When you have completed all or most of your research, you
are ready to start writing the report.
Your first attempt at writing the whole report is called the
draft report.
Before beginning to write your first draft, place your research
plan where you can easily refer to it and organise all the
information you have collected into sections corresponding
to the plan. You don’t need to include title page, table of
contents or summary at this stage. Begin by writing, going
straight to writing up your research findings.
Compose the draft as fast as possible, concentrating on its
content, expressing accurately your research and including
everything you want to say. It’s likely that once you start,
ideas will come pouring out. If you come to a standstill,
leave that part for now and go ahead to another section.
If you are composing the draft on computer it will be easy
to add, delete or change.
USE OF LANGUAGE
Below are some recommendations involving the type of language
to use in your report.
1. Use words familiar to your reader and avoid jargon
(which is specialised or pretentious language). If you introduce
any new terms define them for your reader.
Example: which of the following alternatives is a better
choice for your report?:
A. The use of testing procedures was recommended
OR
B. The utilisation of testing procedures was recommended
Comment: A is preferable. "Utilisation" is a pretentious
way of saying "use"
Activity
Your turn!
The information
will appear on the screen
OR
The information
will appear on the VDU
2. Avoid slang and colloquial expressions.
These are out of place in your report.
Example: which of the following alternatives is a better
choice for your report?:
A. Prices had skyrocketed
OR
B. Prices had increased significantly
Comment: B is preferable. "Skyrocketed" is a colloquial
expression.
Activity
Your turn!
Prices
were over the top
OR
Prices
had increased significantly
3.Contracted forms are colloquial usage. They
are out of place in your report.
Example: which of the following alternatives is a better
choice for your report?:
A. It is
OR
B. It's
Comment: B is a contracted form. Use A instead
Activity
Your turn!
Didn't
OR
Did not
4. The third person is more formal
language and more suitable for your report.
Example: which of the following alternatives
is a better choice for your report?:
A. It is evident that
OR
B. I think that
Comment: B is in the first person. Use A
instead
Activity
Your turn!
The mining
site was investigated
OR
I investigated
the mining site
EDITING CHECKLIST
Use this checklist in conjunction with the structure
of a report guidelines to help you edit your report.
Is all the information relevant?
Has all the necessary information been included?
Is the information organised so that it clearly and effectively
conveys the message?
Are the recommendations supported by the facts?
Is the report grammatically correct?
Is the report free of spelling mistakes?
Did you use research to support your analysis?
Did you reference all appropriate information?
Did you use space appropriately?
Is there consistency in your heading and formatting?
