Deciding on audiences and writing the report sensitively
Things to consider when writing your research report
Structuring the report
As a general guide, you may wish to consider including the following elements in your research report:
| 1. Preliminary Materials | Title |
|---|---|
| Table of Contents (not necessarily required) | |
| Abstract | |
| 2. Body | Introduction |
| Literature Review/Background of topic | |
| Research question/problem | |
| Methodology | |
| Results | |
| Discussion | |
| Conclusion | |
| Recommendations (may also be included in the Conclusion) | |
| 3. Supplementary material | References or Bibliography |
| Appendices |
Referenced from The University of Adelaide, Writing Centre Learning Guide
You may want to use headings and subheadings to guide readers through your content. For unfamiliar audiences, introduce broader concepts before delving into specifics.
Depending on your research methods and analysis, your report may vary in appearance. Regardless, it's crucial to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness. Arrange your ideas effectively for your audience, such as starting paragraphs with a clear topic sentence.
For references and in-text citation, please refer to the SMU Libraries research guides.
Related Resources
Bibliography
- University of Maryland Global Campus. (n.d.). Prewriting: Targeting your audience. UMGC. https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-to-writing/tutorial/chapter2/ch2-04
- UAGC Writing Center. (n.d.). Considering audience. UAGC Writing Center. https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/considering-audience
- The University of Adelaide, Writing Centre Learning Guide (n.d.). Writing a Research Report. The University of Adelaide, Writing Centre Learning Guide. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/ua/media/28/learningguide-writingaresearchreport.pdf