Report Writing

Course outline

Produce reports that achieve their goals

This module covers how to gather, synthesize, structure and organise information in the planning and preparation phase of report writing

• Stages and processes: investigating, planning, writing and revising
• Structures and formats: creating an outline
• Narrative, persuasive and logical frameworks
• Orienting readers: chunking, flagging and signposting

Clarity, precision and focus

This module covers the technical dimensions of disciplined and efficient writing.

• Cut out the fluff: clear, simple and effective writing
• Boil down to essentials: techniques for concise, focused writing
• Precision in language: correcting the most common language errors
• Editing: five practical techniques for correcting and improving copy

Writing for impact

This module covers the creative dimension of report writing: powering up your prose to create clear, bright and engaging copy.

• Techniques to power up your writing
• Adding depth, colour and humanity
• Workshops: verbs, voice and vocab

Reviewing and editing

This module covers how to check, correct and improve our own writing and others’ ready for final delivery.

• Principles and approaches to copy-editing
• Practical techniques to identify and correct errors
• Constructive rewriting

A structured approach

A step-by-step approach to focus on our terms of reference, reader, objective and content

• Research and preparation
• Deciding on relevant information to help the report achieve its purpose
• Structuring and sequencing that creates order and encourages the reader to read on
• Is my writing style professional and appropriate?
• Use vocabulary that helps understanding and gets results

Developing a persuasive tone to reinforce the argument

How sentences and paragraphs can give rhythm and pace to our writing

• Will my report get a positive response from my reader?
• How to edit and proofread effectively
  Commonly recognised components of a report
• Gaining an understanding of how a report is structured – beginning, middle and end
• Choosing the best format for your purpose

Who should attend?

This is an intermediate-level course designed for learners with existing knowledge and several years of experience in a professional role. Learning is pitched at a level to help you develop strategic approaches and apply sophisticated techniques. This course is recommended for all professionals who create reports and proposals of a strategic nature, including to persuade and inform high-level individuals.

What you will learn

After this course you will be able to:

• Prepare reports and proposals that inform, persuade, and provide information
• Review your work so that it is clear, concise, complete, and correct
• Confidently write reports that achieve results or objectives
• Follow a systematic approach to reduce the time it takes to write
• Structure the information to guide the reader logically through the text
• Adopt a ‘reader-friendly’ style that creates understanding and maintains interest
• Write persuasively using the relevant information and vocabulary to support your idea
  Ensure that specialist and non-specialist readers will quickly read and understand your work
• Edit your draft reports easily and constructively
• Use diagrams, tables and charts to support and enhance your text