university assignments reports

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Report writing

What is a report and how does it differ from writing an essay? Reports are concise and have a formal structure. They are often used to communicate the results or findings of a project.

Essays by contrast are often used to show a tutor what you think about a topic. They are discursive and the structure can be left to the discretion of the writer.

Who and what is the report for?

Before you write a report, you need to be clear about who you are writing the report for and why the report has been commissioned.

Keep the audience in mind as you write your report, think about what they need to know. For example, the report could be for:

• the general public
• academic staff
• senior management
• a customer/client.

Reports are usually assessed on content, structure, layout, language, and referencing. You should consider the focus of your report, for example:

• Are you reporting on an experiment?
• Is the purpose to provide background information?
• Should you be making recommendations for action?

Language of report writing

Reports use clear and concise language, which can differ considerably from essay writing.

They are often broken down in to sections, which each have their own headings and sub-headings. These sections may include bullet points or numbering as well as more structured sentences. Paragraphs are usually shorter in a report than in an essay.

Both essays and reports are examples of academic writing. You are expected to use grammatically correct sentence structure, vocabulary and punctuation.

Academic writing is formal so you should avoid using apostrophes and contractions such as “it’s” and "couldn't". Instead, use “it is” and “could not”.

Structure and organisation

Reports are much more structured than essays. They are divided in to sections and sub-sections that are formatted using bullet points or numbering.

Report structures do vary among disciplines, but the most common structures include the following:

The title page needs to be informative and descriptive, concisely stating the topic of the report.

Abstract (or Executive Summary in business reports)

The abstract is a brief summary of the context, methods, findings and conclusions of the report. It is intended to give the reader an overview of the report before they continue reading, so it is a good idea to write this section last.

An executive summary should outline the key problem and objectives, and then cover the main findings and key recommendations.

Table of contents

Readers will use this table of contents to identify which sections are most relevant to them. You must make sure your contents page correctly represents the structure of your report.

Take a look at this sample contents page.

Introduction

In your introduction you should include information about the background to your research, and what its aims and objectives are. You can also refer to the literature in this section; reporting what is already known about your question/topic, and if there are any gaps. Some reports are also expected to include a section called ‘Terms of references’, where you identify who asked for the report, what is covers, and what its limitations are.

Methodology

If your report involved research activity, you should state what that was, for example you may have interviewed clients, organised some focus groups, or done a literature review. The methodology section should provide an accurate description of the material and procedures used so that others could replicate the experiment you conducted.

Results/findings

The results/findings section should be an objective summary of your findings, which can use tables, graphs, or figures to describe the most important results and trends. You do not need to attempt to provide reasons for your results (this will happen in the discussion section).

In the discussion you are expected to critically evaluate your findings. You may need to re-state what your report was aiming to prove and whether this has been achieved. You should also assess the accuracy and significance of your findings, and show how it fits in the context of previous research.

Conclusion/recommendations

Your conclusion should summarise the outcomes of your report and make suggestions for further research or action to be taken. You may also need to include a list of specific recommendations as a result of your study.

The references are a list of any sources you have used in your report. Your report should use the standard referencing style preferred by your school or department eg Harvard, Numeric, OSCOLA etc.

You should use appendices to expand on points referred to in the main body of the report. If you only have one item it is an appendix, if you have more than one they are called appendices. You can use appendices to provide backup information, usually data or statistics, but it is important that the information contained is directly relevant to the content of the report.

Appendices can be given alphabetical or numerical headings, for example Appendix A, or Appendix 1. The order they appear at the back of your report is determined by the order that they are mentioned in the body of your report. You should refer to your appendices within the text of your report, for example ‘see Appendix B for a breakdown of the questionnaire results’. Don’t forget to list the appendices in your contents page.

Presentation and layout

Reports are written in several sections and may also include visual data such as figures and tables. The layout and presentation is therefore very important.

Your tutor or your module handbook will state how the report should be presented in terms of font sizes, margins, text alignment etc.

You will need good IT skills to manipulate graphical data and work with columns and tables. If you need to improve these skills, try the following online resources:

• Microsoft online training through Linkedin Learning
• Engage web resource on using tables and figures in reports

Key features of academic reports

Written assignments

Explore common components in academic reports you could use in your studies

You may need to submit multiple academic reports during your degree. Here, we explore the general features of academic reports.

You course will probably only need some of these features, and you have other requirements that aren't included here. Report requirements vary across departments so you should check your course handbook or ask your subject tutor or lecturer if you're unsure what you need in your report.

Key parts of an academic report

A report is different to an essay . There is no single right way to structure a report – the structure depends on the purpose. In general, however, academic reports feature some of the sections below.

1. Title page

2. author declaration.

This is a form you need to sign and include with any report or essay written that you submit confirm that the assignment is entirely your own work. You can pick up these forms at your faculty department office.

3. Abstract (or Executive Summary)

An abstract is a short (around 150 words) summary of the whole report. It should be written last. Unlike a conclusion, the abstract needs to include a brief overview of all the stages of the report, not just the results. One purpose of an abstract is to give just enough information to enable a prospective reader to judge whether they need to read the full report.

If you are new to writing abstracts, one approach is to write one or two sentences to represent each of the sections of your report. Have a look at abstracts or executive summaries in reports in the Library or online to get an idea of the style they use.

4. Acknowledgements

This is a separate page acknowledging the support of those people who have contributed to the assignment. An acknowledgements page is normally necessary only in major reports.

5. Table of Contents

This should list clearly all the sections and subsections of your report and the page numbers where each of those sections begins. A common (but not compulsory) way to organise reports is to use hierarchically numbered headings.

For example:

After the Table of Contents comes a separate list of any tables, charts or diagrams that you have included in the report. Tables should be called ‘Table 1 [plus the title]’, ‘Table 2’, so on and so forth. Charts or diagrams should be called ‘Figure 1 [plus the title]’, ‘Figure 2’ and so on. Include in this separate list the page number of each table or chart.

6. Introduction

In the introduction you should describe the purpose (aim) of the report and explain why it is necessary and/or useful. Depending on the purpose of the report, you might break down the overall aim into specific objectives. Additionally, you might define key terms (words) that you use in the report, so that your reader is quite clear what you mean when you use those terms.

The following four sections are normally used only in reports about primary (your own) research, such as an experiment, survey or observation. If your report is based entirely on reading, you will probably replace these four sections with a number of topic headings of your choice.

7. Literature review

In this section you describe previous and current thinking and research on the topic. In other words, you report by summarising what others have written about the topic. Because you are reporting others’ work, your literature review will probably contain many in-text citations  to the books and articles you have read. In more scientific research it is common to end the literature review with one or more hypotheses for your own research. In many reports the literature review is incorporated into the introduction and may have a simpler title, such as ‘Background’.

8. Method(s) (or Methodology or Research design)

These three terms – ‘method’, ‘methodology’ and ‘research design’ – actually have slightly different meanings; consult a research methods text for more information. This section, however, is where you tell the reader how you collected the data used in the report (i.e. your methods). You might, for example, describe, step-by-step, an experiment you carried out or describe a situation you observed. This description normally needs to be quite detailed. It is also normally necessary to explain why you collected the data in that way and justify your methods, which may need to be quite detailed.

