how to write report for student

How to Write a Progress Report for Students: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Providing feedback to students about their progress is an essential component of teaching and learning. Progress reports are an effective way to communicate with students, parents, and guardians about student performance throughout the academic year. In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore the purpose of progress reports, the essential components of a report, and how to write a clear and concise progress report for students.

Understanding the Purpose of a Progress Report

Progress reports serve several purposes. Firstly, they provide valuable feedback to students about their academic performance in each subject area, highlighting areas of strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, progress reports keep parents and guardians informed about their child's progress, helping them to be more involved and supportive of their child's learning. Finally, progress reports enable teachers to identify areas where they may need to modify teaching methods or provide additional support.

Evaluating Student Progress

Evaluating student progress is key to writing an effective progress report. Teachers should consider the student's achievement against the expected learning outcomes for the given grade level. This may involve using standardized tests, assessments, observations, and student work samples to determine whether the student is meeting expectations.

Communicating with Parents and Guardians

Progress reports are a critical communication tool for teachers to use with parents and guardians. They provide a snapshot of a student's academic progress, in addition to reports displaying their behavior in the classroom. Reports should be easily understood by parents, including specific feedback on areas where the student is struggling and where progress is being made. Teachers should make every effort to keep parents informed throughout the year and provide an opportunity for discussions about student progress.

Identifying Areas for Improvement

It is essential to identify areas for improvement when writing a progress report. This could include identifying a student's strengths, weaknesses, areas of growth, and where they need to improve. Teachers should use clear and concise language to communicate this information so that it is easily understood by both the student and parents or guardians. Clear reporting helps students to understand what they need to do to improve their academic performance.

Essential Components of a Progress Report

Student information.

Every progress report should begin with the student's name, grade, and the grading period covered in the report. Including this information upfront makes it easier for parents to view report cards if they have more than one student.

Grading Period

The grading period should also be included in the progress report. This provides readers with a timeline of when the student was evaluated and specifically how the student performed during that time.

Subject Areas

Progress reports should cover the various subject areas studied by students. This includes subject areas like mathematics, reading, writing, and science. Teachers should provide a summary that is based on the student's performance for each area, which includes information about how well the student is doing and how they compare to their peers in the same subject area.

Performance Indicators

Teachers should use performance indicators to identify specific areas of achievement or concern. Performance indicators help to describe what a student can do or what they need to improve further in different subject areas. Defining, these indicators is important as they help to paint a more complete picture of a student's performance.

Comments and Recommendations

Teachers are required to comment on a student's academic performance and behavior. These comments should be written in simple and concise language that describes the student's performance clearly. Teachers can point out areas for improvement, make recommendations for further study, and highlight areas where students excel, in order to give concise and constructive feedback to parents and students.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Progress Report

Step 1: gather student data and information.

Before writing progress reports, teachers should ensure they have all the required information and data at their fingertips. This includes student work samples, test scores, observations, and any notes from previous parent-teacher meetings. Teachers should try to gather as much data as possible to clearly describe a student's progress throughout the year. This data makes it possible to write a balanced report that captures a student's strengths and areas of improvement.

Step 2: Analyze and Evaluate Student Performance

After gathering the student data, the teacher needs to analyze and evaluate the student's progress in each subject area. The teacher should determine whether the student has met the expected learning outcomes for the given grade level and identify areas where the student is excelling or needs more support. This step is critical to ensure that the resulting progress report is an accurate depiction of the student's performance throughout the grading period.

Step 3: Organize the Report

The next step is to organize the report in a clear and simple way so that it is easily understood by parents and guardians. Reports should include a brief introduction, the essential components of a progress report (as outlined above), and a summary of the student's performance. It is important to include information that parents can use to support student success inside and outside of the classroom. Organizing the report and writing it in a consistent format makes it easier for readers to follow and understand.

Step 4: Write Clear and Concise Comments

Upon analysis and evaluation, teachers should write clear and concise comments that describe the student's academic progress and behavior. These comments should be easy to understand, give specific details about progress, and target both positive achievements and areas that need improvement. Comments should be customized to each student to ensure that they reflect that individual's progress over time.

Step 5: Review and Edit the Report

Finally, it's always essential to review and edit reports before sending them out to parents. Review for accuracy, ensure that comments and recommendations are constructive and helpful. Finally, ensure that it follows the school's guidelines concerning the distribution of progress reports. Reviewing ensures that the report that is sent achieves its purpose of providing an accurate, constructive outlook on the student's performance in school.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Progress Report for Students

Use the following prompt in an AI chatbot . Below each prompt, be sure to provide additional details about your situation. These could be scratch notes, what you'd like to say or anything else that guides the AI model to write a certain way.

Please compose a comprehensive and detailed update on the progress of students, including any improvements or setbacks, as well as any relevant observations or insights.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing progress reports is an essential component of teaching. Progress reports provide valuable feedback to students, parents, and guardians about student academic performance throughout the academic year. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, teachers can produce clear, concise, and meaningful progress reports that help students reach their full potential and improve their performance in the classroom and life.

