Summary RULES FOR REPORT WRITING / GRAPH DESCRIPTIONS

RULES FOR REPORT WRITING / GRAPH
DESCRIPTIONS
Graph Description
 No title
 No headings
 No bullet points
 Introduction / main body / conclusion (3 paragraphs – 1 each)
 Introduction
 1-sentence paragraph
 This [graph] shows… ([graph] à line graph, bar chart, pie chart)
 Main body
 3 to 5 sentences
 X and y axes
 Starting point (at what point (percentage / dollars?) does the graph start
out?)
 Don’t overload the reader with numbers
 Trends
 Use proper graph terminology (see handout)!
 E.g., increase / deteriorate / fluctuate / peak / bottom out / remain
stable
 Conclusion
 In conclusion,
 Mention/recap/summarize the main trends
 Mention/deal with all aspects
 Two sentences
 Length: 120-140


General
 Formal language / business-like
 Introduction / main body / conclusion
 Write in proper paragraphs (block paragraphs)
 Write proper sentences (full stop at the end, capital at the start)
 Avoid I / we / you
 Avoid exclamation marks and question marks
 Write small numbers out! (1 to 10 à one to ten)
 Proper use of FANBOYS (connect two independent clauses, e.g. ‘He is sick, so he will
stay home.’)
 Avoid using FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) at the start of a sentence
 Alternate words:
 And à Furthermore, / Moreover, / In addition, / Additionally
 But à However, / Nevertheless, / On the other hand
 So à Therefore, / For this sentence
 Use linking words (well!)
 Avoid contractions (e.g., shouldn’t à should not / he’s à he is)
 Avoid informal language / colloquialisms à lots / a lot / a little / a bit / expressions /
idioms / wanna / gonna / kids / any phrase with the verb ‘get’
 Avoid abbreviations (e.g. etc.)
 Avoid being repetitive (so don’t use the same word all the time)