
– Don’t forget the 5Ws and 1H.
– All elements of the information are present
– In case of information gaps:
• make necessary actions to complete it by coming up
with:
– PIRs (Priority Info Requirements)
– SORs (Specific Requests/Orders)
– Additional facts should also be included in the Comment
or Analysis part
– Supporting documents should also be included (pictures,
recovered documents, statistics, etc…)
Common Intelligence Products and their Formats

Common Parts of an Intelligence Report –

CLASSIFICATION – categorization of the information

according to sensitivity. It can be: CONFIDENTIAL,
SECRET, or TOP SECRET.

This is labeled/stamped at the top and bottom pages

of the report and on the cover sheet.
Common Intelligence Products and their Formats

Common Parts of an Intelligence Report –

– REPORT NUMBER - An individual number that is
assigned to each report. Very important in order to
track/trace reports and for reference purposes.
– DATE OF REPORT - Date the report is written.
– DATE OF INFORMATION - Encompasses the dates
mentioned in the text.
Common Intelligence Products and their Formats

Common Parts of an Intelligence Report –

– LOCATION - Place where the information is about. List
those locations to which the information pertains.
– SUBJECT - Conveys what the information is about.
Short, but informative. Should be written in a clear
and concise manner.
Common Intelligence Products and their Formats

Common Parts of an Intelligence Report –

– EVALUATION and SOURCE - this is not the source’s
name or code name. It is a statement that gives the
reader some idea of the source’s access to the
information and the reliability while at the same time
not revealing the source’s identity. (ex: B2-Y)
Common Intelligence Products
• Daily Intelligence Brief – a daily journal of all collated
intelligence reports gathered by a unit. It also includes the
different incidents that transpired in the area. (see example
format)
• Information Transmittal Sheet – a report containing a summary
of information transmitted to specific user of information.
• Priority Information Requirement – information needed to
address priority requirements that will serve as basis for action.
• Specific Requests/Orders – set of requests/orders given to
intelligence units in order to identify information gaps and
answer specific information queries.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
– Basic Elements of the Sentence
• The Subject – noun/pronoun (which is the doer of the
action) along with any words or phrases that modify the
main noun/pronoun. The main noun/pronoun by itself
is the simple subject.
– To find the subject of the sentence, first find the main verb.
Then ask yourself who or what is doing action?
 Ex: The delegates arrived yesterday.
(who arrived? Ans: The delegates -simple subject.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
– Basic Elements of the Sentence
• The Predicate – what is being said about the topic of
the sentence, always has a verb. The main verb or verb
phrase is called simple predicate. Like the noun or the
pronoun, the verb often has modifiers.
• The complete predicate of the sentence is made up of a
verb (or a verb phrase), a verb completion and some
verb modifiers.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
– Basic Elements of the Sentence
• The Predicate – to find the predicate ask yourself,
“What did the subject do?” the answer will be an action
verb. If there is no action verb, look for a linking
verb.
– Example: Francis Jude jogs every morning. (What did Francis
Jude to? Answer: jogs (action verb) -simple predicate
– Aunt Jeannie visits us every year and brings gifts. (What did
Aunt Jeannie do? Answer: visits and brings gifts (compound
predicate)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
– Basic Elements of the Sentence
• The Predicate – to find the predicate ask yourself,
“What did the subject do?” the answer will be an action
verb. If there is no action verb, look for a linking
verb.
– Example: The bus station is near Mae’s house (no action verb)
(is (linking verb) near Mae’s house) tells something about the
subject – complete predicate)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
– Example: The girl (singular subject) reads (singular verb)
mystery stories.
– The girls (plural subject) read (plural verb) mystery stories.
– Meg (singular subject) is (singular verb) asleep.
– Meg and her friends (plural subject) are (plural verb)
asleep.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
1. Don’t be confused by plural words that come after the verb.
• Wrong: My biggest problem are the many incomplete assignments I
need to finish.
• Right: My biggest problem (singular subject) is (singular verb) the
many incomplete assignments I need to finish.

2. Don’t be confused by plural words that come between a singular

subject and the verb.
• Wrong: The topic of these four books are computers.
• Right: The topic (singular subject) of these four books is (singular
verb) computers.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
2) Don’t be confused by plural words that come between a singular
subject and the verb.
• Wrong: Each of the bikes have new tires.
• Right: Each (singular subject) of the bikes has (singular verb) new
tires.
• Wrong: Every one of the members of both basketball teams are
here.
• Right: Every one (singular subject) of the members of both
basketball teams is (singular verb) here.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
3) Don’t be confused by subjects that come at the end of the
sentence
• Wrong: Standing at the back of the room was my parents.
• (Turn the sentence around and it will be clearer: My parents were
standing at the back of the room.)
• Right: Standing at the back of the room were (plural verb) my
parents (plural subject).
• Wrong: At end of most of our team’s games come victory’s
sweetness.
• Right: At the end of most of our team’s games comes (singular verb)
victory’s sweetness (singular subject).
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
4. Don’t be confused by phrases such as along with, together with,
accompanied by, as well as, including and in addition to.
• Wrong: Francis, as well as Mike, play basketball well.
• Right: Francis (singular subject), as well as Mike, plays (singular verb)
basketball well.
• Wrong: Ampalaya in addition to squash and all the other vegetables,
are good for you.
• Right: Ampalaya (singular subject), in addition to squash and all the
other vegetables, is (singular verb) good for you.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Don’t be confused by collective nouns.
A collective noun names a group of people or things. Examples:
family, orchestra, group, committee, jury, crowd, herd, audience,
pair and squad. These nouns can either be plural or singular as the
writer decides.
• SINGULAR: The volleyball team (the team as a whole) wants to win.
• PLURAL: The volleyball team (each individual player) put on their
uniforms.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Don’t be confused by collective nouns.
A collective noun names a group of people or things. Examples:
family, orchestra, group, committee, jury, crowd, herd, audience,
pair and squad. These nouns can either be plural or singular as the
writer decides.
• SINGULAR: The newly married couple (as a whole) is happy.
• PLURAL: A couple of people were late for the wedding.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Don’t be confused by collective nouns.
A collective noun names a group of people or things. Examples:
family, orchestra, group, committee, jury, crowd, herd, audience,
pair and squad. These nouns can either be plural or singular as the
writer decides.
• Wrong: The jury are returning, with their decision. (Juries always
operate as a whole when they make decision.
• Right: The jury is returning with its decision.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
6. Don’t be confused by a not phrase.
• Wrong: I, not you, are late.
• Right: I, (singular subject), not you, am (singular verb) late.