You might include some in-text references to research methods literature to help explain your choice of methods.

9. Results (or Findings)

This is where you present the results of your research – ‘what you found out’. There should be no discussion or analysis of those results. This section often includes tables or charts.

If you have created one or more hypotheses for your report, you should state in this section whether you can accept or reject them.

10. Discussion of results (or Analysis or Interpretation)

This is often the most important part of a report, because it shows what you think about your results. In the discussion you should comment on your results. This can include:

• Describing and suggesting reasons for any patterns in the results, possibly including anomalies (results that don’t ‘fit in with’ the rest).
• Explaining what you found (perhaps with reference to theory).
• Commenting on how much your findings agree or disagree with the literature.
• Considering the accuracy and reliability of your results (and how the methods you used might have affected that accuracy).
• Considering the implications of your results – what they might mean for your practice, for example.
• Discussing what further research in this area might be useful in future.

11. Conclusions

In the conclusions you summarise the key findings of your report. (Imagine you have to reduce everything you found out down to just five or six sentences.) No new information should be included. It can be helpful to revisit the aim(s) and objectives from your introduction, and perhaps to comment also on how well those aims and objectives have been met.

12. Recommendations

Not all reports include recommendations. But if your report is on a work-related issue or case study, and especially if the issue concerns problem-solving or improving practice, it may well be appropriate to make recommendations. These are suggestions for future action on the issue in the report. Usually, these will be suggestions, arising from your research, which you think will improve a situation.

13. References (or Reference list or Bibliography)

This is a list, written in a very particular style, of the books and articles you read for and used in the report. A bibliography includes all sources you have used whereas a reference list contains only sources you have actually cited in your text.

14. Appendices

Appendices are extra sections at the very back of a report in which supplementary information is stored. This could be tables of data, copies of observation forms or notes, extracts (not photocopies) from large documents (for example, Parliamentary Enquiries) to which you have referred, or any other essential information which you have mentioned in your report and to which you would like your reader to be able to refer. Put each source in a separate Appendix; Appendix A [or 1], Appendix B [or 2], and so on.

Reports and essays: key differences

Essays: task words

Paragraphs main body of an assessment

Related topics

• Critical thinking
• Finding information
• Understanding assessments
• Note-taking
• Time management
• Paraphrasing and quoting
• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

See all available workshops .

Short on time? Watch a video on:

• Essay writing – 6:28
• Paraphrasing and quoting – 22:22
• Using active and passive voice – 9:58
• Editing your work – 5:12

Have any questions? 

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Report writing

Reports are informative writing that present the results of an experiment or investigation to a specific audience in a structured way. Reports are broken up into sections using headings, and can often include diagrams, pictures, and bullet-point lists. They are used widely in science, social science, and business contexts. 

Scroll down for our recommended strategies and resources. 

Difference between reports and essays

Essays and reports are both common types of university assignments. Whilst an essay is usually a continuous piece of writing, a report is divided into sections. See this overview for more on the differences between reports and essays:

Features of reports (University of Reading)

Reports have an expected structure with set sections so information is easy to find. Science reports may have methods and results sections, but business reports may only have a discussion and recommendations section. Always check what type of structure is needed for each report assignment as they may change. See this overview of different types of report structures:

Sample report structures (RMIT University)

Finding your own headings

Sometimes you are given the choice of how to name your sub-headings and structure the main body of your report. This is common in business where the structure has to fit the needs of the information and the client. See this short video on how to find meaningful sub-headings:

Finding your own report structure [video] (University of Reading)

Purpose of each section

Each section of a report has a different role to play and contains different types of information. See this brief overview of what goes where and how to number the sections:

What goes into each section (University of Hull)

Writing style

As well as having a different purpose, each report section is written in a different way and they don’t have to be written in order. See these guides on the style and order for writing a report and on the features of scientific writing:

Writing up your report (University of Reading)

Scientific writing (University of Leeds)

Tables and figures

Reports commonly use graphs and tables to show data more effectively. Always ensure any visual information in your report has a purpose and is referred to in the text. See this introductory guide to presenting data:

Using figures and charts (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Further resources

If you’d like to read more about the structure and style of reports, see this resource and book list created by Brookes Library:

Writing essays, reports and other assignments reading list

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5 tips on writing better university assignments

Lecturer in Student Learning and Communication Development, University of Sydney

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Alexandra Garcia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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University life comes with its share of challenges. One of these is writing longer assignments that require higher information, communication and critical thinking skills than what you might have been used to in high school. Here are five tips to help you get ahead.

1. Use all available sources of information

Beyond instructions and deadlines, lecturers make available an increasing number of resources. But students often overlook these.

For example, to understand how your assignment will be graded, you can examine the rubric . This is a chart indicating what you need to do to obtain a high distinction, a credit or a pass, as well as the course objectives – also known as “learning outcomes”.

Other resources include lecture recordings, reading lists, sample assignments and discussion boards. All this information is usually put together in an online platform called a learning management system (LMS). Examples include Blackboard , Moodle , Canvas and iLearn . Research shows students who use their LMS more frequently tend to obtain higher final grades.

If after scrolling through your LMS you still have questions about your assignment, you can check your lecturer’s consultation hours.

2. Take referencing seriously

Plagiarism – using somebody else’s words or ideas without attribution – is a serious offence at university. It is a form of cheating.

In many cases, though, students are unaware they have cheated. They are simply not familiar with referencing styles – such as APA , Harvard , Vancouver , Chicago , etc – or lack the skills to put the information from their sources into their own words.

To avoid making this mistake, you may approach your university’s library, which is likely to offer face-to-face workshops or online resources on referencing. Academic support units may also help with paraphrasing.

You can also use referencing management software, such as EndNote or Mendeley . You can then store your sources, retrieve citations and create reference lists with only a few clicks. For undergraduate students, Zotero has been recommended as it seems to be more user-friendly.

Using this kind of software will certainly save you time searching for and formatting references. However, you still need to become familiar with the citation style in your discipline and revise the formatting accordingly.

3. Plan before you write

If you were to build a house, you wouldn’t start by laying bricks at random. You’d start with a blueprint. Likewise, writing an academic paper requires careful planning: you need to decide the number of sections, their organisation, and the information and sources you will include in each.

Research shows students who prepare detailed outlines produce higher-quality texts. Planning will not only help you get better grades, but will also reduce the time you spend staring blankly at the screen thinking about what to write next.

During the planning stage, using programs like OneNote from Microsoft Office or Outline for Mac can make the task easier as they allow you to organise information in tabs. These bits of information can be easily rearranged for later drafting. Navigating through the tabs is also easier than scrolling through a long Word file.

4. Choose the right words

Which of these sentences is more appropriate for an assignment?

a. “This paper talks about why the planet is getting hotter”, or b. “This paper examines the causes of climate change”.

The written language used at university is more formal and technical than the language you normally use in social media or while chatting with your friends. Academic words tend to be longer and their meaning is also more precise. “Climate change” implies more than just the planet “getting hotter”.

To find the right words, you can use SkELL , which shows you the words that appear more frequently, with your search entry categorised grammatically. For example, if you enter “paper”, it will tell you it is often the subject of verbs such as “present”, “describe”, “examine” and “discuss”.

