Report Definition A report aims to inform or to evaluate something in a factual way. It may e.g. be written for the management of a company to help make decisions. It contains suggestions and recommendations based on evidence. Diagrams, tables or other infographics are often used. Structure and layout Start your report with the date of the report, the writer and the subject (Date: / From: / Subject:). In order to make the report reader-friendly, divide it into clear sections with the following headings. Introduction (usually just one sentence) Findings (usually consists of more than one paragraph; use one paragraph for each idea and linking words to connect paragraphs) Conclusion (often no more than one sentence) and Recommendations (if appropriate) Style and register Use neutral and factual language and a formal register (no contractions, no colloquial expressions). If possible, use standard phrases to make the report sound more professional. In order to avoid the personal ‘I’ (except when making suggestions or recommendations in the last part), the passive is frequently used in reports. T IP: Remember the ABC of factual reports: Accuracy (be exact, make sure facts are correct), Brevity (keep it short and to the point), Clarity (make sure everyone understands). Useful expressions The aim of this report is to point out / compare the advantages and disadvantages of … This report tries to show that … This report is intended to … / aims to … It is obvious / was found that … … clearly shows that … Most people seem to feel that … Several people explained / said / suggested / thought that … The current situation is satisfactory / unsatisfactory / disappointing for … because … It was concluded/agreed/decided that … In conclusion/concluding it can be said that … To summarise, … I /We would therefore recommend / suggest … It is recommended / suggested that … Sample task The Future of Europe is a youth organisation that has invited young people to write reports on their situation in the labour market. You have decided to send in a report on youth unemployment in Austria. You have found an interesting graph online. In your report, you should: ■■ explain the importance of youth employment ■■ analyse trends in youth employment referring to the graph on the right ■■ suggest what could be done to reduce youth unemployment in Austria Write about 250 words. Divide your report into sections and give them headings. 197 W Writing guide Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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