This article summarizes effective report writing techniques.I. The typical structure is as follows:II. Title, author, date.III. Table of contents.IV. Introduction and terms of reference (report outline).V. Executive summary (containing key evidence, recommendations and findings.)VI. (1 to 2 pages maximum)VII. Context/history/situation.VIII. Implications/issues/opportunities/threats, with facts and figures referenced by the source.IX. Solution/action/decision options with implications/effects/results, including financials and input and output parameters.X. Recommendations and actions with values ​​and costs of inputs and results, and if necessary return on investment.XI. Appendices.XII. Bibliography and optional acknowledgments. Map your structure before you begin researching and writing your report. Make sure the purpose, objectives and scope of the report are clearly explained in your terms of reference. The executive summary should be very concise, summarizing the main recommendations. and findings. Provide interpretation of situations and options. Show concrete and important facts and figures. Your recommendations should include implications, with values ​​and costs where applicable. Unless your study is very complex, limit the summary to less than two sides of a standard business document. The body of the report should be divided into logical sections. The content should be very concise. Use concrete facts and figures, evidence and justification. Use effective language: Large reports with too many words are not impressive. The best reports are quick and easy to read because the writer has correctly interpreted the data and developed viable recommendations. Do not cram a lot of details, diagrams, figures, evidence, references, etc., into the main body of the report. Index and attach these references as an appendix at the end of the report. When reporting figures or evidence, you should always identify the source. Show numbers in columns. Try to justify important numbers with a graph. If it is appropriate to thank contributors, do so in the introduction or in a separate section at the end. writing reports when you are not sure what is required If you are ever faced with the task of writing a report and you are not sure how to go about it, here are some tips. It's common to be asked to write reports in businesses and organizations, for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes reports are required for good reasons, sometimes they are simply a waste of time. Sometimes reports are requested with clear terms of reference and criteria, but most of the time they are not. It is common for reports to be requested with only a vague idea of ​​what is actually needed - usually there is no written "brief" or specification..