Another option is the Writefull app, which does a similar job without having to use an online browser.

5. Edit and proofread

If you’re typing the last paragraph of the assignment ten minutes before the deadline, you will be missing a very important step in the writing process: editing and proofreading your text. A 2018 study found a group of university students did significantly better in a test after incorporating the process of planning, drafting and editing in their writing.

You probably already know to check the spelling of a word if it appears underlined in red. You may even use a grammar checker such as Grammarly . However, no software to date can detect every error and it is not uncommon to be given inaccurate suggestions.

So, in addition to your choice of proofreader, you need to improve and expand your grammar knowledge. Check with the academic support services at your university if they offer any relevant courses.

Written communication is a skill that requires effort and dedication. That’s why universities are investing in support services – face-to-face workshops, individual consultations, and online courses – to help students in this process. You can also take advantage of a wide range of web-based resources such as spell checkers, vocabulary tools and referencing software – many of them free.

Improving your written communication will help you succeed at university and beyond.

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Report writing

• Features of good reports
• Types of Report

Introduction

Organising your information, abstract / executive summary, literature review, results / data / findings, reference list / bibliography.

• Writing up your report

Useful links for report writing

• Study Advice Helping students to achieve study success with guides, video tutorials, seminars and one-to-one advice sessions.
• Maths Support A guide to Maths Support resources which may help if you're finding any mathematical or statistical topic difficult during the transition to University study.

• Academic Phrasebank Use this site for examples of linking phrases and ways to refer to sources.
• Academic writing LibGuide Expert guidance on punctuation, grammar, writing style and proof-reading.
• Reading and notemaking LibGuide Expert guidance on managing your reading and making effective notes.
• Guide to citing references Includes guidance on why, when and how to use references correctly in your academic writing.

The structure of a report has a key role to play in communicating information and enabling the reader to find the information they want quickly and easily. Each section of a report has a different role to play and a writing style suited to that role. Therefore, it is important to understand what your audience is expecting in each section of a report and put the appropriate information in the appropriate sections.

The guidance on this page explains the job each section does and the style in which it is written. Note that all reports are different so you must pay close attention to what you are being asked to include in your assignment brief. For instance, your report may need all of these sections, or only some, or you may be asked to combine sections (e.g. introduction and literature review, or results and discussion). The video tutorial on structuring reports below will also be helpful, especially if you are asked to decide on your own structure.

• Finding a structure for your report (video) Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
• Finding a structure for your report (transcript) Read along while watching the video tutorial.

• When writing an essay, you need to place your information  to make a strong argument
• When writing a report, you need to place your information  in the appropriate section

Consider the role each item will play in communicating information or ideas to the reader, and place it in the section where it will best perform that role. For instance:

• Does it provide background to your research? ( Introduction  or  Literature Review )
• Does it describe the types of activity you used to collect evidence? ( Methods )
• Does it present factual data? ( Results )
• Does it place evidence in the context of background? ( Discussion )
• Does it make recommendations for action? ( Conclusion )

• the purpose of the work
• methods used for research
• main conclusions reached
• any recommendations

The introduction … should explain the rationale for undertaking the work reported on, and the way you decided to do it. Include what you have been asked (or chosen) to do and the reasons for doing it.

- State what the report is about. What is the question you are trying to answer? If it is a brief for a specific reader (e.g. a feasibility report on a construction project for a client), say who they are.

- Describe your starting point and the background to the subject: e.g., what research has already been done (if you have to include a Literature Review, this will only be a brief survey); what are the relevant themes and issues; why are you being asked to investigate it now?

- Explain how you are going to go about responding to the brief. If you are going to test a hypothesis in your research, include this at the end of your introduction. Include a brief outline of your method of enquiry. State the limits of your research and reasons for them, e.g.

Introduce your review by explaining how you went about finding your materials, and any clear trends in research that have emerged. Group your texts in themes. Write about each theme as a separate section, giving a critical summary of each piece of work, and showing its relevance to your research. Conclude with how the review has informed your research (things you'll be building on, gaps you'll be filling etc).

• Literature reviews LibGuide Guide on starting, writing and developing literature reviews.
• Doing your literature review (video) Watch this brief video tutorial for more on the topic.
• Doing your literature review (transcript) Read along while watching the video tutorial.

The methods  should be written in such a way that a reader could replicate the research you have done. State clearly how you carried out your investigation. Explain why you chose this particular method (questionnaires, focus group, experimental procedure etc). Include techniques and any equipment you used. If there were participants in your research, who were they? How many? How were they selected?

Write this section  concisely  but  thoroughly  – Go through what you did step by step, including everything that is relevant. You know what you did, but could a reader follow your description?

Label your graphs and tables clearly. Give each figure a title and describe in words what the figure demonstrates. Save your interpretation of the results for the Discussion section.

The discussion ...is probably the longest section. It brings everything together, showing how your findings respond to the brief you explained in your introduction and the previous research you surveyed in your literature review. This is the place to mention if there were any problems (e.g. your results were different from expectations, you couldn't find important data, or you had to change your method or participants) and how they were, or could have been, solved.

• Writing up your report page More information on how to write your discussion and other sections.

The conclusions ...should be a short section with no new arguments or evidence. This section should give a feeling of closure and completion to your report. Sum up the main points of your research. How do they answer the original brief for the work reported on? This section may also include:

• Recommendations for action
• Suggestions for further research

If you're unsure about how to cite a particular text, ask at the Study Advice Desk on the Ground Floor of the Library or contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for help.

• Contact your Academic Liaison Librarian

The appendices ...include any additional information that may help the reader but is not essential to the report's main findings. The report should be able to stand alone without the appendices. An appendix can include for instance: interview questions; questionnaires; surveys; raw data; figures; tables; maps; charts; graphs; a glossary of terms used.

• A separate appendix should be used for each distinct topic or set of data.
• Order your appendices in the order in which you refer to the content in the text.
• Start each appendix on a separate page and label sequentially with letters or numbers e.g. Appendix A, Appendix B,…
• Give each Appendix a meaningful title e.g. Appendix A: Turnover of Tesco PLC 2017-2021.
• Refer to the relevant appendix where appropriate in the main text e.g. 'See Appendix A for an example questionnaire'.
• If an appendix contains multiple figures which you will refer to individually then label each one using the Appendix letter and a running number e.g. Table B1, Table B2. Do not continue the numbering of any figures in your text, as your text should be able to stand alone without the appendices.
• If your appendices draw on information from other sources you should include a citation and add the full details into your list of references (follow the rules for the referencing style you are using).

For more guidance see the following site:

• Appendices guidance from University of Southern California Detailed guidance on using appendices. Part of the USC's guide to Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper.
• << Previous: Types of Report
• Next: Writing up your report >>
• Last Updated: Apr 30, 2024 10:24 AM
• URL: https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reports

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Formatting your assignments

Illustrated step-by-step guides to help you understand the formatting and presentation expectations of university assignments.

Introduction 

Although formatting your essay, report or dissertation can feel like a lesser priority than the process of research and writing itself, it is an important way to ensure your ideas are given the spotlight through visually accessible, professional presentation. Formatting can be a minefield, especially when you’re formatting at the last minute; it’s important to leave a few days at the end of your essay writing process for working on your formatting, and to spend some time familiarising yourself with the different aspects of formatting.

301 Recommends:

Our Essay Structure and Planning workshop will outline how to analyse your essay question, discuss approaches logically structure all your ideas, help you make your introductions and conclusions more effective, and teach how to link your ideas and ensure all essay content flows logically from the introduction.

Below, you will find some general introductions to the key areas. 

Action: know the rules 

Because formatting rules can vary greatly depending on your department or assignment, it’s crucial to check the formatting specifications in your assignment description/rubric, and any general departmental presentation standards, as a first port of call. Many referencing systems also have specific rules about how to format your work, so make sure to familiarise yourself with the university library’s referencing guides . Many referencing systems also have more detailed style guides available via their websites.

Formatting key information  

Assignment cover sheets .

In some departments, you may be expected to include a cover sheet on the front page of your assignment. This is a page including key information about your assignment, such as your module number, student registration number, essay title, and submission date.

You may be asked to submit a plagiarism declaration and to make your markers aware of any disabilities through the yellow sticker system . If you are asked to include a cover sheet in your assignment, your department should make you aware of where you can access this.

Assignment titles

Place your assignment title at the top of your first page, either centre or left aligned, in bold font. At university, you may be assigned a pre-designed essay title/question, or asked to select from several possible titles. You may also be asked to design your own essay title. Here are some top tips on designing your own title:

• To bring focus to your essay, draft a working title at the essay planning stage. You can come back and review this title in light of your finished essay draft.
• Make sure to use action words in your essay title that reflect the skills your assessors are looking for, both in the assignment description and the marking criteria you have been given. For example, if heavy emphasis is placed on critical analysis, you could use a title like ‘Analyse the effect of…’ See this glossary of essay terms , containing examples that you can use in your own titles. 
• The action words you choose can also help you to reflect the structure of the essay in your question. For example, an essay using the action word ‘Discuss’ might use a for/against/conclusion or advantages/disadvantages/conclusion structure, or an essay using the term ‘Analyse’ might break an issue down into parts, e.g. into key themes, to understand its meaning as a whole. Think about the type of essay you want to write: do you want it to be comparative, look at several topics equally, or do you have a clear argument that you want to put forward? You can then create a question that gives you the opportunity to approach the topic from your own perspective.
• Make sure to include the main terminology you are working with in your assignment title.
• Make sure your question has a realistic scope, without being so broad that you cannot answer it within the limitations of your essay. To limit your question, you could include any limiting factors you are working with, such as specific time periods, geographical regions or sub-themes within the overall topic area. For example, in the title ‘Evaluate the proposition that a global monoculture will destroy diversity and difference’, the broad topic of global monoculture is limited down through a specific sub-focus on diversity and difference.

Stating word counts 

Depending on the instructions you have been given, you may be asked to state your word count, either on your cover sheet or at the beginning of your essay. If you are asked to include this information, make sure your word count accurately reflects the assessment guidance: for example, are references included in your word count?

Visual clarity  

Line spacing .

Most assignment descriptions specify that you should increase the space between each line on the page, from the standard 1.0 spacing to either 1.5 or 2.0 spacing. You are asked to do this to make the essay more visually accessible and easier to read, by breaking up the number of lines on each page. 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to line spacing in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Fonts 

All non-examination based assignments should be word processed rather than handwritten. Most assignment descriptions will specify that for visual clarity, and to ensure a professional appearance, you should use a plain, sans-serif font such as Arial. For readability, this should be in 11 or 12 point size. Check your departmental or assignment guidance for any specific rules about font choices. 

Page numbering, headers and footers  

Including page numbers in your assignments makes them more accessible. Depending on the departmental guidance you have been given, you may be asked to include these in either the header or the footer of your essay (the blank space above and below where the text would go on a normal page in a word processor). It may also be helpful to include your registration number and the module code of the essay in the same header or footers that specify the page number. 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to adding page numbers and using headers and footers in Microsoft Word and Google Docs. 

Page layout   

Margins .

A margin is the amount of blank space on either side of a paragraph in a normal word processor. Traditionally, assignment descriptions specified that the margins should be made wider at the binding edge (the left hand side) of the page, to allow for easier reading of printed essays. However, with the shift to online essays, you might not be asked to do this any more and the default settings on your word processor are likely to be sufficiently wide.

For printed dissertations and theses, you may receive specific guidance about the suitable layout of margins, as these are more likely to be printed: see this university guide on formatting PhD theses . 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to adjusting margins in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Paragraph alignment 

Most formatting instructions specify that paragraphs should be lined up in a straight line (aligned) on the left hand edge, but left jagged on the right hand edge (like this page). This is called left alignment, or flush-left style, and should be the default alignment setting for your word processor. This style can be helpful for visual accessibility, but check any specific instructions you have been given by your department to see which style of alignment you have been asked to use. 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to adjusting paragraph alignment in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.  

Paragraph indentation

You may be asked to add indents to your paragraphs: an indent is an additional small gap between the margin and the beginning of a paragraph (it makes a ‘dent’ in the first line of your paragraph). Indents are used to provide extra clarification that the reader is starting a new paragraph after finishing the last one: therefore, they should not be used in the first paragraph of your essay. Indents are not always required, and whether you are expected to use them may depend on your referencing style , and any formatting instructions you have been given by your department.

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to indenting paragraphs in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Formatting referenced material 

Footnotes and endnotes .

Some referencing systems require you to use footnotes or endnotes to format your references (make sure to check the library’s referencing guide to familiarise yourself with the expected format of your referencing style). Inserting a footnote into your word document when you have cited from a source adds a superscript number (a number formatted in a smaller font) to the sentence. It creates a note with a matching number at the bottom of the page you are working on (in the footer), which you can add the reference information to.

Endnotes work in the same way, but instead of appearing at the bottom of the page, the reference list appears at the end of the document.

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to manually inserting footnotes and endnotes in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.  

References and bibliographies  

Instead of, or alongside footnotes/endnotes, some referencing systems ask you to include a bibliography and/or a reference list at the end of the essay (make sure to check the library’s referencing guide to familiarise yourself with the expected format of your referencing style). A reference list is a list of all the sources you have directly referred to in the essay, which could be ordered numerically or alphabetically, depending on your referencing style.

A bibliography could be used alongside, or instead of, a reference list, depending on your referencing style; here, you list all the sources you have consulted that have influenced your ideas, whether they are included in the essay or not. The way this is ordered also depends on your referencing style. 

If you auto-generate your citations in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you can auto-generate your bibliography instead of creating it manually: instructions for doing so are in the resource below. If you use a different reference manager, such as Mendeley, Zotero, or Endnote, these have their own specific instructions for auto-generating bibliographies. See the reference management resources offered by the university. 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to manually or automatically formatting a bibliography or reference list in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Block quotations  

When you need to include a quotation in your essay that is three or more lines long, you can add this as a block quotation. A block quotation appears on a separate line to the other parts of the paragraph, and is indented (i.e. there is a wider gap between a block quotation and the left-hand margin than there is between the rest of the paragraph and the left-hand margin). Block quotations aren’t placed in quotation marks, so the indentation is used to indicate that you are using a quotation.