How to Write a Report (2023 Guide & Free Templates)

how to write a report, 2023 guide on how to write a report plus free templates

You have a report due in a few days, but you’re still procrastinating like a pro.

Sounds familiar?

If you’ve been staring at a blank page, wondering how to write a report the best way possible, you’re not alone. For many, writing a report, especially for the first time, can feel like rolling a giant boulder uphill.

The good news is that from a first draft to creating reports that people love to read is a skill you can develop and polish over time.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who wants to up their report-writing game, keep reading for a 2023 guide and step-by-step instructions on how to write a report. Plus, learn about the basic report format.

You’ll also get access to report templates that you can edit and customize immediately and learn about a tool to make reports online (no need to download software!). You can also jump right into customizing templates by creating a free account .

What is report writing?

Report writing is a way of communicating information, data, insight, or analysis. It’s an essential skill that will come in handy in various settings, from academic research or diving into historical events to business meetings.

But creating a report can be a bit intimidating at first.

In its simplest form, report writing starts with researching and gathering all the information, analyzing your findings, and presenting it in a way that’s easy for your audience to understand.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Well, there’s a bit more to it than that. We’ll guide you through every step of the process to write an entire report from a rough draft and data in the next section.

But first, let’s get to know the different types of reports.

Types of reports

Reports come in all shapes and sizes, and the type of report you write will depend on your specific goals and audience. Each type of report has its unique purpose, format, and style.

financial review report, how to write a report

The most common types of reports are:

Academic report – These include school reports, book reports, thesis reports, or analytical reports between two opposing ideas.
Business report – Business reports range from annual reports to SWOT analyses . The goal of business reports is to communicate ideas, information, or insights in a business setting.
Research report – Research reports are often more scientific or methodological in nature. They can take the form of case studies or research papers.

Learn more : 20 Types of Reports and When to Use Them (Plus Templates)

How to write a report without feeling overwhelmed

Breaking down the report writing process into three stages can make it much more manageable for you, especially if it’s your first time to create one.

These three stages are:

Pre-writing stage
Writing stage
Post-writing stage

Let’s take a look at the steps for each stage and how to write a good report in 2023 that you can be proud of.

Stage 1: Pre-writing

The pre-writing stage is all about preparation. Take some time to gather your thoughts and organize your main idea. Write a summary first.

Here are important steps to help you deal with the overwhelm of creating an insightful report.

Understand the purpose of your report

Knowing your purpose will help you focus and stay on track throughout the process. Dig into the why of your report through these questions:

Who is your intended reader? Are you familiar with your audience’s language and how they think?
What are you trying to achieve with your report? Are you trying to inform, persuade, or recommend a course of action to the reader?

Research your topic

It’s time to gather as much information as you can about your topic. This might involve reading books, articles, and other reports. You might also need to conduct interviews with subject matter experts.

Pro tip on how to write a report : Pick reputable sources like research papers, recently-published books, and case studies by trustworthy authors.

Make a report outline

An outline is a roadmap for your report. It covers your title, introduction, thesis statement, main points, and conclusion. Organizing your thoughts this way will help you keep focus and ensure you cover all the necessary information.

While you can create a report without creating an outline, you could write a better report with an outline. An outline helps you organize your facts and important points on paper.

Stage 2: Writing

Once you have completed the pre-writing stage, it’s time to write your report.

Follow the proper report writing format

You will feel a lot of resistance at this point because this is where most of the tedious work of report writing happens. However, the process can be a breeze if you follow a proper structure and report writing format.

The structure of your report can vary depending on the type of report you’re creating, but the report writing format below can serve as a guide for anyone.

Title page. This is the first page of your report and should include the report’s title, the author’s name, the date of presentation or submission, and any other relevant information, such as your name or the organization’s name.
Table of Contents (TOC ). This section contains subsections of your report and their corresponding page numbering. A well-written TOC will help readers navigate your report easily and find the information they need.
Brief summary . This part provides an overview of the report’s particular purpose, subject, methodology, key findings, and recommendations. This section is often called the executive summary in corporate reports.
Introduction . The introduction should provide background information about the topic and explain why the report was written. It should also state the aims and objectives of your report and give an overview of the methodology used to gather and analyze the data. Make sure you include a powerful topic sentence.
Main body. The main body of the report should be divided into subsections, each dealing with a specific aspect of the topic. These sections should be clearly labeled and organized in a logical order. In most reports, this is also the part where you explain and present your findings, analysis, and recommendations.
Conclusion. Summarize the main points of your report and provide a final summary, thought, or suggestions. Review your thesis statement. The conclusion also includes any limitations of the study and areas for further research or future action.
References . This section should include a list of all the sources cited in the report, like books, journal articles, websites, and any other sources used to gather information on your subject.
Appendices . In the appendices section, you should include any additional information relevant to the report but not in the article’s main body. This might consist of raw data, event details, graphs, charts, or tables.

