Identification and Discussion of Report-Writing Strengths and Weaknesses in an Example Report

This report identifies and discusses strengths and weaknesses in report writing using an example report. Weaknesses include lack of specificity and inconsistent use of voice, while strengths include proper referencing and section ordering. Recommendations for improvement include training in academic formality and grammatical knowledge.

Identification and discussion
of report-writing strengths
and weaknesses in an example
report
ID number: 123456
Module code: MOD006960_012(1)
Word count: 1,500

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report mainly aims towards identification and discussion of strengths and weaknesses
during the report writing of an example report. During the higher study, the students are mainly
involved in the development of reports and academic writing, therefore this report focuses
towards practice skills that are required for report writing factors so that reports can be
developed in a meaningful manner. For doing so, this report schedules an example report along
with it and various authoritative sources such as books and generals that are provided through a
module reading list. This report mainly focuses on the weaknesses that had been seen in the
report such as specificity and person or voice, whereas referencing words and section ordering
are the critical strengths that had been identified. The report also provides recommendations such
as the training academic formality; grammatical knowledge and summative feedback from tutors
could improve the report writing and encourage academic caution.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
APPENDICES.................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Report writing can be demonstrated as a description and well organized systematic
presentation of data in written form, about something that had happened, occurred or
investigated. This following report will identify strengths and weaknesses with the help of an
example report. It will also help the students to critically understand the theory of report writing
and how it can be helpful in developing the report writing skills of students to help them in their
academic years. The initiation of academy courses is the most suitable time to complete the
required tasks and understand or revise the skills that can be helpful for developing the academic
and professional career. With the help of these skills the students can create effective and
efficient work in their academic as well as professional life. It helps them to gain higher results
by identifying their strengths in academic writing and critical weaknesses that may hinder their
growth.
FINDINGS
The specificity can be identified as one of the most critical weaknesses in the example
report. According to Ganobcsik Williams (2017): "the composition in academic writing should
include words that are very precise, concrete, relevant and particular, including the general,
abstract or vague content in the report writing must be avoided". At many places in the example
report specificity is not maintained and violations are many, some of the sentences are as
follows: "the main reasons for lacking academic performance are many across the University
campus" (Appendix 1). This shows the lack of consistency that makes the report informal and it
may not be precise and relevant at some points. Due to this, it is important to keep the writing
precise by including concrete and relevant abstract for the writing in the report. Regarding this, it
could be said that the use of relevant and meaningful data for making the specificity in the
sentence can be very helpful.
Another report writing issue or weaknesses that can be identified in the example report is
the use of person or voice. According to Morss and Murray (2020), "the passive and active
voices must be used very cleverly and should maintain the correctness of sentences in report".
The example report shows that there are certain problems in the use of voices in sentences like,
"therapy dogs at higher education could help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can be done by
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helping the students forget about their workload" (Appendix 2). This shows that the report had
been presenting the wrong voice in the report by changing from one to another. It is important
for the writer to include sentences that must be interconnected in their use of voices or person.
With the help of this approach there is a chance of creating better sentences and presenting the
data in a reasonable or logical manner. With this the interrelation of paragraphs can be obtained
and logical conclusions can be drawn.
The report writing strength that can be identified in the example report is the use of
referencing words in proper manner which make the sentence authentic and reliable from a
source. According to Pears and Shields (2019), "the referencing should be cited in a proper
manner, by using appropriate referencing systems that could link with the data obtained in the
report". This can be obtained from many instances in the example report such as from the given
sentence, "the use of therapy dogs may be good for the mental health concluded by the study"
(Appendix 3). From this example, it is clear that the sources of study are cited properly which
may lead to clear, authentic and reliable information in the report. The referencing is very
important that is considered while checking the report and it provides a useful source of relevant
data that support the statement. Dissertations and references must be very accurate and precise
because it proves the students' argument for data provided in the report is authentic and has been
concluded from a certain relevant source. With the help of references the authenticity and