Check your referencing guide and any departmental guidance to learn more about the specific rules on formatting block quotations in your department. Because they take up large chunks of your word count, and break up the flow of your texts, make sure to use block quotations sparingly: they are especially helpful when you are going to perform close analysis of a large section of text. For more information on different types of quotation and how to use them, see our workshop on paraphrasing and using academic sources.

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to formatting block quotations in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Advanced formatting 

Headings and contents tables .

Most standard short essays do not include headings, other than the essay title and reference list and/or bibliography. Section headings may be required for some longer or more structured types of academic writing, such as reports; reports often follow a very closely prescribed structure, so it is essential to pay very careful attention to the specific guidelines issued with your brief. Make sure that any system you use for numbering your headings and subheadings is consistently applied throughout the document.

Depending on the advice you have been given, and the length and complexity of a lab report, you may also be required to include a table of contents to help the reader navigate between headings. Contents tables are generally standard practice in longer assignments such as dissertations and theses. Make sure to check any departmental guidance you have been given about formatting reports.

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to formatting headings and contents tables in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

301 Recommends: Scientific Writing and Lab Reports Workshop

This workshop  will help you to familiarise yourself with some of the specific expectations associated with this assignment format.

Figures and tables 

Some kinds of essays, dissertations and reports will require you to make use of figures (pictures, diagrams, and graphs) and tables (any data in a table format). Figures and tables are normally numbered in sequence, e.g. ‘Table 1’, ‘Figure 4’, and are directly referred to in the text according to their number, rather than according to their location on the page (e.g. ‘as shown in Table 2’ rather than ‘as shown below’). 

If your text is of dissertation or thesis length, or if your text has several figures, it may also be helpful to include a list of figures immediately after the table of contents. Some referencing guides have specific rules about presenting and referencing tables and figures, so make sure to familiarise yourself with these and carefully read any specific instructions about figures and tables in your assignment brief. 

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to inserting figures and tables and creating lists of figures/tables in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Top tips for formatting tables and figures:

• Make sure that any tables or figures you use are placed below the paragraph where you refer to them, and that you have directly referred to all figures and tables in the text of the essay.
• The caption for a table usually acts as its title, so this is placed above the table in the document. The caption for a figure is usually placed underneath the figure. Do not include unnecessary additional titles in the graph image itself, if the title is already included in your image caption. 
• Make sure to label your captions consistently, choosing between ‘Fig.’ or ‘Figure’ and consistently using either a full stop or a colon after the label (i.e. ‘Figure 1:’ or ‘Fig. 1.’) 
• Your caption should clearly and succinctly explain what the figure or table is. If the figure is taken from an external source, you must provide a reference that accurately reflects its copyright status (see these university library guides to inserting and attributing images and figures in university work). 
• Make sure to include legends in any charts you use (a key that helps to explain the data in the chart). Any data series you use should be clearly distinguishable from each other (e.g. avoid printing a report with coloured graphs in black and white!) If you are only using one series of data, a legend is not always necessary. 
• Make sure tables are clear and easy to read, using sans serif fonts, a readable font size, and avoiding unnecessary use of colour. 
• Make sure graphs are clear and easy to read, with clearly and appropriately labelled axes. Be wary of 3D effects that may obscure the clarity of a graph.
• Make sure to avoid presenting the same information in a graph and a table.
• Images and figures in printed essays, such as dissertations and theses, should be large enough for the text and numbers to be legible on the printed copy. Make sure they do not extend beyond the print margins of the document. 

301 Recommends: Displaying Data in Graphs and Tables Workshop

This workshop will provide more technical advice on using graphs and tables in your work. See also this Engineering department guidance on formatting graphs and tables in Engineering lab reports.

Appendices 

Appendices commonly appear in dissertations, theses, and lab reports. An appendix provides supporting information that gives the reader a better understanding of the essay, but that might be too long, detailed or awkward to insert into the main body of the essay without breaking up its flow. Interview questions or transcripts, sample questionnaires, raw data, figures, photographs, large/complex datasets, and diagrams are all examples of information that could be included in an appendix, if it is relevant to do so.

The reader should be able to understand the essay without reference to this supporting information, as all the most important and relevant information needed to answer the question should be included in the body (i.e., the appendix should not be used to make room for content that doesn’t fit within your word count). Your appendices must be clearly signposted and explained in the body of your report, highlighting any information that is essential for your reader to understand. Do not include any appendices that are not referenced in the text itself.

The appendices should be placed in numerical or alphabetical order, and signposted according to this specific system (e.g. ‘Appendix B indicates that…’) They should be clearly labelled, using headings that match up to the in-text reference. Appendices usually appear at the very end of the assignment, after your references/bibliography. Make sure to list any appendices used in your table of contents; if you have been instructed to do so by your department or within your referencing system, you could include a list of appendices separate to your contents list. 

The specific format of the appendix heading, and the reference made to the appendix in the text, depends on your referencing style , so make sure to carefully review this information before you design your appendices.

Download this step-by-step illustrated guide to inserting appendices and creating lists of appendices in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Tips and resources

• Use this 301 proofreading checklist to check over your work when you are finished.
• Use the University Library referencing guide for advice about referencing and formatting that is specific to your referencing style. If you need extra clarification about formatting rules, it is often possible to download an extended style guide from the official website for a specific referencing system. 
• For further training on referencing, using reference generators, and using images in your work, see the University Library workshop programme .

Related information

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Help Centre

Reports types of assignment.

Some modules ask students to produce reports. There are four main types of report:

• information or description reports
• reports of investigations or studies
• maths reports
• science reports.

These are composed of different sections, which can vary according to what is specified in your assignment or module guide. Always refer to your module materials to find out what sections might be required in your assignment.

The title of a report asks the question to be addressed and indicates the topic. Within the report itself you may need to incorporate the following sections.

In a science or maths report this includes what was done, how it was done and what the main findings were. In an information report this is a short paragraph that summarises the main findings.

Introduction

In a  maths report  this outlines the aim of the report and gives essential background information, including the context where applicable, and defines key terms. In a  science report  this outlines the aim of the report and explains why the investigation was undertaken and places it in the context of previous work. In an  information report  this outlines the aim of the report and includes background information. It defines key terms and indicates how you approach the question. It might be appropriate to explain what you don't intend to write about – thus indicating the scope of your report.

This main section may also include sub-sections such as a discussion, results or findings, and the methodology. A  maths report  is likely to include sections in its main body on

• modelling: the assumptions made, a description of the model including the choice of variables and parameters, the mathematics used and interpretation and evaluation of results
• proofs: includes a statement of what is to be proved and details of the proof
• history: includes a list of both supporting and opposing facts and then develops the argument.

In a  science report  the main body generally comprises

• materials and methods: the experimental details
• results: the results of the experiments performed. A commentary accompanies data presented in the form of graphs, tables, images or diagrams
• discussion: a critical interpretation of the results presented in the context of other researchers' observations.

In an  information report  the main body should be divided into sections, possibly with sub-headings. Points can be numbered or presented in bullet form. Each point should be supported by evidence or an example.

