Module 2b —
Report Writing
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Clarification, simplification and emphasis
Complicated descriptions of information can confuse your audience if the information is not presented or explained effectively. Visuals like charts, diagrams, and flowcharts provide clarification of detailed descriptions and show relationships, trends, patterns, and processes.
However, at the same time you need to decide what level of detail will be most helpful and appropriate for your audience. The level of detail can also help determine what points of information you wish to bring out for your audience’s attention. In this way, you can help your reader focus on a particular piece of data in the context of a more comprehensive set of information.
Example 1: Highlighting what you want to emphasize
Compare the following two tables, which contain the same information. One has been formatted to focus the reader’s attention on the economic and financial benefits; the other displays all the information as equal. Consider which is more effective.
Table 1.2. Total economic costs and benefits of eliminating child labour
over the entire period (2000 to 2020), in $billion, PPP
(Percentage of aggregate annual gross national income in parentheses)
| Region | Transitional countries | Asia | Latin America | Sub-Saharan Africa | North Africa and Middle East | Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total costs |
25.6 |
458.8 |
76.6 |
139.5 |
59.7 |
760.3 |
Education supply |
8.5 |
299.1 |
38.7 |
107.4 |
39.6 |
493.4 |
Transfer implementation |
0.7 |
6.3 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.1 |
10.7 |
Interventions |
0.4 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
9.4 |
Opportunity cost |
16.0 |
151.0 |
30.9 |
30.1 |
18.8 |
246.8 |
Total benefits |
149.8 |
3321.3 |
407.2 |
723.9 |
504.1 |
5106.3 |
Education |
145.8 |
3307.2 |
403.4 |
721.8 |
500.2 |
5078.4 |
Health |
4.0 |
14.0 |
3.8 |
2.1 |
3.9 |
28.0 |
Net economic benefits |
124.2 |
2862.4 |
330.6 |
584.4 |
444.4 |
4346.1 |
|
(5.1%) |
(27.0%) |
(9.3%) |
(54.0%) |
(23.2%) |
(22.2%) |
Transfer payments |
13.1 |
125.8 |
23.5 |
29.1 |
22.1 |
213.6 |
Net financial benefits |
111.1 |
2736.6 |
307.1 |
555.4 |
422.3 |
4132.5 |
|
(4.6%) |
(25.9%) |
(8.7%) |
(51.3%) |
(22.0%) |
(21.1%) |
Table 1.2. Total economic costs and benefits of eliminating child labour
over the entire period (2000 to 2020), in $billion, PPP
(Percentage of aggregate annual gross national income in parentheses)
Region |
Transitional countries |
Asia |
Latin America |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
North Africa and Middle East |
Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total costs |
25.6 |
458.8 |
76.6 |
139.5 |
59.7 |
760.3 |
Education supply |
8.5 |
299.1 |
38.7 |
107.4 |
39.6 |
493.4 |
Transfer implementation |
0.7 |
6.3 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.1 |
10.7 |
Interventions |
0.4 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
9.4 |
Opportunity cost |
16.0 |
151.0 |
30.9 |
30.1 |
18.8 |
246.8 |
Total benefits |
149.8 |
3321.3 |
407.2 |
723.9 |
504.1 |
5106.3 |
Education |
145.8 |
3307.2 |
403.4 |
721.8 |
500.2 |
5078.4 |
Health |
4.0 |
14.0 |
3.8 |
2.1 |
3.9 |
28.0 |
Net economic benefits |
124.2 |
2862.4 |
330.6 |
584.4 |
444.4 |
4346.1 |
|
(5.1%) |
(27.0%) |
(9.3%) |
(54.0%) |
(23.2%) |
(22.2%) |
Transfer payments |
13.1 |
125.8 |
23.5 |
29.1 |
22.1 |
213.6 |
Net financial benefits |
111.1 |
2736.6 |
307.1 |
555.4 |
422.3 |
4132.5 |
|
(4.6%) |
(25.9%) |
(8.7%) |
(51.3%) |
(22.0%) |
(21.1%) |
This table is from Investing in Every Child: An Economic Study of the Costs and Benefits of Eliminating Child Labour, International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)
2003. Page 4.