reliability e of information increases and it is one of the most powerful aspects in the report
formation.
In the end, another report writing strength that can be evaluated is section ordering which
helps to avoid the unnecessary confusion and mix up of data. According to Cottrell (2020): "the
elements in the report should be in a proper order consisting of a sequence starting with title
page, executive summary, table of contents, introduction, main body, conclusion,
recommendation, reference list and appendices". The structure within the report is very concise
and precise according to the given order and has maintained its sequence from top to bottom
(Appendice 4). This means that the report had been returned with a precise order and suits the
academic conduct for writing a report with ARU London's own requirements. With the help of
this, the report can be used for different possible causes and provide informational and analytical
data for collection, classification, presentation, analysis and checking of the report. It is
important for the student to follow any model that may have been set out for specific
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circumstances such as the ARU London preferred report writing model. By following this model
the students can get a fix sequence of the report in a structural format that allows its marking to
be effective and efficient. In the end, it could be said that section ordering is the best strength that
can be identified in the example report.
CONCLUSION
From the above report few weaknesses and strengths can be obtained that have been
identified and disclosed from an example report. These weaknesses and strengths are very
important to improve the academic writing and overall performance of the student in their career.
With the help of report writing factors such as formality, language, report structuring, paragraph
structuring, evidence and document formatting the strength and weaknesses can be identified in
the example report. With the help of identification of weakness such as specificity and use of
person or voice the major aspect for improving the knowledge and practice in academic writing
can be improved. Moreover, identification of strengths, such as referencing word and section
ordering can help to prepare the report in a more effective and efficient manner. Further, it has
been obtained that the ability to improve their own selves can be helpful to transfer clear and
accurate data in the report writing. In the end, the study had been exploring certain additional
factors of report writing in comparison to different types of reports.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. It is recommended that the students can develop their academic writing skills and abilities
by taking steps to understand their weaknesses with the range of hypothetical scenarios.
This could be helpful for them to communicate effectively in each report and present the
data more precisely.
2. It is recommended that an example report should be added to a style guide in order to
create awareness among the students about the best structure ARU London model. This
could be displayed with the help of bullet points to display the model as a real life
practical example.
3. It is also recommended that a list can be generated that is acceptable or unacceptable for
academic writing including personal pronouns that include personal opinion of I, me and
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my. This could be added in the lecture series and module to avoid the chances of errors in
the report.
4. It is also recommended that the use of example templates for improving the ability of
students to connect with the recommended model and familiarize themselves with the
help of these reports.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ganobcsik-Williams, L., 2017. Teaching academic writing in UK higher education: Theories,
practices and models. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Morss, K. and Murray, R., 2020. Researching academic writing within a structured programme:
Insights and outcomes. Studies in Higher Education, 26(1). pp.35-52.
Pears, R. and Shields, G., 2019. Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Cottrell, S., 2020. Teaching study skills and supporting learning. Bloomsbury Publishing.
ARU London, 2022. Structure your way to success. [Online]
Available at: https://lca.anglia.ac.uk/structure-your-way-to-success
[Accessed 20 February 2022].
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1:
“At many places in the example report specificity is not maintained and violations are many,
some of the sentences are as follows: "the main reasons for lacking academic performance are
many across the University campus". In the views of Ganobcsik Williams (2017), the lack of
consistency and specificity makes the report informal and it may not be precise and relevant at
some points.
Appendix 2:
“Therapy dogs at higher education could help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can be done by
helping the students forget about their workload". In the views of Morss and Murray (2020), it is
important for the writer to include sentences that must be interconnected in their use of voices or
person.
Appendix 3:
"The use of therapy dogs may be good for the mental health concluded by the study". According
to Pears and Shields (2019), the referencing is very important that is considered while checking
the report and it provides a useful source of relevant data that support the statement.
Appendix 4:
The structure within the report is very concise and precise according to the given order and has
maintained its sequence from top to bottom. Cottrell (2020) states that, it is important for the
student to follow any model that may have been set out for specific circumstances such as the
ARU London preferred report writing model.
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