With all these key report elements, your readers can look forward to an informative, well-organized, and easy-to-read report.

Pro tips: Remember to use clear and concise language in your essay. It is also required to follow a specific type of formatting set by your organization or instructor.

Plus, use the active voice when you can because it helps improve clarity. To write a report essay in a passive voice makes it sound less concise.

Reports should usually be written in the third person.

Edit and proofread the article

Once you have completed your first essay draft, take some time to edit and proofread your work. Look for spelling mistakes and grammar errors, as well as any areas where the flow of your article could be improved. Review your topic sentence.

If hiring a professional editor isn’t possible, have a colleague or someone else read your rough draft and provide feedback. You can also use tools like Grammarly and the Hemingway App .

Stage 3: Post-writing

You’re almost there! This stage is about finalizing your report and ensuring it is ready to be shared.

Format your report

Ensure your report is formatted correctly, with clear and easy-to-read fonts, headings, and subheadings.

Incorporate visuals

Adding visuals to your report article is another great way to help your audience understand complex information more easily.

From charts to illustrations, the right visual can help highlight and explain key points, events, trends, and patterns in your data, making it easier for the reader to interpret the information.

an example of a report that uses visuals effectively, written report

Want to check out more templates? Get access to the template gallery today .

However, it’s important to use visuals sparingly and ensure they are relevant and effectively support the texts. You will learn more about effectively incorporating visuals into your report as you scroll down below to the next sections.

Share your report

Once your report is complete, share it with your audience. This might involve submitting it to your boss, presenting it to a group, or sharing it online.

A final note for this section: Remember to take your time, stay organized, and most importantly, have fun! Writing a report can be a rewarding experience, especially if you get positive feedback when you present.

How to add visuals to your report

Adding visuals to your report is more than just putting a graph or chart for every piece of information.

There are no hard and fast rules but use the pointers below as guidelines:

Each visual in your report should have a purpose. Don’t just add a pie chart or bar graph for the sake of adding one. Your visual of choice should offer clarity to readers that’s impossible to achieve with words alone. Piktochart’s report maker lets you search for free stock images and illustrations to add to any page with drag and drop.
Add captions, legends, or arrows to your visuals when possible. For more technical reports, graphics are either Tables or Figures. Number them in order of appearance (Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, etc.) and give each a descriptive title.
Place the visual close to the relevant text on the page.
Document the source of the visual, citing it in both the caption and references section if necessary.
Make the graphic stand out with colors, borders, boxes, spacing, and frames.

a report about customer satisfaction results with graphs, charts, and icons

Learn more : How to Improve Your Data Visualization Design in 6 Steps

Write reports like a pro with Piktochart’s easy-to-edit report templates

Creating reports from scratch can be time-consuming. The great news is you don’t have to make reports from scratch like how it used to be in the 90s and early 2000s. Organizations of all shapes and sizes now understand that you can also create the perfect report with the help of templates.

For example, Piktochart offers a variety of fully customizable templates, allowing you to easily add your branding, colors, and text within the online editor. You can visualize your thesis statement and first draft in less than an hour. It’s also possible to start writing directly in the tool, adding graphics page by page.

These templates range from reports for school presentations to sales reports. By editing them, you can create professional-looking reports without the hassle of formatting and design.

Here are some examples of Piktochart’s professionally-designed templates. If you can’t pick one that matches your report writing format and needs, create a free Piktochart account to get access to more templates.

Survey report template

This survey report template includes clear visualizations, making your report findings easier to understand. From customer surveys to employee satisfaction reports, this template is quite versatile.

Research report template

This research report template is perfect for anyone looking to create a thorough and professional research report. The template includes all the necessary sections to help you easily organize your research and present your findings in a concise document.

Corporate report template

Looking for a corporate report template example with an editable table of contents and foreword? This template is the perfect fit!

Whether you’re presenting to investors or sharing information with your team, this corporate report template will help you create a polished and informative executive summary for any corporate organization.

Case study report template

Whether you’re conducting a business case study or an academic case study, this case study report template can help you earn your readers’ trust. This template is specifically designed with fashion as its main theme, but you can edit the photos and details to make it more on-brand with your niche.

Marketing report template

Use this template to create comprehensive marketing reports. The template includes editable sections for social media, data from search engines, email marketing, and paid ads.

Financial report template

With this customizable finance report template, you don’t need to make a financial report from scratch. Once you’ve written your content, save your report in PDF or PNG formats.

Annual report template

This annual report template is the right template for creating a professional and informative executive summary of your organization’s performance over the past year. This template was designed for HR annual reports, but you can also repurpose it for other types of yearly reports.

annual review template by Piktochart showing how to write a report

See more report templates by creating a free Piktochart account .

Quick checklist for better report writing

Before you submit or present your report, use the quick checklist below to help ensure that your report is well-structured, accurate, clear, and properly cited. Most of all, you must ensure that your report meets your audience’s expectations and has all the information and details they need.

Purpose and audience

Does the report address its purpose and meet the needs of the intended audience?

