5.1 Planning a science or a technology report
Table 5 highlights the elements of a science or technology report, though the same general principles apply in other disciplines too.
| Element | Purpose | Description |
|---|---|---|
| title | attracts the reader’s attention | concise phrase or sentence introducing the content |
| abstract | gives a brief summary | short paragraph clarifying the scope of the report and the main findings |
| introduction | gives the purpose of the investigation being reported | explains why the investigation was undertaken and gives essential background information |
| main text | describes how the study was conducted describes how the study was conducted interprets results | the ‘meat’ of the report containing, for example (depending on the discipline):
|
| conclusions | describes what the study has shown | includes the meaning of the results of the investigation, what has been demonstrated and any recommendations for action |
When writing a report, it is necessary to assemble and order the material, perhaps under a set of headings (which can be added to or subdivided). The plan will help to include material that is relevant and to the point.