Writing a report

5.1

What a report is for

Syllabus

recognise that a report is written for a superior or a group about an event, experience or situation
give factual information clearly and add suggestions or recommendations
use a neutral, factual tone

Source: Cambridge International syllabus

A report 报告 gives information to a person in charge — a teacher, a manager, or a club leader. They will act 行动 on what you write, so be clear and honest.

Purpose and reader

A report describes an event 事件, an experience, or a situation 情况.
It gives facts 事实 clearly, then adds suggestions.
The reader wants useful information, not a story. Keep the tone factual 事实性的 and clear.

The same event told two ways: a story sentence full of opinions is crossed out, a sentence with clear facts and numbers gets a tick A report gives facts the reader can use, not a story

Format

A report is usually semi-formal or formal.
A title at the top tells the reader what the report is about.

Vocabulary Train

English	Chinese	Pinyin
report	报告	bào gào
act	行动	xíng dòng
event	事件	shì jiàn
situation	情况	qíng kuàng
facts	事实	shì shí
factual	事实性的	shì shí xìng de

5.2

How to organise a report

Syllabus

organise a report using short headings or clearly separated sections
separate facts from your own opinions and recommendations
end with a clear recommendation or conclusion

Source: Cambridge International syllabus

A clear shape helps the reader find information fast.

A report with a title and the headed sections Introduction, Good points, Problems and Recommendation; the first three sections hold facts only, the last holds your recommendations The shape of a report: facts under clear headings, recommendations at the end

Use headings

Break the report into sections with short headings 小标题.
For example: Introduction, Good points, Problems, Recommendation.

Facts, then recommendations

First give the facts. Keep your opinion 观点 out of this part.
Then give your recommendations 建议 — what you think should happen.

End clearly

Finish with a clear recommendation or conclusion 结论.
Make your advice easy to follow.

Useful language

Keep a few report phrases 短语 ready. They make your writing sound organised and grown-up.

To introduce: The aim 目的 of this report is to… / This report looks at…
To give facts: At present… / The main problem is… / Many students felt that…
To recommend: I recommend that… / It would help if… / The best solution 解决办法 is to…

Notice these are calm and impersonal. A report avoids strong words like "amazing" or "terrible".

A model report extract

Read how facts and a recommendation sit under clear headings.

Introduction This report looks at the school library and suggests ways to improve it.

Good points The library is quiet, and it has a wide range of science books. It opens every day after school.

Problems There are only two computers, and every table is full by four o'clock.

Recommendation The school should add five computers and open a second study room in the evening.

Each section is short. The first three give only facts; the last gives the advice. That split is what makes it a report, not a story.