Structure and organization

Is the material appropriately arranged in sections?
Have irrelevant details been removed?

Accuracy and analysis

Has all the material been checked for accuracy?
Are graphs and tables clearly labeled? Check the page numbers too.
Is the data in graphs or tables analyzed and explained in words?
Does the discussion or conclusion show how the results relate to the objectives mentioned in the introduction?
Have the results been compared with existing research from the literature survey?

Writing style and clarity

Is the report written in a tone that’s indicated in the brand style guide (for corporate reports)? Does it avoid colloquialisms or contractions?
Does it follow the organization’s specific guidelines for writing style?
Is it jargon-free and clearly written? Have you translated technical terms into simpler words?
Use the active voice when you can because it helps improve clarity. A written report in a passive voice may make it sound less concise.

Acknowledgment and citation

Have all ideas and event data taken from or inspired by someone else’s work been acknowledged with a reference?
Have all illustrations and figures taken from someone else’s work been cited correctly?

Proofreading

Has the report been carefully proofread for typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes?

Make engaging and effective reports quickly with Piktochart

Writing a report is a must-have skill for anyone looking to communicate more effectively in their personal and professional lives.

With the steps we’ve provided in this guide, anyone can learn how to write a report that is informative, engaging, and comprehensive.

Plus, the free templates we highlighted are valuable for individuals looking to create reports quickly and efficiently. They can also be used to transform a longer report filled with texts into something more engaging and easy to digest.

Sign up for a free Piktochart account today, and look forward to writing reports with its library of modern, customizable report templates.

Piktochart offers professionally designed templates for all your visual communication needs. It is your one-stop shop for presentations , posters , logos , email signatures , infographics , and more. Customize all templates according to your brand assets in seconds. Get started for free today.

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Education and Communications
Official Writing
Report Writing

How to Write a Report

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger . Emily Listmann is a Private Tutor and Life Coach in Santa Cruz, California. In 2018, she founded Mindful & Well, a natural healing and wellness coaching service. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. Emily also received her Wellness Coach Certificate from Cornell University and completed the Mindfulness Training by Mindful Schools. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 8,738,311 times.

When you’re assigned to write a report, it can seem like an intimidating process. Fortunately, if you pay close attention to the report prompt, choose a subject you like, and give yourself plenty of time to research your topic, you might actually find that it’s not so bad. After you gather your research and organize it into an outline, all that’s left is to write out your paragraphs and proofread your paper before you hand it in!

Easy Steps to Write a Report

Choose an interesting topic and narrow it down to a specific idea.
Take notes as you research your topic. Come up with a thesis, or main theme of your report, based on your research.
Outline the main ideas you’ll cover in your report. Then, write the first draft.

Sample Reports

Selecting Your Topic

Step 1 Read the report prompt or guidelines carefully.

The guidelines will also typically tell you the requirements for the structure and format of your report.
If you have any questions about the assignment, speak up as soon as possible. That way, you don’t start working on the report, only to find out you have to start over because you misunderstood the report prompt.

For instance, if your report is supposed to be on a historical figure, you might choose someone you find really interesting, like the first woman to be governor of a state in the U.S., or the man who invented Silly Putty.
If your report is about information technology , you could gather information about the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data or information.
Even if you don’t have the option to choose your topic, you can often find something in your research that you find interesting. If your assignment is to give a report on the historical events of the 1960s in America, for example, you could focus your report on the way popular music reflected the events that occurred during that time.

Tip: Always get approval from your teacher or boss on the topic you choose before you start working on the report!

Step 3 Try to pick a topic that is as specific as possible.

If you’re not sure what to write about at first, pick a larger topic, then narrow it down as you start researching.
For instance, if you wanted to do your report on World Fairs, then you realize that there are way too many of them to talk about, you might choose one specific world fair, such as the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, to focus on.
However, you wouldn’t necessarily want to narrow it down to something too specific, like “Food at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition,” since it could be hard to find sources on the subject without just listing a lot of recipes.

Researching the Report

If you don’t have guidelines on how many sources to use, try to find 1-2 reputable sources for each page of the report.
Sources can be divided into primary sources, like original written works, court records, and interviews, and secondary sources, like reference books and reviews.
Databases, abstracts, and indexes are considered tertiary sources, and can be used to help you find primary and secondary sources for your report. [5] X Research source
If you’re writing a business report , you may be given some supplementary materials, such as market research or sales reports, or you may need to compile this information yourself. [6] X Research source

Step 2 Visit the library first if you’re writing a report for school.

Librarians are an excellent resource when you're working on a report. They can help you find books, articles, and other credible sources.
Often, a teacher will limit how many online sources you can use. If you find most of the information you need in the library, you can then use your online sources for details that you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Tip: Writing a report can take longer than you think! Don't put off your research until the last minute , or it will be obvious that you didn't put much effort into the assignment.

Step 3 Use only scholarly sources if you do online research.

Examples of authoritative online sources include government websites, articles written by known experts, and publications in peer-reviewed journals that have been published online.

