English Unlimited HAK/HUM 4/5, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM (mit Handelskorrespondenz)

194 Writing guide Definition A report is a written text that presents information in a factual way, often referring to diagrams, tables or other infographics. Purpose The purpose of a report is to inform , evaluate something and / or make suggestions and recommendations as clearly and concisely as possible. Structure and layout Start your report with information about the recipient of the report, the writer and the subject (To: / From: /Date: / Subject:). In order to make the report reader-friendly, divide it into clear sections with the following headings . Introduction (usually just one sentence) Findings (usually consists of more than one paragraph; use one paragraph for each idea and linking words to connect paragraphs) Conclusion (often no more than one sentence) and Recommendations (if appropriate) Style and register Use neutral and factual language and a formal register (no contractions, no colloquial expressions). If possible, use standard phrases to make the report sound more professional. In order to avoid the personal ‘I’ (except when making suggestions / recommendations in the last part), the passive is frequently used in reports. Remember the ABC of factual reports : Accuracy (be exact, make sure facts are correct), Brevity (keep it short and to the point), Clarity (make sure everyone understands). Useful expressions Report The aim of this report is to point out / compare the advantages and disadvantages of …  This report tries to show that …  This report is intended to …/ aims to … It is obvious /was found that …  … clearly shows that…  Most people seem to feel that … Several people explained / said / suggested / thought that …  The current situation is satisfactory / unsatisfactory / disappointing for … because … It was concluded / agreed / decided that …  In conclusion / concluding it can be said that …  To summarise, … I /We would therefore recommend / suggest …  It would seem that …  It is recommended / suggested that … Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv