Report Writing Tips

REPORT WRITING TIPSFROM JASON PANG

http://www.jasonpang.net/reference/word_report.pdf

GENERAL TIPS

SECTION 1

STRUCTURE IT1. Make an Outline

2. Introduction

3. Body

1. Body Point One1. Chart One

2. Graph One

2. Body Point Two1. Graph Two

3. Body Point Three1. Chart Two

4. Conclusion

Then, fill in your report according to the outline.

Remember speil cheek to and pfofread

NOTHER MAKES YOU LOOK STUPDIR THAN

CONSIDER THIS(GRAMMAR & SPELL CHECKER)

(Bad)

Ann, while Bob had had “had,” had had “had had”. “Had had” had had a better effect on the teacher.

Their are two many “had” words they’re, but no grammar mistakes.

(Better)

Ann, while Bob answered “had,” had answered “had had.” The teacher liked “had had” better as an answer.

There are many spelling mistakes there!

Ask your friend to to proofread it for you to.

YOU’LL BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU MISSED!

MONTHSLike this:

8 October 2013

2013-1-13

Not this:

8/10/13

13/1/13

AND KEEP YOUR FORMATTING CONSISTENT.

SAVE, SAVE,

SAVE!

Print it and look over the print form – print is much different from digital.

STYLE TIPS

SECTION 2

STYLEMake top-headings large (28pt here)

2nd-level headings = at least 3pt smaller (24)

Body font reads better in a serif font while headings read better in a sans-serif font. The contrast between headings in sans-serif and body in serif makes the report look well designed.

Image source: http://www.laurenelisecrafted.com/blog/2011/1/28/font-fridays-vol-iii.html

CONSISTENT FONTSSans-serif:

This is the Arial font

This is Helvetica

This is Tahoma

Serif:

Times New Roman

Georgia

Cambria

(I can see the difference. Can you? So, don’t copy-paste.)

Comic Sans Is EVIL!Never, ever, EVER use comic sans for a report. (In fact, it should be un-invented altogether)

LINE-SPACINGLine-spacing at 1.5 is generally a good amount of spacing to

make a report very readable. You can see here that 1.5 is quite

comfortable to read.

In some cases, you could probably get away with a 1.3 line-

spacing setting. It’s still readable, though not as comfortable.

But many teachers prefer line-spacing of 2.0. Be sure to follow

the guidelines set forth by your teacher.

MARGINS1 inch margins please (2.54 cm)

PARAGRAPHSYou have the option to either indent your paragraphs

(typically 5 spaces) using the TAB key, or you need to include

one line of space between non-indented paragraphs.

See how awkward this is with no space here?

See how much better this is?

If you don’t indent, be sure to leave a line of space so we know

where each new paragraph starts.

CONSISTENT STYLELists:

• This has a period.

• This doesn’t

• Choose one

• And stick with it

Tables:

Stick to one convention, and don’t deviate.

Also. Should.

Stick with. One style.

“REPORT BODY”

“TABLE OF CONTENTS”

DON’T TITLE THESE SECTIONS

BEST PRACTICES

SECTION 2

APA PAPER FORMATTINGFont: Times New Roman

Size: 12pt

Line-spacing: Double

Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm)

Indent: With TAB (5 spaces)

Right-Justify: OFF

Header: Top-right corner w/ page #

Title: Centered