Step 4 Cross-reference your sources to find new material.

If you’re using a book as one of your sources, check the very back few pages. That’s often where an author will list the sources they used for their book.

Remember to number each page of your notes, so you don’t get confused later about what information came from which source!
Remember, you’ll need to cite any information that you use in your report; however, exactly how you do this will depend on the format that was assigned to you.

For most reports, your thesis statement should not contain your own opinions. However, if you're writing a persuasive report, the thesis should contain an argument that you will have to prove in the body of the essay.
An example of a straightforward report thesis (Thesis 1) would be: “The three main halls of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition were filled with modern creations of the day and were an excellent representation of the innovative spirit of the Progressive era.”
A thesis for a persuasive report (Thesis 2) might say: “The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was intended as a celebration of the Progressive spirit, but actually harbored a deep racism and principle of white supremacy that most visitors chose to ignore or celebrate.”

The purpose of an outline is to help you to visualize how your essay will look. You can create a straightforward list or make a concept map , depending on what makes the most sense to you.
Try to organize the information from your notes so it flows together logically. For instance, it can be helpful to try to group together related items, like important events from a person’s childhood, education, and career, if you’re writing a biographical report.
Example main ideas for Thesis 1: Exhibits at the Court of the Universe, Exhibits at the Court of the Four Seasons, Exhibits at the Court of Abundance.

Tip: It can help to create your outline on a computer in case you change your mind as you’re moving information around.

Writing the First Draft

Step 1 Format the report according to the guidelines you were given.

Try to follow any formatting instructions to the letter. If there aren't any, opt for something classic, like 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, double-spaced lines, and 1 in (2.5 cm) margins all around.
You'll usually need to include a bibliography at the end of the report that lists any sources you used. You may also need a title page , which should include the title of the report, your name, the date, and the person who requested the report.
For some types of reports, you may also need to include a table of contents and an abstract or summary that briefly sums up what you’ve written. It’s typically easier to write these after you’ve finished your first draft. [14] X Research source

Example Intro for Thesis 1: “The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) of 1915 was intended to celebrate both the creation of the Panama Canal, and the technological advancements achieved at the turn of the century. The three main halls of the PPIE were filled with modern creations of the day and were an excellent representation of the innovative spirit of the Progressive era.”

Step 3 Start each paragraph in the body of the report with a topic sentence.

Typically, you should present the most important or compelling information first.
Example topic sentence for Thesis 1: At the PPIE, the Court of the Universe was the heart of the exposition and represented the greatest achievements of man, as well as the meeting of the East and the West.

Tip: Assume that your reader knows little to nothing about the subject. Support your facts with plenty of details and include definitions if you use technical terms or jargon in the paper.

Step 4 Support each topic sentence with evidence from your research.

Paraphrasing means restating the original author's ideas in your own words. On the other hand, a direct quote means using the exact words from the original source in quotation marks, with the author cited.
For the topic sentence listed above about the Court of the Universe, the body paragraph should go on to list the different exhibits found at the exhibit, as well as proving how the Court represented the meeting of the East and West.
Use your sources to support your topic, but don't plagiarize . Always restate the information in your own words. In most cases, you'll get in serious trouble if you just copy from your sources word-for-word. Also, be sure to cite each source as you use it, according to the formatting guidelines you were given. [18] X Research source

Step 5 Follow your evidence with commentary explaining why it links to your thesis.

Your commentary needs to be at least 1-2 sentences long. For a longer report, you may write more sentences for each piece of commentary.

Avoid presenting any new information in the conclusion. You don’t want this to be a “Gotcha!” moment. Instead, it should be a strong summary of everything you’ve already told the reader.

Revising Your Report

Step 1 Scan the report to make sure everything is included and makes sense.

A good question to ask yourself is, “If I were someone reading this report for the first time, would I feel like I understood the topic after I finished reading?

Tip: If you have time before the deadline, set the report aside for a few days . Then, come back and read it again. This can help you catch errors you might otherwise have missed.

Step 2 Check carefully for proofreading errors.

Try reading the report to yourself out loud. Hearing the words can help you catch awkward language or run-on sentences you might not catch by reading it silently.

Step 3 Read each sentence from the end to the beginning.

This is a great trick to find spelling errors or grammatical mistakes that your eye would otherwise just scan over.

Step 4 Have someone else proofread it for you.

Ask your helper questions like, “Do you understand what I am saying in my report?” “Is there anything you think I should take out or add?” And “Is there anything you would change?”

Step 5 Compare your report to the assignment requirements to ensure it meets expectations.

If you have any questions about the assignment requirements, ask your instructor. It's important to know how they'll be grading your assignment.

