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REPORT WRITING TIPS FROM JASON PANG http://www.jasonpang.net/reference/ word_report.pdf

Report Writing Tips

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I was looking for a good reference for writing reports and essays and I found Jason Pang's Report Writing document to be a great resource: http://www.jasonpang.net/reference/word_report.pdf I've adapted Section 2 of his report into this PowerPoint (and added APA Paper Formatting guidelines at the end) to teach my Korean students how to "Write Beautiful Reports." Forgot to reference the final image in this PPT: http://www.pasadena.edu/hstutoringlab/apa/paperformat.cfm

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Page 1: Report Writing Tips

REPORT WRITING TIPSFROM JASON PANG

http://www.jasonpang.net/reference/word_report.pdf

Page 2: Report Writing Tips

GENERAL TIPS

SECTION 1

Page 3: Report Writing Tips

STRUCTURE IT1. Make an Outline

2. Introduction

3. Body

1. Body Point One1. Chart One

2. Graph One

2. Body Point Two1. Graph Two

3. Body Point Three1. Chart Two

4. Conclusion

Then, fill in your report according to the outline.

Page 4: Report Writing Tips

Remember speil cheek to and pfofread

NOTHER MAKES YOU LOOK STUPDIR THAN

Page 5: Report Writing Tips

CONSIDER THIS(GRAMMAR & SPELL CHECKER)

(Bad)

Ann, while Bob had had “had,” had had “had had”. “Had had” had had a better effect on the teacher.

Their are two many “had” words they’re, but no grammar mistakes.

(Better)

Ann, while Bob answered “had,” had answered “had had.” The teacher liked “had had” better as an answer.

There are many spelling mistakes there!

Page 6: Report Writing Tips

Ask your friend to to proofread it for you to.

YOU’LL BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU MISSED!

Page 7: Report Writing Tips

MONTHSLike this:

8 October 2013

2013-1-13

Not this:

8/10/13

13/1/13

AND KEEP YOUR FORMATTING CONSISTENT.

Page 8: Report Writing Tips

SAVE, SAVE,

SAVE!

Page 9: Report Writing Tips

Print it and look over the print form – print is much different from digital.

Page 10: Report Writing Tips

STYLE TIPS

SECTION 2

Page 11: Report Writing Tips

STYLEMake top-headings large (28pt here)

2nd-level headings = at least 3pt smaller (24)

Body font reads better in a serif font while headings read better in a sans-serif font. The contrast between headings in sans-serif and body in serif makes the report look well designed.

Page 12: Report Writing Tips

Image source: http://www.laurenelisecrafted.com/blog/2011/1/28/font-fridays-vol-iii.html

Page 13: Report Writing Tips

CONSISTENT FONTSSans-serif:

This is the Arial font

This is Helvetica

This is Tahoma

Serif:

Times New Roman

Georgia

Cambria

(I can see the difference. Can you? So, don’t copy-paste.)

Page 14: Report Writing Tips

Comic Sans Is EVIL!Never, ever, EVER use comic sans for a report. (In fact, it should be un-invented altogether)

Page 15: Report Writing Tips

LINE-SPACINGLine-spacing at 1.5 is generally a good amount of spacing to

make a report very readable. You can see here that 1.5 is quite

comfortable to read.

In some cases, you could probably get away with a 1.3 line-

spacing setting. It’s still readable, though not as comfortable.

But many teachers prefer line-spacing of 2.0. Be sure to follow

the guidelines set forth by your teacher.

Page 16: Report Writing Tips

MARGINS1 inch margins please (2.54 cm)

Page 17: Report Writing Tips

PARAGRAPHSYou have the option to either indent your paragraphs

(typically 5 spaces) using the TAB key, or you need to include

one line of space between non-indented paragraphs.

See how awkward this is with no space here?

See how much better this is?

If you don’t indent, be sure to leave a line of space so we know

where each new paragraph starts.

Page 18: Report Writing Tips

CONSISTENT STYLELists:

• This has a period.

• This doesn’t

• Choose one

• And stick with it

Tables:

Stick to one convention, and don’t deviate.

Also. Should.

Stick with. One style.

Page 19: Report Writing Tips

“REPORT BODY”

“TABLE OF CONTENTS”

DON’T TITLE THESE SECTIONS

Page 20: Report Writing Tips

BEST PRACTICES

SECTION 2

Page 21: Report Writing Tips

APA PAPER FORMATTINGFont: Times New Roman

Size: 12pt

Line-spacing: Double

Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm)

Indent: With TAB (5 spaces)

Right-Justify: OFF

Header: Top-right corner w/ page #

Title: Centered