THE BASICS OF REPORT WRITING

Structure - main body 2000 words 

• anything you write needs a clear beginning middle and end
• Critically what you write needs to be logical
• dont be descriptive -ANALYIZE

Example outline of a business report

• title page - name phone number, project what the report is about etc.
• Contents page - whats in your report
• Introduction
• Mid section of the report- deals with key issues under discussion
• Conclusion - it might sound a bit receptive that is okay
• Recommendation- add new material, from your research and findings
• Bibliography APA references
• Appendices- added information that you couldn’t find in the report, try and refer back to it in the main body of the report

Break down

Title page

Institution Title

Insert title of your piece

By

Insert your name

BA (Hons) XXXX

Word count 3000 just your actual report not including references

Contents page

Abstract

What your going to do in your report 

Introduction 

• an over view of was you intend to discuss
• Keep it concise and clear 
• Discuss the key points of your report and your intended research
• Conclusion
• This is summing up of your research findings/report intentions, it rounds the whole piece off touching on the critical aspects of your discussion 

Recommendations

• why does your chosen brand have issues?
• What if anything are they doing or need to do to redress this?
• Where is the brand situated, where do you feel based on your research, does the brand need to be
• How can the brand intervene through its current situation, what can it do to change its fate, consider market conditions, positing in the market eg Topman , not many people know Topshop for having Topman aswell, its not as popular

Bibliography

• add all your long references

Appendices 

• can be used to relate any information that connects to your essay context, but would not be put in the actual essay 
• eg/ a sample of a survey you have constructed 
• A full quote which attaches to a segment of a quote used In your main essay, to give further context

Basic Guide to academic writing

• use headers for example- all the way up to the conclusion
• 2 Topshop
• 2.1 Research findings
• 2.2 initial analysis
• 2.3 Current brand positioning 
• make sure the font is easily legible 
• Use paragraphs and punctuation regularly
• Add visuals to your piece 
• Add quotes
• Page numbers through the footer of the document, this will help with understanding referencing in your bibliography 
• Be objective
• - make sure there is comparison running through your text

Understanding the assignment brief. Look at the brief you have been given for the report. Ask Yourself:

Who is the intended audience

Why is the report needed

What do the audience want to find out

What sections does your report need

How long should the report be

When is the deadline

What is the word count

Writing Style

Factual writing - states the facts of the case exactly as they are

Descriptive writing- a detailed account of the characteristics of things

Explanatory writing- makes things clear and gives the reasons for them

Discursive writing- investigates things by reasoning or making a reasoned examination 

Analytical writing - examines complex things to discover how they work 

Try to avoid phrases that add nothing to your meaning or could be replaced by one word eg,

Due to the fact that = because

On a daily basis = daily

Of a complex nature = complex

In a fashion studio = in the studio 

Voice -no I in any academic report, use We instead

Tense

• when you are reporting your findings, use the past tense
• When you are reporting other peoples research, use the present tense ( you are relating something that is established knowledge or describing things that were shown before your project)
• When you are discussing your findings, use the present tense

Issues you might want to consider in your report:

Diversity

Ethics

Sustainability

Socialmedia

Influencer marketing