Writing a Report

A report is a structured factual account written for a specific reader, usually a superior or authority figure.

Incident report — documents an accident, crisis, or unexpected event
Eye-witness report — a first-hand account of something observed
Newspaper report — a factual account written for a general readership
Investigative report — presents findings from a formal inquiry or observation
Statistical report — analyses and interprets numerical data or survey results

Sender's Address — your full postal address, top left
Date — written in full below the sender's address
Recipient — full name, title/position, institution, and address of the person receiving the report
Salutation — Dear [Title] [Surname]: — use a colon in formal correspondence
Subject Line — Re: [Brief description of the incident or event]
Introduction — general overview: who, what, where, when — give the reader an immediate picture of the incident
Body — one paragraph covering three distinct aspects of the incident in detail
Conclusion — the outcome and any recommendations
Close — complimentary close, signature, full name, title/position, and contact

A report is three paragraphs in total: introduction, body, conclusion. The body is a single paragraph — not three separate ones.

Written in formal, objective third person
Subject line concisely identifies the incident or event
Introduction answers the five Ws: who, what, where, when, and how
Body covers three aspects of the incident but remains one continuous paragraph
Avoid emotional language; state facts only
Do not use bullet points — CSEC requires continuous prose throughout; bullet points will cost marks

A report is a structured factual account written for a specific reader, usually a superior or authority figure.

Incident report — documents an accident, crisis, or unexpected event
Eye-witness report — a first-hand account of something observed
Newspaper report — a factual account written for a general readership
Investigative report — presents findings from a formal inquiry or observation
Statistical report — analyses and interprets numerical data or survey results

Sender's Address — your full postal address, top left
Date — written in full below the sender's address
Recipient — full name, title/position, institution, and address of the person receiving the report
Salutation — Dear [Title] [Surname]: — use a colon in formal correspondence
Subject Line — Re: [Brief description of the incident or event]
Introduction — general overview: who, what, where, when — give the reader an immediate picture of the incident
Body — one paragraph covering three distinct aspects of the incident in detail
Conclusion — the outcome and any recommendations
Close — complimentary close, signature, full name, title/position, and contact

A report is three paragraphs in total: introduction, body, conclusion. The body is a single paragraph — not three separate ones.

Written in formal, objective third person
Subject line concisely identifies the incident or event
Introduction answers the five Ws: who, what, where, when, and how
Body covers three aspects of the incident but remains one continuous paragraph
Avoid emotional language; state facts only
Do not use bullet points — CSEC requires continuous prose throughout; bullet points will cost marks