Report Writing
A ‘report’ is a concise and accurate statement of information. In other words, a report is an
account of events, meetings, projects, research etc., which presents information in an objective
and organized manner.
Principles of writing an effective report:
1. To identify the most important or salient facts of what is being reported.
2. To present them in a clear and logical manner
3. To state them in a simple and straightforward manner.
Importance of Reports:
1. They inform others of the results of your efforts (e.g. a report on the working of the NSS
and NCC units.)
2. They are a record that can be referred to or which can form the basis for further action or
decisions (e.g. a report on the level of employment among the youth in the state)
3. They can serve as legal documents (e.g. a report on the monthly meeting of a panchayat
samiti.)
4. They may conclude a project (e.g. an annual report on the activities of the college cultural
society).
Features of a good report:
1. It should be precise and to the point. Nothing extra or irrelevant should be included as its
reduces its effectiveness.
2. It should be accurate. Only facts should be included and they must be given in correct
and clear language.
3. It should be clear and systematic.
4. It should be objective. Any personal opinion should either be excluded or it should be
made very clear that they are not facts but your own opinions.
5. It should be reader-oriented.
6. It should be free from jargons, repetitions or complicated sentences.
Types of Reports:
1. Reports on events
2. Reports on meetings, seminar, speeches, etc.
3. Reports on experiments, surveys, etc.
4. Reports on interviews.
How to write a report:
, 1. What? (clear idea of what you are writing about)
2. Why? (the aims that the report should achieve)
3. Who? (who the report is meant for, is the reader specialized or general)
4. How? (collection of data, statistics and other information through research. Sorting of the
material and removal of the less important)
5. Make a brief outline. It enables you to logically arrange the material.
6. In view of the ‘objective’ of the report, arrange the material gathered and decide its
length, divisions, headings etc.
7. Arrange the main points and sub-points in a logical way.
8. Note which fact goes under heading and which under sub-heading.
9. Revise to eliminate repetition, vagueness, contradictions etc.
10. Thereafter, make a rough draft of the report with the help of the outline and the notes.
11. Three main parts:
(a) Introduction (subject, scope & purpose of the report are stated)
(b) body (a detailed account of the subject with figures, graphs, tables etc.)
(c) Conclusion (a summary of the observations, suggestions and recommendations).
Newspaper Report Writing example:
A ‘report’ is a concise and accurate statement of information. In other words, a report is an
account of events, meetings, projects, research etc., which presents information in an objective
and organized manner.
Principles of writing an effective report:
1. To identify the most important or salient facts of what is being reported.
2. To present them in a clear and logical manner
3. To state them in a simple and straightforward manner.
Importance of Reports:
1. They inform others of the results of your efforts (e.g. a report on the working of the NSS
and NCC units.)
2. They are a record that can be referred to or which can form the basis for further action or
decisions (e.g. a report on the level of employment among the youth in the state)
3. They can serve as legal documents (e.g. a report on the monthly meeting of a panchayat
samiti.)
4. They may conclude a project (e.g. an annual report on the activities of the college cultural
society).
Features of a good report:
1. It should be precise and to the point. Nothing extra or irrelevant should be included as its
reduces its effectiveness.
2. It should be accurate. Only facts should be included and they must be given in correct
and clear language.
3. It should be clear and systematic.
4. It should be objective. Any personal opinion should either be excluded or it should be
made very clear that they are not facts but your own opinions.
5. It should be reader-oriented.
6. It should be free from jargons, repetitions or complicated sentences.
Types of Reports:
1. Reports on events
2. Reports on meetings, seminar, speeches, etc.
3. Reports on experiments, surveys, etc.
4. Reports on interviews.
How to write a report:
, 1. What? (clear idea of what you are writing about)
2. Why? (the aims that the report should achieve)
3. Who? (who the report is meant for, is the reader specialized or general)
4. How? (collection of data, statistics and other information through research. Sorting of the
material and removal of the less important)
5. Make a brief outline. It enables you to logically arrange the material.
6. In view of the ‘objective’ of the report, arrange the material gathered and decide its
length, divisions, headings etc.
7. Arrange the main points and sub-points in a logical way.
8. Note which fact goes under heading and which under sub-heading.
9. Revise to eliminate repetition, vagueness, contradictions etc.
10. Thereafter, make a rough draft of the report with the help of the outline and the notes.
11. Three main parts:
(a) Introduction (subject, scope & purpose of the report are stated)
(b) body (a detailed account of the subject with figures, graphs, tables etc.)
(c) Conclusion (a summary of the observations, suggestions and recommendations).
Newspaper Report Writing example:
