What are the PARTS of a REPORT

Now that we know what is a report, we can differentiate different report types, which will depend on the purpose of the researcher, the length, the content and the characteristics of the text. Therefore, the categorization of a report can be classified according to its structure, its content and its length.

Reports according to their extension

Although we tend to think that reports are usually very long texts, there are two types of reports according to their length that generally depend on the subject on which the report is made:

• Executive reports (short): these documents do not exceed 8-10 pages.
• Long reports: exceed 10 pages in length.

Reports according to their content

The reports are classified according to the subject or content to which they are addressed, from which we can distinguish:

• Scientific reports: they are centered on a scientific investigation and they use technicalities and their own language, rigorous and very formal. These reports are aimed at exclusive readers, such as doctors, researchers, engineers, physicists, among others.
• Technical reports: technical reports usually go aimed at public or private organizations who have commissioned research or study on a specific topic. Technical terms and language similar to scientific texts are used for the writing, but always taking into account the intended reader (psychologists, statisticians, businessmen, etc.) to ensure that it is accessible to read. An example of a technical report is management reports, practice reports, and reading reports.
• Disclosure reports: this documents are aimed at the general public, so they are usually written in accessible and understandable language for all readers. These types of reports often appear in newspapers, magazines, or other publications.
• Mixed reports: these are texts addressed to a company or organization, but which can also be made known to the general public. This may be the case for clinical reports, although these may also be exclusively scientific.

Although this is the general classification of the reports according to their content, we can find many other types of reports depending on the sector or area to which the analyzes are directed. They stand out from them:

• Financial report
• Academic report
• Internship or internship report
• Work report
• Work performance report
• Psycho-technical report
• Investigation report

Reports according to their structure

Depending on the way a report is organized, the structure of the text and the presentation of your ideas, these documents can be divided into the following categories:

• Expository reports: these are documents that collect all the information on a topic and present it, without making evaluations or including conclusions with subjective connotations. They can also be called dossier.
• Analytical reports: analytical reports are those that have the objective of justifying a decision or an action, generally raised in advance. They are also often known as a “project” or “proposal.”
• Persuasive reports: this type of report is intended to convince the recipient to make a concrete and specific decision following the line of the study presented.

As a general rule, reports tend to follow the same structure, although the content is different. However, this structure could vary depending on the purpose of the document. Broadly speaking, parts of a report are summarized in three main sections:

• The introduction, in which the main idea on which the analysis and justification of the report is carried out is exposed.
• The development, or part in which the procedures followed and the methodology used in collecting the information are explained
• The conclusion, in which the results obtained and the evaluations are exposed.

This structure may vary, adding elements and sections or parts, always depending on the type of report we are preparing.

We will explain the parts of the report in more detail below, and if you want to find out more about reports and how to write them, do not hesitate to consult our article How to write a report correctly.

The report cover it is the first thing the recipient will notice. It is generally sober and formal, but it should include basic information such as:

• Report title
• Report author name
• Document preparation date
• Place of preparation or presentation of the document

Selecting a good title is important so that the reader, at a glance, knows what the document is talking about. The title must summarize a clear idea, related to the subject of the document, in a short sentence.

Every report must include an index, a fundamental part to structure the document. The index indicates all the sections of the report, as well as the total number of pages. Likewise, this part acts as a guide for the reader, who can turn to it when he wants to search for a specific section within the document.

The introduction to the report is a brief overview of the main topic of the report. This introduction is one of the most important parts of the document, as it is a letter of presentation of the work and will help the report to be correctly understood in its entirety.

To do this, the introduction must precisely and concretely highlight both the idea and the objective of this report, bearing in mind that this part should never exceed 2 pages.

Learn more about writing the introduction in our article How to introduce a report.

The development or body is the part in which the main information is exposed Of the investigation. In addition to text, the body can be supplemented with graphs, extracts, diagrams, footnotes, and other resources to explain the procedure through which the research was conducted.

All essential information from the study or analysis should be included, since it is the part with the greatest content and the central axis of the work.

The conclusions present the report results, the most important or with the most weight. This part should answer the questions raised in the introduction, these gave entry to the development of the research and raised all those questions that arose on the subject in question.

In some reports, these conclusions are usually objective, as is the case with expository reports, which can sometimes do without them. However, the conclusions they can also have subjectivity, since they can try to convince the reader with the analysis presented, as with persuasive reports.

Here you will find everything you need to write the conclusion correctly: How to make the conclusion of a report.

In any report it is essential to present the references consulted in a bibliography section. In it, any consulted document must appear in alphabetical order and by date of consultation, such as books, encyclopedias, articles, other studies, audiovisual media.

Any support used to answer the questions in the report and specify its ideas must be referenced in this section.

Some reports, such as scientific or financial reports, may include annexes after the bibliography. In them will be added information that is worth by itself and that it offers us additional information to that contained in the main document.

The annexes usually include images, graphics and specific content that could not be fully explained in the text so as not to extend it too much, such as calculations, plans, manuals, among others. Any information that can help expand the main text should appear in this section.

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