Report DesignPrint Communications 25S

The BasicsIt’s all about formatting…

This Unit In this unit, we will learn all the basics of

formatting a report. Most of your marks will be on formatting.

We will start with a simple, one-page report. Fonts, spacing, indents, margins, spellcheck

We will then format a multi-page report that is prewritten for you. Page numbers, references, footnotes, endnotes

Last, we will learn how to make a cover page and bibliography to finish off your reports

Then, the final report project!

Report Basics Reports INFORM PERSUADE Are OBJECTIVE

They use facts Written in the THIRD PERSON

DO NOT use the word “I” (“I think…”) Reference good quality sources

Internet, books, newspapers, magazines

Difference Between Reports & Essays Different formatting (page setup) Reports use paragraph headings

Paragraphs in essays flow one after the other

Reports are often less wordy and more technical

More likely to use graphs, illustrations

Reports include footnotes/endnotes on each page

Key PointsREADABILITY is KEY It’s all about proper FORMATTING

Fonts Spacing Indents Margins

NO spelling or grammar mistakes

Title HeadingBeginning your report

Title HeadingThe title heading is the title of your reportAny title in a report is a heading.The title heading goes 2 inches from the top of the paper Use the rulers (View menu > Ruler)Press Enter until you get to the 1” mark on the vertical ruler

2” from the top of the paper

Title HeadingDO NOT change the top margin

to set the title at 2” from the top of the page This would cause every page to

have a 2” top margin

Title Headings should be:

CENTEREDALL UPPERCASELARGER FONT

BOLD

Triple space after the titleGives it some breathing room

Click on the title and set spacing to 3.0

Spacing the Title Heading

FontsSerif and sans serif

FontsDifferent fonts for the title and body make them stand out

Headings are always SANS SERIFLeave it set to Calibri

Body is always SERIF Use Times New Roman

SpacingSingle, double, triple

Body SpacingThe body is DOUBLE SPACEDSet spacing to 2.0

Press Enter ONCE to start a new paragraph

DOUBLE

SPACING

Spacing Shortcut Keys

CTRL + 1 for singleCTRL + 2 for double

Indents & Margins

Indenting ParagraphsWe have to indent each paragraph.

How?Press Tab

Bound ReportsA BOUND REPORT could be put in a coil binding or into a binder

UNBOUND means stapled or loose

Binding can be topbound or leftbound

Binding crowds out your text so you have to add a .5” gutter in the margin

Setting Margins for Bound Reports

An added reminder: Before printing,Use SpellcheckUse Print Preview to check layout

Proofread for yourself before and after printing!

The Cheat Sheet Title Heading:

2” from the top Sans serif (e.g. Calibri)

ALL UPPERCASE Centered Bold Can be a larger

font Triple space (3.0)

Body (paragraphs): Double spaced (2.0) Serif (e.g. Times New

Roman) Indent each

paragraph by pressing Tab

Bound reports need a .5” gutter (Page Layout > Page Setup)

Spellcheck!!

Homework AssignmentDownload the questions from the wiki.