The introduction should include a clear summary of the project's challenge and why it is of interest. If one is available, it should represent the circumstance. If necessary, the introduction should include background information so that the reader understands the relevance of the situation. Finally, it should set the stage for what is to come.
On the first page of a report, the executive summary is included if one was prepared. This summary provides a general overview of the problem being addressed by the report with recommendations for possible solutions or courses of action. It should be no longer than one page and provide a clear understanding of the issue at hand. The executive summary is used by decision makers to make judgments about the various options before them. Thus, it must not be misinterpreted or overstated. It is best presented in plain language.
In addition to the executive summary, reports may include other sections such as: historical analyses; reviews of research on particular topics; lists of tools for assessing organizational effectiveness; and discussions of relevant theories or models. Each section of the report should be no longer than one page except for the historical analysis which can be as long as needed to adequately cover its topic.
All pages should be double-spaced using 12-point typeface and numbered consecutively throughout the report. Leave space between paragraphs on each page.
Introduction
Background information or an introduction A brief section that introduces the reader to the report's "why." The opening of a more complicated report may include a history, a problem description, particular objectives, or all of the above. Often, introductions state the purpose or point of the report.
Informal reports often begin with an introduction page or section. This page or section gives readers information about the report and its author. It may include: their name, address, phone number, and email address. It may also include other information such as the date of publication for a magazine article. Only give contact information for parties who are not going to be discussed in the body of the report.
The introduction is usually short and to the point. If there is a lot of information to cover, break it up into several pages or sections instead. Readers should understand what they can expect from the report without having to read through an entire chapter or section.
Use headings and subheadings effectively. Use them to divide the introduction into different topics or aspects of the report. For example, you could divide the introduction into three parts based on different topics or issues contained within the report. Use these same categories later in the text to help readers find specific information faster.
Make sure that your introduction isn't too long.
Following that, introductions detail how the project or study was carried out, establish the aim of the research or publication, and emphasize how it makes a new addition to the subject. Finally, the introduction summarizes the report's key ideas and outline. The introduction is usually between 6 and 8 paragraphs long.
Some examples of introductions: "In this study, we will examine how people react to news about climate change by reading newspaper articles." "In my research, I will look at how young people use social media by analyzing data from Twitter." "My goal in writing this report is to help others understand why preventive medicine is important.""
A conclusion sums up the information presented in the report. It should include suggestions for future studies or applications of the findings. For example:" "This study showed that older adults are less likely than younger ones to read food labels. This finding has implications for product development (i.e., creating products that are easier to read). " "These results can help physicians identify patients at risk for malnutrition and provide them with appropriate interventions. " "Based on these results, nutrition professionals may want to focus their efforts on educating younger individuals about the importance of eating nutritious foods.
Finally, an appendix includes materials used in the study or report. These can include raw data collected during the research process, charts or graphs showing the results, and so on.
Introduction An introduction should be on the opening page of the report. In this section, you will explain the situation and tell the reader why the report is being written. You must define any words that were not defined in the title section and describe how the report's information are organized. Include a statement regarding the significance of the issue before you introduce the actual data contained in the report.
Data The first thing readers look for in an report is the information it contains. So make sure you include all the necessary details in this section. Make sure each figure is labeled accurately and clearly with respect to its corresponding table or chart. Avoid using footnotes or endnotes at the beginning of the report; they can disrupt the flow of the text. Instead, identify important facts or figures directly within the body of the text.
Analysis Now that you have introduced the topic and provided essential background information, you can move on to discussing specific issues related to the problem under investigation. Do not simply list facts and statistics without explaining their significance. For example, if you are investigating a problem in your school district's public transportation system, you would need to discuss what kinds of problems could arise from such a system, whether it is efficient, and so forth. Then, using evidence from research or experience, you could come up with possible solutions to these problems.
The preliminary report should include the following information: Problem: You must include a detailed explanation of the issue you are addressing. This version should be more polished and compelling than the one in your first proposal. Work that is related A nice summary and analysis of relevant work for your project. References and sources Should include references to other works (books, articles, websites) that help explain the background to the problem or issue discussed in the paper. These could be primary sources (such as original reports) or secondary sources (such as reviews of the evidence). Examples include government reports, studies, and interviews. Try not to rely too heavily on single sources because they can be unreliable.
Conclusions & recommendations What would you like to happen next? What needs to be done to meet these goals?
References & Further Reading Suggested readings beyond the assignment material.
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