Formal Report Outline

A formal report can be used as an official document for business communication or for academic purpose. Whatever the reason for writing a formal report, the basics are the same, it gives the reader an in-depth information about a particular topic, introduces a particular process and presents new results. It's a means to convey whatever you have found out after researching on a particular topic or task. So, it is important that you follow the correct formal report format and write it in clear concise English, so that, it can be easily understood by everyone. If you write a formal report in the correct format, it would give the readers a clear understanding of what you have done, the reasons for it being done and the inferences of the research or the current situation at the end of the task. While formal report writing you need to be careful and ensure that you don't use any material or reference without mentioning its origin. Here is a formal report outline which you can use once you are done with your research.

Formal Report Design

While writing a short formal report, you need to follow a formal report outline which includes certain things that are required in business writing or writing a formal report after an experiment. You should first get the title of the report clear. The title should give an idea of what the report is all about. It should also include your name and the course for which you have done the research. The date should also be included so that it gives a clear idea of when the research was done.

Next comes the summary or the abstract of the research. It should describe in brief, what the report is all about and should cover everything of what the report is about. The abstract should pay attention to the procedure, results, objectives, besides the conclusion. It's the focal point which holds the report together. Many a time people don't read the complete report but will only go through the abstract, so providing clear information is of utmost importance. It should not be too long, at the most a couple of paragraphs would do. Once the abstract is done, you need to create the table of contents. It includes the headlines and page numbers.

Even though an outline is usually not included in a report, yet you can choose to include it as helps in giving your readers an idea of your thought process. It would also give your readers an idea of what to expect in the report.

The outline is followed by the introduction, which prepares the tone of the formal report. It gives the reader the required information in brief, besides helping them to understand the report in the proper context. The introduction also includes an analysis of the theoretical aspect of the research. The basic principles which you want to study and the theory which you apply during the course of the research to get to a conclusion.

The introduction is followed by the methods followed for the research. Here you need to explain the process which you have followed for getting the desired result. It also includes the details of the result, graphs and tables which shows the results (if any), and how the research relates to theory.

Next comes the discussion, which in reality is the main body of the report. Here you need to give details of whatever you have written in the introduction. It should provide all supporting information, research, statistics which backs up the process of research which you have carried out. The discussion should give in-depth details and while writing it should make sure that the reader understands whatever you want to convey.

The discussion is followed by the conclusion, which gives a summary of your findings. It should be a summary and analysis of your research. The appendix comes last and this would include all resource which you have used in the report. Here, you need to give mention the names of books, the publication and the author whose work you have referred to.

Formal Report Template

For your convenience, here is a formal report template so that you can understand how to write a formal report better.

The Title page: The Title page includes:

• Title of the report.
• Name of the author (i.e. your name).
• Name of the course for which the research is done.
• Date on which the research is done.

Abstract: It includes:

• Brief of what the report is all about.
• The methods of the research.
• Procedure followed.

Table of Contents: It includes:

• The appendices and heading
• Page numbers.

Introduction: It includes:

• An overview of the research carried out.
• Objective of the research.
• Importance of the research.

Methods: The method includes:

• Process followed.
• Details of the result.
• Equations followed.
• Graphs and tables.
• Relation between the research and theory.

Discussion: This includes:

• Critique of the outcome.
• Trend of results.

Conclusion: This should include:

• Summary and analysis of the findings.
• The numeric results of the research.

Appendices: This includes:

• Names of references from where you have taken information.
• List of equipment used.
• Calculations applied.

Once you get an idea of a formal report outline, may be you would like to go through a formal report example to get a better idea, you can start writing the report. You need to remember the audience and their needs while writing the report. The style should be such that it can be easily interpreted.