7. Don’t be confused by nouns of amount.

These are like collective nouns. Ask yourself whether you’re talking
about the amount as a whole or individual units.
SINGULAR: Five hundred dollars is a lot of money.
PLURAL: We have a problem: five hundred-dollar bills are missing.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
7. Don’t be confused by nouns of amount.
The word number is weird. If you say “the number” it’s singular. If you
say “a number of”, it’s plural
SINGULAR: The number of kids here is surprisingly large.
PLURAL: A number of kids are here.

8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.

I and you refer to specific people. Some other pronouns point to
non-specific people – for example, someone, anyone, nobody, and
anybody. These are called indefinite pronouns.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.
Pronouns beginning with any (anyone, anybody, etc.) no (no one,
nobody, nothing), every (everyone, everything, etc.) and some
(something, someone, etc.) are always singular and take a singular
verb.
Everybody is (singular) coming.
Nothing is (singular) happening.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.
Some other singular pronouns – each, another, either, neither,
little, much. Each of these pronouns needs a singular verb.
Little is (singular) happening because neither of my friends is
(singular) here.
The roller coaster ride is finished; another ride costs (singular) Php
50.00
To whom much is given, much is expected.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.
Some indefinite pronouns are always plural--- both, several, few,
many, most, others. Each of these pronouns needs a plural verb.
The Reyes girls are twins. Both are here.
I hate worms. Several are (plural) crawling under the tree.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.
Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural– any, more, some,
enough, all, most, who, half, none. The rest of the sentence tells you whether to
use a singular verb or plural verb.
All the cake is gone. (cake is singular-use a singular verb)
All the boys are gone. (boys is plural –use a plural verb)
Most of the pie was eaten. (pie is singular—use singular verb)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Don’t be confused by indefinite pronouns.
Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural– any, more, some,
enough, all, most, who, half, none. The rest of the sentence tells you
whether to use a singular verb or plural verb.
Most of the hotdogs were eaten. (hotdogs is plural—use plural verb)
None of the snow has melted. (snow is singular—use a singular verb).
None of the apples are ripe. (apples –plural use plural verb)
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Subject-Verb Agreement
9. Don’t be confused by either/or , neither/nor.
Either Ryan or Rico is (singular) here. (Both parts are singular, so use a
singular verb).
Neither the boys nor the girls are (plural) are here. (Both parts are
plural so use plural verb).
Neither the boys nor their mother is (singular) here. (One part is plural
and one part is singular. The singular part comes right before the verb,
so use a singular verb).
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Subject-Verb Agreement
9. Don’t be confused by either/or , neither/nor.
Neither the boys nor their mother is (singular) here. (One part is
plural and one part is singular. The singular part comes right before
the verb, so use a singular verb).

Neither the mother nor her sons are (plural) here.

(One part is plural and one part is singular. The plural part comes
right before the verb, so use a plural verb).
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
9. Don’t be confused by either/or , neither/nor.
WRONG: Either Jem or Mel are dancing the part of Cinderella in
the ballet.

RIGTH:
Either Jem or Mel is dancing the part of Cinderella in the ballet.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
10. Don’t be confused by noun phrases referring to a single unit.
Sometimes a noun phrase sounds plural but describes something we
think of as a single unit. These noun phrases take a singular verb.

Ex: Spaghetti and meatballs is (singular) my favorite dinner.

Ice cream and cake is (singular) my favorite dessert.
Broccoli and spinach are (plural) my favorite vegetables. (we didn’t
think of broccoli and spinach as parts of a single unit).
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
11. Don’t be confused by nouns that look plural but are actually
singular
The news (singular) is bad.
Measles (singular) is contagious.
Mumps (singular) is contagious too.
Mathematics (singular) is my easiest subject.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
12. Don’t be confused by some – ics nouns that can be either singular
or plural.
SINGULAR:
Politics is an interesting career.
PLURAL:
The politics in the presidential campaign were mighty dirty.
SINGULAR:
The statistics of the game is not good for our team.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
13. Don’t be confused by the plural forms of foreign words.
Wrong:
The data shows that the boys watch more sports on TV than girls
watch.
Right:
The data (plural form of datum) show (plural verb) that the boys
watch more sports on TV than girls watch.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Subject-Verb Agreement
14. Don’t be confused by mathematical phrases.
Wrong:
One and one are two.
(If you are talking about one dog, and one cat, you would use are.
In this case, “one and one” is an idea or concept, not two separate
numbers standing side by side).
Right: One and one is two.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:
Subject-Verb Agreement
14. Don’t be confused by mathematical phrases.
Wrong:
Five times six are thirty.
(“Five times six” is an idea. Have you ever seen a five go up and times a six?)

Right:
Five times six is thirty.
Basic steps in Intelligence Report Writing:

Active and Passive Voice

A verb is active if its subject performs the action.
Josie discussed intelligence report writing.

A verb is passive if its action is performed upon the subject.

Intelligence report writing was discussed by Josie.