Expert Q&A

↑ https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/reports/writing-up
↑ https://emory.libanswers.com/faq/44525
↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-7-sources-choosing-the-right-ones/
↑ https://libguides.merrimack.edu/research_help/Sources
↑ https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1779625/VBS-Report-Writing-Guide-2017.pdf
↑ https://www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/tutorials/primary-sources/
↑ https://libguides.scu.edu.au/harvard/secondary-sources
↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-notes-while-reading/
↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/outline
↑ https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/engl250oer/chapter/10-4-table-of-contents/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/report-writing-format
↑ https://www.monash.edu/rlo/assignment-samples/assignment-types/writing-an-essay/writing-body-paragraphs
↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/5-most-effective-methods-for-avoiding-plagiarism/
↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/using-evidence.html
↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/writing-report
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/grammarpunct/proofreading/
↑ https://opentextbc.ca/writingforsuccess/chapter/chapter-12-peer-review-and-final-revisions/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

It can seem really hard to write a report, but it will be easier if you choose an original topic that you're passionate about. Once you've got your topic, do some research on it at the library and online, using reputable sources like encyclopedias, scholarly journals, and government websites. Use your research write a thesis statement that sums up the focus of your paper, then organize your notes into an outline that supports that thesis statement. Finally, expand that outline into paragraph form. Read on for tips from our Education co-author on how to format your report! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Report

A report is an academic paper that is used to present findings after a research has been completed. It usually contains the results of the research, their analysis and conclusions on the topic.

Usually, a report contains the following sections:

Introduction
Methodology

Depending on the area of study, as well as your professor’s requirements, the format and the content of the report might change. To learn how to write a report , keep reading our guide!

What is a report ?

A report is a presentation of your findings. They are often used by scholars to explain the results of an inquiry, investigation, experiment, or study. One may think that a report sounds very similar to a research paper, yet there are some key differences.

Research papers tend to be more detailed, and hence, lengthier than report papers. A research paper’s main goal is to add new knowledge to a particular area of study, while a report aims to provide relevant information on a topic, regardless if it’s been discussed before.

What’s a typical report format ?

A report usually consists of the same chapters as any other serious academic paper. It has your basic Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion chapters. However, the exact structure may differ depending on your professor’s instructions.

Note that a report does not include a review of literature. That is because a report focuses on one experiment, study or investigation, rather than looking at multiple sources. Although in some cases, a review of several sources might be required.

When it comes to formatting, you have to consult with your tutor. They may require you to use a certain formatting style depending on their preference or the discipline you are studying.

What are the steps to report writing?

When it comes to writing, the steps are pretty much the same as with other similar academic papers. You should focus on the preparation to ensure the final paper is a success. It also helps to have the steps mapped out before you start writing. This way, you can plan your time better.

Review the task
Choose the topic
Conduct preliminary research
Write an outline
Write the intro
Outline your methods
Describe the results
Discuss your findings
Conclude the paper

These are the most basic steps to create a report, yet they are necessary to make sure your paper flows correctly.

How hard is it to write?

Writing a report is not hard as long as you follow the steps described above. Here’s a detailed instruction:

Read through the assignment thoroughly to ensure you understand it. It’s best to consult with your professor if anything is unclear.
If your professor gives you the freedom to choose a topic, make sure to pick the one you’ll enjoy writing. If they assign a topic for you, ask if you can tweak and adjust it to fit you better.
Gather the sources you may need for writing your paper. Collect them in a separate folder on your computer to ensure easy access.
Outline and plan all the chapters ahead of time and confirm with your professor. This will ensure you don’t have to scrap the entire paper mid-writing if one chapter is wrong.
Begin to write a report with the introduction. State your goals and purpose of the paper, prove background information on the topic.
Choose the methods you’ll use for this research and clearly describe them in your methodology section.
Provide an objective presentation of the results. If need be, use visual aids like graphs, tables and charts to illustrate numbers.
Present a clear and deep analysis of your findings. Make the connection to the goal of the paper and see if the objective has been met. Discuss the limitations as well.
Conclude the report with a short summary of the findings and their significance.
Revise and edit the paper to ensure it’s error-free, flows naturally and is easy to read.
Ensure all citations meet the required formatting style and all the references are done in accordance with the guide.

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What methods are used for an academic report?

To write this type of academic paper, you may use many different methods. Your choice mainly depends on the kind of research you are performing. The methods may also vary for different disciplines. If this is all a bit too confusing, you can text ‘ write my report ’ to our support team, and they will help you. But below are some of the methods typically used for reports:

Qualitative research
Quantitative research
Mixed methods
Observations
Experimental methods

How to write a report?

To write a report effectively, start by understanding its purpose and audience. Gather relevant information, outline the structure, and present findings logically. Ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy throughout. Revise and proofread before submission.

The most important tip for writing is to listen to your professor. Be attentive in class, as they may mention some bits and pieces of valuable information in the duration of the term. They might be testing you and not give you that advice when it’s actual writing time.

Another important tip is to consult with them every step of the way. Come up to the professor in their office hours and show your progress. Your teacher might offer valuable critique and advice and guide you in the right direction.

And finally, make sure that you read the assignment through. It might sound basic, but those assignment sheets tend to be written in overly complicated academic language, and if you’re not used to that, it’s easy to miss out on some key details.

