EU law Report Writing Guidance PDF

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EU law Report Writing Guidance

The EU law with Report Writing module requires you to complete a report writing task as part of the assessment. As recognised by the Higher Education Authority (Writing Reports), the skills involved in writing a report will help you to condense and focus information, drawing objective findings from detailed information. The ability to express yourself clearly and succinctly is an important skill and is one that can be greatly enhanced by approaching each report in a planned and focused way. What is a report? A report is merely a mechanism to present information. It is written to address a clear purpose and is usually written to a specific person or persons. The defining characteristic of a report is the structure used. Thus, use is made of headings, subheadings and bullet points in presenting the information in a clearly structured format. Your writing style should be direct and precise. Structure There is no set format for a report. Each report will be governed by the author in view of the report writing task and the audience for the information. As such, it is a matter of judgment as to what you decide is appropriate. Thus, what may be appropriate for a lab report or a data analysis report may not be appropriate for the report writing task you are given. Sections often used include: Abstract/Executive Summary The abstract is not the place for detailed commentary or the detail of your report. The abstract should provide a brief description of the content of the report its main points, main conclusions and recommendations. The abstract should provide the audience with a concise, informative and clear overview of the report’s content. Write this section after you have written the remainder of the report. It is, in essence independent of the report. Introduction The introduction provides a background to the issues raised in the brief and explains how the details that follow are arranged. Discussion The discussion section is the core of your report. It is unique to your report and will describe what you discovered about 'the problem'. Arrange the information logically, normally putting things in order of priority – most important first. This section should be divided into section headings. Your points should be grouped and arranged in an order that is logical and easy to follow using headings and subheadings to create a clear structure for your material. Conclusion Your conclusion should pull your material together. It is not a place to introduce new material but provides an opportunity to highlight key points or emphasise central issues. Recommendations Depending upon your brief and the body of your report, it may be appropriate to make recommendations to your audience.

List of References Your list of references should include all published sources referred to in your report. Guidance on correct referencing can be found in the Survive and Thrive pages on NOW. Examples of reports Remember, there is no set format which we expect you to use. As such, you are encouraged to research to find a range of examples. This in turn will inform the approach you take with your report writing task. Good places to research include local government websites, the Home Office website and the Health & Safety Executive website. If you are struggling to find examples, a good report (IT focussed) with critical comment can be found on the following link, courtesy of Monash University http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/information-technology/report/1.3.3.xml...