A report is a document written on a given subject, to convey information and ideas to a particular audience. Sometimes a report makes recommendations.

This guidance document has been written for Computing and BIT students and has two objectives:

• it provides a set of standards to which students can be asked to conform when writing their reports
• it gives guidance and advice on how to write reports

A set of basic writing and presentational standards are included as Appendix A. These are given as being typical of organisation report writing standards. They may be specified by a lecturer as being the required standards for student assignment work. An outline report 'template' document is available at http://www.coventry.ac.uk/swift/~csx067/rept_wrt/report.doc

The production of a report is divided into eight stages each addressing a different aspect. In all stages, every effort should be made to ensure that the report is clear, concise, complete and correct. In addition, the importance of remembering the interdependence of the report’s purpose, audience and content is stressed.

If you have to write reports then you should consider the guidance in this document.

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