Module 2b —
Report Writing
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Establishing a hierarchy of ideas
Level 1 headings become the 'signposts' of your report, with each section heading clearly indicating the nature of the content below it. Depending on the size and complexity of the document, you will need to divide the information under each Level 1 heading into subsections (level 2 headings) and so on.
For example, here is a partial look at the hierarchy of ideas as organized in this module so far:
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Module 2B: Writing Reports and Structured Documents |
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Level 1 headings |
From task to draft
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Key sections of a report
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Working with visual information |
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Level 2 headings |
Determining your purpose |
Analysing your readers
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Level 3 headings |
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Reader Analysis Form
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Reader questions
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Content |
Description of the reader analysis form and its function in planning a report |
Questions that a writer should anticipate from the reader in order to determine how to structure answers within the body and structure of the report |
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Arriving at a hierarchy of headings, however, is not enough to give your writing flow; information needs to be arranged according to patterns so your reader can see the relationship between ideas. This patterning of information should take place at all levels in the document: whole, section, and paragraph.