Conclusions or recommendations

In a  maths or science report  this section may not be necessary, but could include suggestions for further research. In an  information report  this summarises (in one or two sentences) the main points of information.

Reference section

Check your module materials to see the format you need to use for the reference section.

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How to Write a Report for University Assignment

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Assignment and Report Writing: Structure of Assignments

• Assignment Writing

Structure of Assignments

• Laboratory/Scientific Reports
• Citation & Referencing

There are different types of assignments with different writing structures. These include;

Short questions and calculations

• Essay Questions

Mostly these types of assignments, lecturers, etc., typically give short questions/or essay tests to see how well students have grasped course concepts, their meaning and significance. In order to understand the short question, you must not memorize the information and expect to do well in short question. The best thing is to understand course material and concept.

Basic Types of Short-answer Questions

There are six basic types of short-answer questions. Understanding each will improve your performance on short-answer quizzes, tests and exams. When answering short-answer questions, make sure the format and type of answer you provide matches the type of question being asked.

Definition questions

Explanation questions, example questions, relationship questions, calculation questions, graphing questions.

Definition questions require you to define a concept.

Question: "What is a supply curve?"

Answer: "A supply curve shows the relationship between the price of a good or service and the quantity supplied. Typically, the price appears on the left vertical axis and the quality supplied on the horizontal axis."

Explanation questions require you to explain  why  something is true or how something functions.

Question: " Why do males in in the agricultural sector earn more money than their equally qualified female counterparts . ?"

Answer: " Today, women make up nearly half the workforce across all sectors, but their paychecks still lag far behind men's. Women are paid less than men in nearly every occupation agricultural sector inclusive. "

Example questions simply require a specific real-world example of a concept or phenomenon.

Question: "Provide two examples of pairs of goods that are substitutes."

Answer: "Margarine and butter, and tea and coffee are examples of pairs of goods that are substitutes."

Relationship questions require you to state or show how two or more things relate to one another. Are they complimentary? Are they the same? Are they different? Are they opposites? How does the existence of one affect the other? Etc. Relationship questions can be a bit more challenging than other types of short answers but are very doable if you're prepared.

Question: "In a competitive market, what is the relationship between supply and demand?"

Answer: "Demand refers to the quality of a good or service consumers are willing to buy at a given price. Supply represents the quantity of a good supplied by producers at various prices. The price resulting from where supply and demand meet is referred to as the equilibrium price.

As the name suggests, calculations questions require you to calculate or compute a numerical answer or response.

Question: "If the demand for used motorcycle purchases in the United States is represented by P = 1000 - .2Q and the supply of used motorcycles is represented by P = 400 + .2Q what is the market equilibrium price and quantity?"

Answer: "The market equilibrium price (P) is 700. The market equilibrium quantity (Q) is 1,500."

Graphing questions typically require an answer in the form of a graph.

Question: "Draw a diagram of a supply curve that shows the relationship between quantity supplied and price."

        The answer is shown below.

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Sample written assignments

Look at sample assignments to help you develop and enhance your academic writing skills. 

How to use this page

This page features authentic sample assignments that you can view or download to help you develop and enhance your academic writing skills. 

PLEASE NOTE: Comments included in these sample written assignments  are intended as an educational guide only.  Always check with academic staff which referencing convention you should follow. All sample assignments have been submitted using Turnitin® (anti-plagiarism software). Under no circumstances should you copy from these or any other texts.

Annotated bibliography

Annotated Bibliography: Traditional Chinese Medicine  (PDF, 103KB)

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Essay: Business - "Post bureaucracy vs Bureaucracy"  (PDF, 609KB)

Essay: Design, Architecture & Building - "Ideas in History - Postmodernism"  (PDF, 545KB)

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Literature review

Literature Review: Education (Critical Pedagogy)   (PDF, 165KB)

Reflective writing

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Report: Education (Digital Storytelling)  (PDF, 145KB)

Report: Education (Scholarly Practice)   (PDF, 261KB)

Report: Engineering Communication (Flood Mitigation & Water Storage)  (PDF, 1MB)

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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How to write a Report for University Assignment

Many university assignments require a ‘report’ instead of an essay, and students are sometimes unclear as to what this entails. The writing tone, the style to choose, the length of the report, and other considerations all cause confusion. Do you need help writing a report for a university assignment? This write-up seeks to clarify all these confusions and provide you with some key features for writing a good report. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to write a report for a university assignment. Because you can receive university assignment help from Assignment Studio, one of the world’s leading Assignment Writing Services UK.

Table of Contents

What is the definition of a report?

A report is essentially a brief and concise document created for a specific purpose and audience. It usually lays out and analyses a scenario or problem, with ideas for future recommendations frequently included. It’s a fact-based paper that needs to be well-organized and concise.

Reports and essays have some overlap in academics, and the two terms are occasionally used interchangeably. Reports are more commonly used in business, science, and technology, as well as in the workplace. On the other hand, an essay focuses on arguments and reasoning, whereas a report focuses on facts.

What is the Best Way to Write a Report for University Assignment?

You may believe that all you need to write a report is a pen and a piece of paper. To perform this task successfully, you must possess a set of abilities. A report’s format is critical for leading the reader through your thought process to a course of action or decision. It’s worthwhile to spend some time planning ahead of time.

Step 1: Understand your brief

First and foremost, carefully consider your brief, ensuring that you understand who the report is for (who it is supposed to be written for), why you’re writing it, and what you want the reader to do after reading it: perhaps make a decision or agree on a recommendation.

Step 2: Keep your brief in mind while writing a report

All of your thoughts must be concentrated on your brief, which may necessitate critical reading and thinking. Anything that isn’t necessary should be discarded. Try to organize your reading and research into sections by theme, as if you were writing a literature review. Keep track of your references, especially if you’re doing academic work. Although reference is less crucial in the business reports, it is still important to be able to back up any claims you make, so keeping track of your sources of information is beneficial.

A report is a document in which you provide the results of your study and analysis of data or an issue, as well as recommendations and proposals. Always keep the reader in mind when producing a report. Use a recognizable framework and be clear, concise, and accurate.

Writing a Report for a University Assignment: The Basic Structure

A title page, summary, table of contents, introduction, main body, conclusion and recommendations, references, and appendices are all common steps of reports. Read the brief descriptions below to better understand these stages.

• The Title Page

The title of the report should briefly define what it is about. Clear, concise, and content-related.

An excellent report should have a summary that is around a page and a half long. The primary features that should be included in a summary are the report’s core ideas, the analysis methodologies utilized, findings, and conclusions/recommendations. It’s critical to make this section clear from the start of the report so that your teacher understands what you’re doing.

• Table of Contents 

A list of chapters/subsections with headlines and page numbers should be displayed on a page of your report. Make this guide beneficial for your readers by allowing them to quickly discover what they’re looking for, whether it’s the findings or the research methodology chapters.

• An Introduction

The introduction defines the report’s purpose and scope. This section provides important background information to help the reader grasp the report’s context. It concentrates on, and perhaps defines, any essential keywords. It should also describe the report’s structure.

• The Main Body

The main body contains the description and relevant data. The primary body of a report should be split into parts under headings such as Discussion, Methods, Results, Data, and Findings, and should include all related material needed to fulfil the report’s goal. Subheadings are a possibility. Normally, you’ll have to come up with your own headings that are relevant to your report. Evidence and examples should be utilized to back up your claims where possible.

