Reports
Source: https://learninglab.rmit.edu.au/assessments/reports/ Parent: https://learninglab.rmit.edu.au/
Reports are a very common assignment type at university. In this section, you'll find resources to help you understand different report types and how to structure them.
Reports provide structured and factual information, narrating the investigation or problem-solving process. They typically offer practical outcomes and recommendations and are written to address a specific need, issue, or question.
Purpose of a report
An academic report can document a trial, experiment, investigation or intervention. Some examples include:
- business reports that analyse business issues or opportunities, providing insights and recommendations to help decision-makers strategise and improve operations
- scientific reports that detail the methodology, results, and conclusions of research or experiments
- engineering reports that seek to document technical processes, analyses, and outcomes related to engineering projects
Report topics
In some cases, students will be given a topic or list of topics that they need to conduct their report on. For example, they may be given a scenario in which a company or organisation is experiencing a problem. Students then need to analyse the issue and come up with solutions or recommendations to overcome it.
In other cases, students will be asked to come up with their own topic for their report, often within certain guidelines or subject areas.
If you have been asked to come up with your own topic, it is important that you take a few things into consideration:
- Your topic should not be so broad that you will not be able to explore it in a satisfactory way. For example, if you have a 2000-word essay, you will not be able to come up with solutions to significant issues like the global cost of living crisis.
Instead, you can narrow down your topic by adding limiting statements to it. For example, you could specify a timeframe, location, population group or specific aspect. Then your topic might look something like:
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
Examine the currentScreen reader users, this is a timeframe. cost of living crisis is affecting familiesScreen reader users, this is a population group. in Victoria, Australia,Screen reader users, this is a location. and provide suggestions for how the Victorian Government can ease the burden on families. - At the same time, your topic should not be so narrow that it will make it hard for you to research and meet the required word limit. An example of a report topic that is too narrow in scope is:\ Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
The impact of a single mindfulness sessionScreen reader users, this is a limiting phrase. on the reading comprehension skills of maleScreen reader users, this is a limiting word. year 8 studentsScreen reader users, this is a limiting phrase. at Greenfield High SchoolScreen reader users, this is a limiting phrase. during the second week of Term 3Screen reader users, this is a limiting phrase. in 2024Screen reader users, this is a limiting phrase..
Sources to use in a report
Where you source the information for your report from will depend on the type of report you have been asked to write. Examples of sources include:
- academic journals
- books and textbooks
- online databases
- government reports and publications
- industry reports
- company websites
- annual reports
- news articles
- interviews and surveys
- conference proceedings
- professional associations
- government reports and statistics
Further resources
[### Job Board Ad: Business Resilience Officer
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Keywords
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