ACADEMIC REPORT WRITING

PRESENTED BY
SAM SAMSON
BROAD OBJECTIVE
• By the end of the presentation, learners should be
able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in writing
an academic report
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:
1. Define a report
2. State the purpose of a report
3. List the types of reports
4. Describe each type of a report
CONT’D
5. Describe the structure of a report
6.State the layout of a detailed report
7. State the characteristics of effective report content
8. State the tips of a presentation
9. Describe the formats of a report
INTRODUCTION
All professions depend on reports:
• NURSING
• POLICE
• TEACHING and ETC
DEFINTION
• A report is a description of events, experiences,
occurences or observations.
• A report is a very formal document that is written for
a variety of purposes
PURPOSES
• To disseminate information
• To give feedback
• To keep information for record purpose
TYPES
• Informational
• Analytical
INFORMATIONAL
• Reports where you just report what happened, e.g:
a report on a workshop : what has been covered
A report on a health visit to a nearby community or
school
ANALYTICAL (SCIENTIFIC)
• You present the information
• The information(data) is analyzed and presented. E.g.
to conduct a research on cholera outbreak
• Analyze, present a report
OTHER TYPES OF REPORTS
• Reports can also be classified according to their
content as follows:
EYE WITNESS REPORT
Given by the one who observed the event taking place
OTHER TYPES OF REPORTS
WORK REPORTS
• Progress report- periodic reports of work.
• Completion reports- final progress report
• Single work report-on work of limited scope or
duration
 OTHER TYPES REPORTS
 RECOMMENDATION REPORTS
Advising on action to be taken
ORAL REPORTS
Reports made at meetings of society which reduce the use of
language to a minimum
ROUTINE REPORTS
Mostly submitted on redesigned forms which reduce the use of
language to a minimum
• Forms part of everyday work
TYPES CONT’D
SPECIAL REPORTS
• These are once only reports called for by a superior, a
colleague or a customer, under special circumstances
• Special reports from individuals may also be called for
by an organization or a manager
STRUCTURE OF A REPORT
1. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
Title
Introduction
 Body -Subheadings ( The body, sub-headed)
1. nurses uniform
2. Allowances
Conclusion
Recommendations
STRUCTURE CONT’D
2. ANALYTICAL REPORT
• Title
• Introduction
• Methods
1. Questionnaire
2. Interviews
• Findings
• Discussion
 INFORMATIONAL
 TITLE --A report on nurses annual meeting,………written
by…..
Introduction
 Body -Subheadings
1. nurses uniform
2. Allowances
Conclusion
Recommendations
ANALYTICAL REPORT
• Title- A report on cholera outbreak at Gawanani ….. Written by ……
• Introduction
METHODS
• You mention methods that were used to collect information. E.g.
Observations
 Interviews
 Questionnaire
• State what they actually covered, E.g:
• What the questionnaire actually covered and to whom the questionnaire was
submitted
 FINDINGS
FINDINGS
• Focus on what the questionnaire found,
e.g. people don’t drink treated water, therefore link this to your
problem or topic: e.g. How does the untreated water link to
cholera?
• Relate your findings to the question you are addressing in your
report
• Reasons for writing the report: e.g. why this place is annually hit
by cholera and what the solution would be .
LAYOUT OF DETAILED REPORT
• A title page showing what by whom
• A table of contents
• A synopsis (outline) of findings, conclusion and recommendations
• Clearly headed subdivisions of the main text with cross references to
the appendices.
• Appendices to which are transferred detailed information which
would prevent the reader’s quick assimilation of the main facts.
E.g. charts, tables of figures verbatim(exact) statements, sub-report,
definitions of terms
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE
REPORT CONTENT
• Accurate
• Complete – include all information necessary for readers to
understand the situation, problems etc.
• Balanced – present all sides of the issue fairly and equitably and
include all the essential information even if some of the
information does not support your line of reasoning.
• Clear and logic – make sure sentences are uncluttered, contain
well chosen words and proceed logically.
• Documented properly.
 TIPS ON PRESENTATION

• Ensure the separate parts of your report stand out clearly

• Use subheadings
• Allow generous spacing between elements of your report
• Use dot point/ numbers/ letters to articulate these elements
• Use tables, figures ( graphs, illustrations, maps etc) for
clarification.
• Number each page
TIPS ON PRESENTATION
• Use consistent and appropriate formatting
• Use formal language.
• Should be easy to read
FORMATS OF REPORT
1. LETTER FORMAT
• Similar to a letter with two addressed as in business letter.
• The body is subdivided into headings
• Longer
2. MEMO FORMAT
• Subdivided into headings
• Used within the organization
 FORMATS OF REPORT CONT’D
3. MANUSCRIPT
• Report with very descriptive title
• Best suited for analytical
• The title is very descriptive i.e.
Who compiled the report
Where what is being reported was held
Date conducted
Place conducted
REPORT FORMATS CONT’D
4. BARE FORMAT
• Doesn’t belong to any of the 3
• E.g. A report on workshop held on ……..
•THE END