How to present results?

In every report writing assignment, you will need to write a results chapter. This is the section where you take all your findings and dump them on paper, except not literally. For your results section to be clear and organized, the findings must be presented in a concise, focused way.

If your methods involve questions (i.e., surveys), make sure to present answers to them in the same order as the questions. If you interview people, try not to flood the paper with quotes. Instead, add the interviews as an appendix and focus on the key findings. If the methods involve numerical data, present it visually.

Write the discussion chapter

So, how to create a report with the discussion chapter? In it, you’ll need to circle back to your research questions and objectives of the paper. Then, briefly summarize the findings and discuss how the results helped you achieve that objective or answer the research question.

It’s important to talk about the significance of your findings and what they mean in regards to the existing body of knowledge or your research question. Acknowledge and address the limitations you’ve faced in the course of your research. It could be sample size, limitations in scope or location.

Write a conclusion

When you write a report, you obviously have to bring it to a logical conclusion. For your conclusion to be adequate, you should restate your methods, results and findings briefly. Bring the reader’s attention back to the purpose of the paper and see if you’ve achieved it. Propose a direction for the future inquiry into the topic, considering the limitations you’ve faced. For example, for more extensive research, one could use a broader sample size or a wider age range.

What are the best proofreading techniques?

If you’re wondering how to make a report flow and impress your professor, here’s the answer. You absolutely have to proofread and edit your paper. It’s best to put it away for a day or two after you’ve finished writing. This way, when you come back to it, you’ll be able to look at it afresh.

Read through the paper carefully several times. You are bound to find some illogical sentences, spelling mistakes or misused words. Reading the paper aloud will also be beneficial. Consider giving it to someone else to read, like a family member or a friend. They might be able to point out some parts that make little sense or sound unnatural.

Lab report writing tips

One of the most popular types of reports is a lab report. To write it properly, you should follow our suggestions.

First, state the purpose of your experiment. Mention the findings you expect to discover, but don’t get too hung up on them. The methodology should explain how exactly the experiment was performed - what were the conditions, what materials were used, and if it was performed independently.

Use visual data to present your results. In the discussion, interpret and analyze them. When concluding the paper, tell the reader what has been discovered and what’s the importance of those findings.

To learn more about how to write a lab report , read our in-depth guide. Now, let’s move on.

How to format a report?

When writing a report, one would often resort to using some external sources. But those sources need to be referenced and cited properly. Refer to your college’s formatting manual, or the PurdueOWL guide to find the most accurate formatting guides.

Pay attention to whether or not citations call for page numbers, what needs to be included in the references, etc.

Google Docs has recently come up with a referencing tool, be sure to check that out. In some cases, you can even copy the reference at the bottom of search results on Google Scholar.

Last steps before submission

Before you submit the paper, it’s best to consult with your professor. See if they have any last-minute corrections or tips for you. Look at your school’s guide on how to write a report, it might also be very helpful. Proofread your paper one last time and cross-check all the references. Make sure each source has a citation and vice-versa.

Did you like our report guide?

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Frequently asked questions

How to write reports.

Writing reports is not hard when you have all the tools available. Hopefully, this guide by our report writing services professionals has given you some insight into the process, but let’s round it up. You start with researching your topic and saving potentially valuable sources. After that, write an outline. Use it as your writing guide.

Write the report chapters in the order that you prefer. If you feel more comfortable starting with methods, nobody will know you wrote the intro last. Present and discuss your results, analyze them and conclude the paper. Proofread it a few times, format, and it’s ready to go!

How many pages should a report be?

You may be asked to write a report of any length. That length depends on many factors. First of all, your academic level. A first year student will be required to write a much shorter paper than a Master’s student. Also, the subject must be taken into account. Different disciplines require different paper lengths. Even your topic may dictate the length of your report. If you’re not sure, just consult with your professor, and they will help you with the details.

What formatting style is best?

The report writing format is also a variable. There’s no straight answer to that question. It may depend on your professor’s habits, your subject, or even your school’s rules. In short, there’s no way for us to know which formatting style your professor will choose.

How often should I consult with my professor during writing?

The more often, the better. As long as they allow you to actively seek their guidance, you both will benefit from it. They can give you insight into the common mistakes made during writing, help you with analyzing your results and even choosing the report format for your paper.

School Report Writing: 10 Top Tips and Expert Advice for 2022

Learning Ladders Blog School Report Writing: 10 Top Tips and Expert Advice for 2022

How to write a school report

We would all like to think that parents thoroughly read through our carefully crafted pupil school reports. How they must appreciate the hours we put into school report writing! However, the reality is that reports are often not as cherished as we would hope. It’s very easy to get them wrong. Wrong name in a copy and paste. Blanket statements for the class such as “We had a great time at Arundel Castle”, then finding out the student didn’t attend that day…

But it’s also just as easy to get them right. Being specific. Writing in simple language. Providing opportunities for parents to get more involved in their child’s education. All of these elements help to create a great school report.

