9.1 Report Writing - Citations, References and Appendices

1) APA (6th edition) Citation Style from TP Library
A wonderful resource from one of my favourite libraries! Gives clear examples on how to do in-text citations and present your references. Online tools and cheat sheets provided.

2) How to Write an Appendix
Great video on how to prepare your appendices:

8.1 Report Writing - Executive Summary

Practise, practise, practise

The following is a template of the Executive Summary based on the report on "Dover Polytechnic":

Executive Summary

This report investigates the reasons for______________________________ and recommends ways for _________________________________________. Areas covered include ______________,  ______________,   ___________ and  ______________.

Informal interviews, personal observations made during visits to the canteen, magazines and newspaper research, and a survey of 200 customers revealed that more students than staff use the canteen in the previous week. The majority of patrons  ______________________________. Most canteen users also found the quality of food to be mediocre or poor. The installation of new vending machines and the lack of sufficient healthy choices on the menu also contributed to the decline in the use of the canteen. The canteen also ______________________________.  Other contributing factors include ______________________________.

In conclusion, reasons for the drop in patronage of the canteen include ______________________________,  the new food court across the polytechnic and the new vending machines. The short operating hours of the canteen and ______________________________ further compounded the problem. Last but not least, the music played by the new juke box machine, the noise level and ______________________________ made the ambience of the canteen rather unbearable.

It is recommended that ______________________________.  Frequent changes made to the menu to include more healthy meals might also give patrons more choices. Another suggestion is ____________________________ to cater to the needs of staff wanting to have breakfast or an early lunch. To make the canteen more appealing to both staff and students alike, ______________________________ and more soothing music could be played by the juke box machine during peak hours. To solve the problem of the peak hour crowd, ______________________________. This may also help reduce noise level during peak hours.

7.1 Report Writing - Wrapping it up

Conclude and Recommend

1) Report Writing: Conclusion

A good summary of the key points of the Conclusion section. Includes an online exercise.

2) Report Writing: Recommendations

A grammar exercise related to the Recommendations section.

6.1 Report Writing - Using Visuals

Enhance data, not Replace

1) Communication Data in a Visual Way on Slideshare
A great summary of how to use different types of visuals like bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs.

Communicating Data In A Visual Way from Ciprian Rusen

2) Incorporating Visuals by James Dubinsky, Marie C. Paretti, Mark Armstrong
An informative website explaining how to use the various types of visuals aids.

5.1 Report Writing - Questionnaire

Resources

1) How to Write a Survey or Questionnaire - Video
An informative video on how to get started on your survey.

2) Designing a Survey - Web article
A very detailed article explaining the different types of questions with good and bad examples.

3) Using Google form to create your survey
Access the step-by-step guide on this page or start off with a video introduction:

4.1 Report Writing - Introduction

Identify problem, survey audience, offer solutions

Watch this extract from Super Size Me to start thinking of a problem that many people face around the world:

Start thinking about a problem that you see happening in your own context, that is, your school or your community.

What problems do you see?

Post your ideas in the comments below.

3.2 Paragraph Writing

Paragraph in a Burger

Parts of a Paragraph

Flickr: Enokson

Summarize the following article by writing one paragraph:

TodayOnline: 74% polled cite competition as key challenge

Post your paragraph below.