No matter which type of report you are writing, the basic elements are almost the same.
- A report needs a heading or a title at the very beginning.
- This heading or title can be of two types:
- 1) Summarising the topic within a line.
- 2) Creating mystery to attract the readers.
- The titles for magazine reports tend to be quite straightforward that summarise the event in a few words. But in terms of newspaper reports, the heading or the title generally appears to be mysterious to attract the readers to the newspaper article.
- Date & Place are indivisible parts of newspaper report writing. Dates signify the day when the report is written and the place signifies where the event has taken place. It is important for keeping the proper account of the event and also helps to maintain the authenticity of the report. They are written either on the left side of the paper or just below the heading. It can also be written at the very beginning of the introduction. But for magazine reports, place and date do not need to be mentioned.
- The Name & Designation of the reporter is another important thing to mention properly in all kinds of reports. They are written either on the right side of the paper after the heading or just below the heading. In report writing format, the Name & Designation of the reporter is referred to as bylines.
Then comes the body of the report. A report’s body consists of three crucial elements: Introduction, main content, and conclusion.
- Introduction: The introduction is the elaborative expansion of the heading itself. It tends to summarise the main event just within 2-3 lines.
- Main Content: It is the primary descriptive part of the report. Here you have to write the details about the event, and the sequence with proper reference if available. At this point, try highlighting the issues regarding the event that are quite significant.
- Conclusion: Here you will end the report. So, try to mention here what action is/will be taken if writing newspaper reports. If you are writing magazine reports, mention how the event ended and how the audience felt about the event. Always try to finish the conclusion on a positive note. Remember, this is the part that will help you to score better.
Dos and Don’ts While Writing a Report
Dos
- Think of the event you are about to write and plan to structure the information before you start writing the report.
- Always start writing the report from a fresh page and try to finish within it.
- Be direct and crisp with the information you mention in the report.
- Value-neutral point of view is the key to an excellent report.
- Always write your report in the past tense.
- Use passive voice and indirect speech to write your report as you are writing from a third-person perspective.
- Be as brief as possible with your report. Try to fit all the information within the word limit. Always remember, your job is to express the event, not to impress.
Don’ts
- Always avoid repeating the information. The info you once mentioned, do not mention that further. If you are running out of words, conclude it.
- Never elaborate on the information you’re putting in your report.
- For newspaper reports, don’t put administrative information without proper reference.
- Always avoid giving detailed descriptions.
- Related information doesn’t need to be mentioned in reports.
- Never mention your personal details throughout the report writing. If required use abbreviations like ‘ABC’ ‘XYZ’ etc.
Now write your report on
&
submit before 15 Feb 2024
