Written Report Format
Informative sentences and well-organized paragraphs are the foundation of a good scientific paper. A written report should be concise and accurate. Do not be wordy just to fill space or "pad" your report. Tell the reader what you want to say, say it, and then end with a conclusion stating what has been said.
1. Title Page
2. Body of Essay
a. Thesis statement - state the purpose of the report
b. Introduction - a paragraph or so which discusses what will be written and
interpreted
c. Body - the topic material you are presenting or discussing. The length will depend
on the requirements or guidelines you have been given
d. Conclusion - a paragraph or so which summarizes the report
3. Endnotes (if necessary) - provide extra information on points which need to be clarified
4. Tables, graphs, and illustrations numbered consecutively
5. References
6. Blank Page
Plagiarism
All sources of material must be indicated. This includes quoted passages as well as
statements of fact which are not common knowledge.
Borders
Margins of 2.5 cm are standard, except for the first page where the top margin is 7.5 cm.
Although the title page is page 1, do not indicate this on the title page; rather, begin numbering on
the second page of the typewritten work.
Use unlined paper only, font size12, and black ink.
Tips:
1. Write a draft and then edit it.
2. Write clearly and simply. Keep statements simple and straightforward. Stating, "the fauna
exhibited a 100% mortality response" is a pretentious and verbose way of saying "all the organisms
died."
3. Be sure that each paragraph conveys one idea and has a topic sentence. The topic sentence
should be the main idea of the paragraph.
4. Use the third person perspective.
5. Be careful of syntax. Consider the following statement: "Lying on top of the cell, you can see a
thin transparent thread." Do you really need to lie on top of the cell to see the thread? The proper
way to state this would be: "A small transparent thread lies atop the cell."
6. Use the same verb tense throughout the paper.
7. Write positively. For example, state that "the bacteria were always moving" rather than "the
bacteria were never stationary."
8. Remember, a report is a formal submission; therefore, do not use slang, contractions,
personal names or sloppy styles in the report.
10. Be sure of the meaning of every word that you use, and write exactly what you mean. For
example, a drug may affect a persons behaviour by causing a physiological effect, or, you allude
to a book and elude a pursuer. If in doubt, use a dictionary.
11. Do not be verbose (i.e., delete unnecessary words). For example: