Phil Druker/ Department of English/ UI

 

English 317/ P. Druker

Report Outlines

Here are three typical report outlines:

  1. A generic report outline
  2. A empirical research report outline
  3. A feasibility report outline

GENERIC REPORT OUTLINE
I. Introduction
A. Background
--define key terms
--describe situation
B. Problem / Main Point
C. Purpose of report
--define intended audience
--explain what the report is for
[D. Review of Literature or Sources of Information]
E. Scope
--basic assumptions
--limitations of the report
--topics covered/not covered
F. Criteria
--criteria for judging results
--criteria for arriving at recommendations
--specifications
II. Collected Data (try to find a more specific heading)
A. Topic 1
--1. Define, introduce
--2. Give findings, data
--3. Interpret data
B. Topic 2
--1. Define, introduce
--2. Give findings, data
--3. Interpret data
C . . . .
III. Conclusion
A. Summary of interpretations/conclusions from each main section (the #3s above)
B. Overall interpretation
(Do not merely summarize.)
[IV. Recommendations
--based on conclusions]
[IV. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (if appropriate)]
V. REFERENCES
VI. APPENDICES

Note:

bulletSome of the sections in the introduction may become redundant, so you need to sections meet your particular needs.
bulletBracketed sections might not be necessary, depending on the nature of your report.

Some Links:

Here are some links to professional reports that use the "generic report" outline:

bullet "Selecting Novell for Your Enterprise" Note: this is a corporate report, so it contains advertising for the company. However, in the body of the report the authors do provide useful information on their product.

 

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH REPORT OUTLINE
I. Introduction
--A. Purpose (Main point, main finding/conclusion)
--B. Background
[C. Scope (limitations of report)]
D. Review of Literature
E. Hypothesis (Problem, main research question)

II. Methods and Materials
--A. Experimental design (theory behind methods if not already explained in background section)
--B. Materials
--C. Test procedures
--[D. Subjects] 

Use one of these patterns:
Preferred:                                                                              Classical: 

III. Results and Discussion
A. Test 1
     Results
     Discussion
B. Test 2
     Results
     Discussion


 		  

III. Results 
--A. Test 1
--B. Test 2
--C. Test 3
--D. Test 4
  IV. Discussion of Results
(interpret the significance of your results)
--A. Test 1
--B. Test 2
--C. Test 3
--D. Test 4


V. Conclusion
(based on discussion)
--Based on your interpretation, what do your results as a whole mean?
[VI. Recommendations (based on conclusion)
--Based on your conclusion, what should the reader do?]
[*VII. Acknowledgments]
VIII. References

Notes:

bulletOften the acknowledgements section appears at the end of the report (before References).
bulletBracketed [ ] sections might not be necessary. This depends on the nature or your report.

FEASIBILITY REPORT OUTLINE

I. Introduction
A. Purpose
B. Reasons for conducting the study
--Who is it for? Why do they need it? What do they need/want?
C. Background
--provide history of the situation
--explain the system
--present system
--new proposed system
--basic principles involved/ the basic theory
D. Definition of the problem (Type I) or problems (Type II) overview of problems
E. Criteria
--What basic criteria must be met for the problem to be solved?
--What basic criteria must be met for the solutions to be feasible? (Cost, design considerations, etc.).
--Scope--list topics the study covers (What do you cover?)
--list limitations of the study (What elements, factors are not considered/omitted?)
--list basic assumptions
II. Discussion

Type I: One problem, various solutions Type II: Various problems, various solutions for each problem
A. Solution A A. Problem A
--1. Explain solution --1. Explain problem A
--2. Evaluate/analyze --2. Give solution(s)
B. Solution B --3. Evaluate/analyze solution(s)
1. Explain solution B. Problem B
2. Evaluate/analyze --1. Explain problem B
C. Solution C --2. Give solution(s)
1. Explain solution --3. Evaluate/analyze solution(s)
2. Evaluate/analyze C. Problem C
  --1. Explain problem C
  --2. Give solution(s)
  --3. Evaluate/analyze solution(s)
III. Conclusions III. Conclusions
--base on evaluations --base on evaluations
--analyze evaluations --analyze evaluations
--Which solution is best? --Do the solutions solve all the problems?
--Is the solution feasible? --Will the solution work?
  --Is the solution feasible?
  --Emphasize the solutions that work(based on cost + other criteria) .
  --Will the solutions work?
  --Are the solutions feasible? (based on cost, other criteria)
IV. Recommendations IV. Recommendations
--base on conclusions --base on conclusions

 

 

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