Longer documents that inform decisions.
WHAT A REPORT IS FOR
Supporting a decision, or recording findings.
WHAT STRUCTURE WORKS
A summary The question or purpose What you did What you found What it means What you recommend Detail, appended
WHY THE SUMMARY MATTERS MOST
Most readers read only it.
WHAT IT SHOULD CONTAIN
The question, the answer, and the recommendation.
HOW LONG
A few sentences to a page, depending on the report.
WHAT TO WRITE LAST
The summary.
WHY
You do not know the conclusion until you have written the rest.
WHAT TO PUT IN THE BODY
Evidence, organised by point rather than chronology.
WHY NOT CHRONOLOGY
Readers want conclusions, not your process.
WHAT TO PUT IN APPENDICES
Data, methodology, and anything only some readers need.
WHAT TO AVOID
Presenting findings without interpretation Recommendations unsupported by the findings Length that signals effort rather than value
WHY THAT LAST ONE
Long reports are skimmed, which defeats the purpose.
WHAT TO STATE ABOUT LIMITATIONS
What the findings do not establish.
WHY
It is what a careful reader looks for, and its absence undermines trust.
WHAT TO NUMBER
Sections, for reference in discussion.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE CIRCULATING
Have someone unfamiliar read the summary.
