4. Report Formats

4. Report Formats: the Short Form. Short reports may be formal or informal.
Formal reports are strictly schematic, with a wide use of impersonal constructions.
Informal reports are less rigid in structure and slightly more personal in style.
The short formal report is usually split into logical sections, each referenced and
headed appropriately:
Title (usually centered)
I. Terms of Reference
II. Procedure (or Method)
III. Findings
1. Section heading (if required)
2. Section heading
(a) sub heading
(i)sub point
IV. Conclusions
V. Recommendations (if asked for)
SHORT FORMAL REPORT
Title: At the top of every report (or on a title page for lengthy ones) should be the title
(i.e., subject) of the report, who has prepared it, for whom it is intended, the date of
completion, and the status of the report (i.e. „Confidential‟ or „Urgent‟).