• Conclusions And Recommendations

The conclusion summarizes the report’s main points in a few sentences. The purpose of the report, as indicated in the introduction, should be referenced in the conclusion. At this point, no additional information should be introduced.

• References/Bibliography

Any sources that have influenced your response should be cited. References for an open university (OU) tutor-marked assignments (TMA) must include references to course content as well as any external sources used.

Appendices may be requested to supplement your response. Appendices should be referenced in the main body of the text; otherwise, it will be unclear why they are included.

Some details may vary depending on the type of report you’re writing. It could be a study report, a construction report, or a laboratory report. As a result, double-check your assignment guidelines and learning objectives. If you’re still unsure, get help from Assignment studio’s Assignments Writing Service UK . 

Linguistic Usage in Writing a Report for a University Assignment

Writing style

In a report, the word “I” should be replaced by “we” or “one.” Make sure your sentences aren’t too long. It’s easy to read short sentences. Many clauses and double denials should be avoided because they induce confusion. Make use of punctuation marks correctly.

Avoid spelling, linguistic, and typing problems when preparing the report. Before submitting the report, run it through a spell checker and read it well. Only use official spelling, and if in a doubt, use a dictionary.

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How to Write an Assignment Report for University

An academic report provides a descriptive analysis of research, experiment, or survey. The report discusses the results in detail following a specific academic report structure. A report is different from an essay because the writer of an essay can add their thoughts or opinions about a topic.

A student is required to do thorough planning, which might include a proposal. After this, they must begin the research, experiment, or survey. The final step is to provide a detailed report of the findings.

When you are given a task to write a report for university assignment, you might feel overwhelmed. The process of writing a report can be tedious but with the right information, you will realize it is an easy process. It requires you to understand the question correctly and to follow the instructions closely.

Our team of experienced writers has written this  assignment writing guide  to help you understand the process. The guide gives details on the writing style and structure. You will learn what makes a good report, things to avoid, and the skills required. After reading this guide, you will be able to write a university report correctly.

What Is Assignment Report

Writing an assignment report is part of a student’s university tasks. Many students fear writing reports but they are not difficult. They require the right approach and good organization. The process requires thorough research and understanding of the requestion.

A university report answers a research, experiment, or study question. It describes in detail what you observed or found. Included in the report should be the methods, tools, or apparatus used. Its outline must be clear. You will benefit from quality university report if you use  assignment help  from professional writers.

How to Structure a Report for University Assignment?

A lot of information on how to structure a report is available online. You must ensure you understand the structure correctly. When you get it right, it will be easy to write your report. The structure of a university report is similar to an essay structure. It has an introduction, body, and conclusion.

However, since a university report serves a different purpose, it has a lot of differences with an essay structure. Your instructor may ask you to include a few things. You may add a table of content appendices or recommendations.

The report might also include a title page, glossary, and an executive summary. The report writing structure should include the following.

1. The title page

On the title page, include the following details

• Name of your instructor
• Student number

2. The table of content

Your assignment report must have a table of contents that includes the following.

• Page numbers of the main sections
• Page numbers of the subsections

The report is written using a numbered list. The headings and subheadings are differentiated using different heading styles.

3. Any abbreviations used

This part contains any abbreviations used in the report. It also contains the technical words or acronyms used.

4. The executive summary

The executive summary gives a short overview of what the entire report is about. A reader first reads the executive summary to have an idea of what to expect in the report. The summary should not exceed one paragraph.

5. Introduction

When preparing to write a report introduction, focus on several things. The introduction orientates your audience to the topic. It explains why the report is important. In the introduction, explain the context of your report. Explain briefly any important point that can be useful to the reader. Give a short breakdown of the structure.

6. The report’s main body

In the assignment report format, the main body is the core. It presents an account of the issues under review. The content in the main body is analysis-based. It is never a suggestion or opinion.

Due to this, you should not use the phrases like ‘I think, feel, guess,’’ etc. Every idea is supported with concrete evidence or a logical argument. The evidence helps to substantiate your assertions. You must use a specific report assignment example or evidence to build a logical argument.

The report’s main body is divided into several sections. It has headings, subheadings, and paragraphs. If possible, use diagrams or images to help the reader understand better. Introduce each main point in the first lines of the paragraph. After giving your strong evidence, conclude the point within the paragraph.

In summary, the report’s main body should feature the following main points.

• Analyze the main features
• Define the problem
• Explain the phases
• Propose other ways to approach/manage the problem

7. Report conclusion

The conclusion gives a summary of the entire report. It is different from the results section. The conclusion draws to attention what has been discussed. It doesn’t introduce new information. You will confuse the reader by introducing fresh information. Make the conclusion short but do not leave out the main points.

8. Report recommendations

Recommendations give suggestions of actions that you feel are important. Do not give a recommendation that is outside the discussions. Give recommendations based on priorities. Start with the most important recommendation and end with the least important one.

9. References

The references section gives a list of all sources used in your report. Depending on the report writing style you have used, use the right reference structure. Your references section can have:

• The writer/editor
• Date published

10. The report appendices

The report appendices include any additional information you might have. It should not be part of the word count. It must be included in the references list. Any information that is not referenced should not appear in the appendices. Depending on the instructor, the appendices can sometimes be used in the report grading.

>Assignment Report Format

A university report presents the facts about a problem. It is an analysis of the problem and a suggestion of solutions. You should divide the report into sections. For the best flow, use numbered headings and subheadings. This makes the information logical and easy to understand.

The report sections include the following:

• Contents table
• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodologies
• Recommendations

The file format you choose is important. Although the university might be specific on the file format, the widely accepted formats are PDF and Word. Some reports are presented in PowerPoint slides.

You may include images or page background color to make your report presentable. In the grading process, the report structure/format is given a percentage. The format also helps you to ensure there is nothing you left out in the writing process.

Report Writing Style 

Your university report can be formal or informal. Their main distinguishing factor is their length. An informal report is shorter, although you cannot expressly pinpoint its page limitation. You can think about an informal report in terms of 10 pages and below. In this type of report, use informal language. There should be a limit on the language. Do not make it too informal lest it loses quality.

A formal university report focusses on formal language. You must limit yourself within the official language. This type of report is usually longer in terms of pages or words. The report focuses on complex topics that require detailed background information. The writer must research widely to give a detailed discussion.

What Makes a Good Report for a University Assignment

If you want to write a good report, you must focus on its qualities. You must focus on presenting the facts based on relevant evidence. The facts presented must be related to the problem or question of the report topic. A good report must acknowledge every source used. It must follow the preferred style by the university or department. These are the qualities of a good university report.

• It must be simple

By simplicity, it means the report should be easy to read. The language used should be easy to understand. Avoid complex scientific language/terms. Unless you are presenting it before a scientific team, use a language that everyone will understand.

• It must be consistent

Your report must be consistent from the title page to the conclusion. The message must not conflict at any phase of the report. Remember, there could be other reports on the same topic done by other writers.

• It must be accurate

You must learn how to write a report university and the need for accuracy. The report provides information from an experiment, survey, or research work. Make sure the information is accurate and precise. Present it in a way that someone else can replace it and get the exact results.

Things to Avoid in Assignment Report Writing

A report is written to provide a record of actions taken and results received. It should not be confusing. Avoid the following mistakes.

• Avoid using jargon and buzz words because they will only make your report difficult to understand.
• Avoid missing the deadline – Your hard work might go to waste if you submit your report late.
• Avoid a too lengthy report. When the report is too long, it becomes complicated. The reader will take too long to read. They might abandon reading your report in the middle.
• Avoid working alone. Gather information from people. Listen to their opinions or advice to create the best quality report.
• Do not forget to edit your report. If you desire your report to be the best, take time to edit. Read your report and use editing tools to help you achieve the best quality. Things like typing errors, improper grammar, and wrong spelling will lower your report quality.
• Do not forget to cite your report. If you do not cite your report, it will the counted as a plagiarized report. Cite in the correct citation style.

Skills Required to Write a Good Report

You require several abilities that will help you write a professional report. These are general abilities that every report writer should have, although there are other specialized abilities that you can gain later.

• Research skills

Every university report must be detailed. You need to research widely to get the best points. Research skills help you understand the best places to get information. The sources you use must be credible. Having good research skills will help you get the right information.

• Planning skills

Planning means organizing your report so that the information flows well. Your report will have a topic, executive summary, introduction, body, and conclusion. Planning skills are useful so that each component of your report will fall to where it should be.

• Writing skills

Writing skills helps you communicate effectively with written words. It is the ability to write a well-flowing report. Writing skills focuses on the use of correct grammar, sentence, and paragraphs flow. A good report structure example uses a coherent sentence structure.

We hope this university report writing guide has helped you understand the right procedures to follow. You might need help with writing your report, or you might have limited time to research and write. You can hire our assignment writing service  to save time and get a quality report.

Written by Frank Dehoyos

Publish Date: Mar 18, 2022

Frank Dehoyos

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Utilizing the Overscheduled Times by Subject Report

Increased demand on General Assignment (GA) classrooms at peak times is resulting in more and more classes not receiving a GA classroom assignment. Although not guaranteed, classes scheduled at standard times and when the subject is not overscheduled have a much greater likelihood of receiving a GA assignment.

Per the campus Classroom Scheduling policy , “departments are expected to schedule an equal share of early morning and late afternoon classes throughout the day. To achieve this 1/7th, or approximately 14% of a department’s classes should be scheduled at each of the six prime time hours…. Sections in excess of the distribution of class hours guidelines will receive a lower assignment priority.”

The Overscheduled Times by Subject Report is available in SIS for reps to run on demand during Initial Call to identify times when a subject is overscheduled. Additional details about the report, including step-by-step instructions for running it, are available in this KB . UPDATE: Based on your feedback and an assessment of the technical possibilities and constraints, Curricular Services has increased the rate at which the data used in this report are updated. The underlying data are now being refreshed every 10 minutes, compared to every hour when the report was first launched. We hope this change allows you to more efficiently manage your work during Initial Call.

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At Brown, a Rare Agreement Between Administrators and Protesters

Brown students took down their tents on campus after the university in Rhode Island agreed to discuss their demands for divestment from support for the Israeli military.

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By Jacey Fortin

• April 30, 2024

As pro-Palestinian protests continued to escalate across the country, officials and students at Brown University set a rare example on Tuesday: They made a deal.

Demonstrators agreed to dismantle their encampment at Brown, which had been removed by Tuesday evening, and university leaders said they would discuss, and later vote on, divesting funds from companies connected to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

The agreement came even as scenes of chaos continued to overtake U.S. universities, with protesters at Columbia in New York and Portland State in Oregon occupying buildings, and demonstrators at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill replacing an American flag at the center of campus with a Palestinian one.

More than a thousand people have been arrested over the past two weeks after a crackdown on a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia in New York resulted in a cascade of student activism across the country.

At Brown, in Providence, R.I., students began pitching tents on the main campus lawn on Wednesday. Many said they would stay until they were forced out, adding that they were concerned about trying to end the violence in Gaza — not about violating university policies.

After discussions with administrators, Brown Divest Coalition, along with other pro-Palestinian organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace, said in a post on Instagram that they had reached an agreement with the university, which “would not have been possible without the hard work of university encampments across the country, whose collective power has forced university administrators to acknowledge the overwhelming support for Palestine on their campuses.”

The agreement lays out a series of steps for the months ahead:

In May, five students will meet with five members of the Corporation of Brown University to argue for divesting funds from companies connected to the Israeli military.

In September, Brown’s advisory committee on resource management will be expected to advise the university on the same issue.

In October, the committee’s recommendation will be brought to the corporation for a vote.

“Although the encampment will end, organizing to ensure that the Brown administration fulfills our calls to act on divestment will continue until the corporation vote in October,” the Brown Divest Coalition said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This feels like a real moment of realizing our collective power,” said Rafi Ash, a sophomore at Brown who participated in the protests. “This is something that demonstrates that the mobilization of the student body can force the university to listen.”

Administrators and student activists at Northwestern University struck a similar deal on Monday.

A spokesman for Brown, Brian Clark, said that divestment was not as simple as some students might perceive, though. The university doesn’t invest its endowment directly, he said. Instead, it relies on “external specialist investment managers, all with the highest level of ethics and all whom we believe share the values of the Brown community.”

Administrators said in a statement that it would still hold disciplinary proceedings related to the encampment, which broke the university’s rules. Reports of harassment and discrimination will also be investigated, the statement said.

“The devastation and loss of life in the Middle East has prompted many to call for meaningful change, while also raising real issues about how best to accomplish this,” Christina H. Paxson, Brown’s president, said in the statement, adding that she did not condone the encampment and had been concerned about inflammatory rhetoric.

“I appreciate the sincere efforts on the part of our students to take steps to prevent further escalation,” she said.

Gaya Gupta contributed reporting.

Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for the National desk of The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics all across the country. More about Jacey Fortin

Our Coverage of the U.S. Campus Protests

News and Analysis

G.W.U. : Hours before the mayor of Washington, D.C., was scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill about the city’s handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University, police moved to break up the encampment .

U.C.L.A. : A police consulting firm will review a violent confrontation  at the University of California, Los Angeles, in which a group of counterprotesters attacked demonstrators  at a pro-Palestinian encampment while security guards and police officers failed to intervene.

UChicago : Police officers removed the pro-Palestinian encampment  at the University of Chicago, a move that was sure to be closely watched because the school has long considered itself a model for free expression on campus .

Remembering the 1968 Protests:  As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention , it wants to shed memories of chaos from half a century ago even as the campus protests are growing.

Protests in Europe:  In countries across Europe, students have staged their own pro-Palestinian sit-ins and protests  on the lawns of their universities. And in several instances, the authorities are taking a similar approach to their U.S. counterparts: shutting them down.

Outside Agitators:  Officials in New York City have blamed “external actors” for escalating demonstrations at Columbia, but student protesters reject the claim .

A Spotlight on Student Journalists:  Columbia’s radio station and other student-led news outlets have provided some of the most detailed coverage  of the turmoil engulfing campuses.