Research students

SECTION III


REPORTING AND PRESENTATIONS


For many researchers delivering reports is an important and regular part of their work. Although reports tend to be conventional in organization and style, still they are made according to certain patterns.

A successful report should consist of:

1. 
   an introductory paragraph which clearly states the purpose and content of the report;
   
2. 
   a main body in which the relevant information is presented in detail under suitable subheadings; and
   
3. 
   a conclusion which summarizes the information given, and may include an opinion and/or suggestion/recommendation.
   

Points to consider

• 
  Give your report an appropriate title, then carefully plan the information you will present. Think of suitable subheadings, then decide on the information you will include under each subheading. The subheadings should be used to indicate the beginning of each new section. Use linking words to join your ideas.
  
• 
  Before you write your report you should think who the report is addressed to.
  
• 
  Reports should be written in a formal style. Its characteristics are: complex sentences, non-colloquial English, frequent use of the passive, linking words/phrases, useful formal language.
  

There are various types of reports, such as assessment reports, informative reports, survey reports, proposal reports, work reports, investigation reports, research reports.

Postgraduate students may eventually be asked to produce a research report.

The contents and organization of the research report are predictable and include statements or information about the following:

• 
  the problem to be studied and why this problem is of interest;
  
• 
  the purpose of or rationale for the present study;
  
• 
  a summary of other research that has been done;
  
• 
  the design of the experiment, if there is any, including the subjects, the variables/factors tested in the experiment and how and what type of information was obtained;
  
• 
  what the findings tell us about the problem;
  
• 
  areas for further research.