• Why am I writing the report? To supply information so someone can make a decision? To recommend a procedure? To report findings?

• How much does my reader know about the subject? Must I fill in background information or will this slow the reader?

• How much detail is needed? Is a summary needed? Would an appendix be a better way to include details?

• Will my reader accept statements of fact? If not, should all my authorities be clearly documented?

• Should the report be purely factual? Is my opinion expected?

• How should I lay out the text?

• Title

• Writer's name and organisation

• Date of issue

• To whom it is being presented to

• Distribution and confidentiality

• Purpose of investigation

• Major findings, conclusions or recommendations

• Coverage or scope

• Main headings/chapters and page numbers

• Illustrations, charts, diagrams (usually listed separately)

Should provide background to inform any reader who is unfamiliar with the report subject. The reader should know :

• what the subject is about

• understand why the report was written

• be interested in reading more

• Investigations and findings (what you tried to do, what you did, what you found out)

• Summary of findings, deductions, trends from findings.

• Interpretations and recommendations.

• Supporting details, information

• Usage of tables, charts, diagrams, graphs or pictures (as many as possible)

Index