To help you write great end of year reports, let’s answer the simple question: what is a school report? In a nutshell it’s a written assessment of a pupil’s performance and provides valuable guidance to parents and teachers, as well as students.

Reports take time

Unfortunately, school report writing can take time. To make them as personal as we would like to, they can take hours. We want to add personal touches. We want to tailor everything to every time. But if you are writing them frequently, end of year reports can eat into quite a few weekends. Writing them termly, or bulk writing huge reports yearly is very time consuming. Automation can help nowadays. No longer do you have to use the clunky systems of the past – many modern assessment systems can take away some of the strain. Ongoing communications with parents can streamline reports, so you don’t have to include those things which have already been discussed.

Personalising school reports can go wrong

Despite all attempts to the contrary, personalisation can go wrong. It can be difficult when trying to remember everything about every child over the whole year. Remembering exactly who did what at the nativity performance is difficult in June! For those teachers who teach one subject to many children it is even harder.

Teachers and parents each have a different focus Teachers may spend ages pouring over assessment data to pick out some key targets and achievements. Some parents may want to jump to the end of the report to see if their child has loads of friends. Other parents do want to have detailed information on their child’s successes and want to help from home. A lack of detail in this area could leave them feeling like they cannot build on the recommendations.

So how do you get it right?

Here are 10 top tips to assist you with school report writing:

Ensure nothing is a total surprise . A parent should not be finding out via the report anything which will come as a total shock – good or bad! If their child has been off task 80% of the time, they shouldn’t be finding out just before the holidays. This doesn’t help them to support changes. The report should build on and confirm the ongoing conversations, adding to the parental engagement which has gone beforehand throughout the year.
Keep it simple . Avoid the jargon and acronyms which abound in education. Add details and simple explanations where necessary. A glossary of terms relevant to the school could even be part of the template. This can be especially helpful if you have your own assessment terms. You may also want to add a quick guide to terms such as “fronted adverbials” also.
Be specific . Statements should be simple, and in layman’s terms, but be based on solid evidence. “Joshua did well this year” is not specific enough. Parents may like to hear such a lovely statement, but it gives them nothing to engage with. They will end up asking Joshua what he did well in… which Joshua may also not be sure of the details.
Use the ‘4 parts’ rule . Each statement in a school report should include 4 elements: the achievement/success; evidence of that success; the target; resources to help meet the target. So, a four-part phrase might be: “Joshua has progressed well in handwriting. He is now joining most of his letters in each word. His next step is to keep the sizing of his handwriting consistent. A great website to help model this is…” All too often we stop after 3 parts: success, evidence, target. This leaves parents stuck when they want to support that target. Directing them to resources that match the school’s curriculum helps the parents.
Follow school guidance . Every school has their own ideas about what should be included. How many words to include, for example, and usually a template. If you’re new to a school but want to get started on reports early, make sure to ask for some examples from last year to get a sense of what is expected. You may think you got the reports done before the holidays, but there is nothing more deflating than finding you need to rewrite them completely.
There is a place for automation . Teachers may have been stung by old report writing software. It may have messed up genders or come up with some grammatically terrible sentences. Many modern assessment platforms have much more advanced techniques and tools available now. You spend the term and year updating data for the graphs and assessment information. Why not then allow the system to take some of your workload? Your assessment knows exactly where the pupils are, based on your RAG ratings of statements and such. They will output sentences to reports which follow your own school’s curriculum, and it knows who is a girl or a boy! And gets the names right every time. Technology, at its very best, is efficient, which leaves you more time to write the personal statement parts.
Add resources and links . Again, some systems have a reporting online option. This links parents to resources that are curriculum-linked. This means that for each target they are directed to high-quality resources to use at home. This can turn your school report writing into a significant part of your teaching. Also, your learning and assessment cycle. Parents being involved in their child’s education makes a huge difference. Where you are printing reports, you can add short links. These could be simple recommended resources such as YouTube channels, websites and even apps, which you know are educationally sound.
Make the layout easy to follow . The school template can be important in making sure reports are easy to understand. If there are grades for some subjects and not others, a design change can help to make that seem strange. As with marketing rules, there are ways to bring the parent’s eye to the key information they need to see. At Learning Ladders, we have worked really hard to ensure our reports stand out. They are based on these principles outlined. You may not have control over your school template, but you can ensure sentences are concise and paragraphs are not too long. These make the report much easier to read.
Don’t overdo it . A few key successes and a few targets are great. Make it manageable. A list of 20 successes might seem wonderful but will be very overwhelming. For the core subjects, 3-5 successes and 3 key targets are plenty. For foundation subjects, 3 successes and 1 or 2 things to work on would be perfect.
Treat it like a parent’s evening . When writing the personal part of the report, I like to pretend the parent is in front of me, as though I am saying everything to their face, imagining their reaction. That helps me to be enthusiastic and realistic – which comes across even on the page. This also helps me to write each pupil’s report statement in one go, rather than going back and forth to edit (which is when I am more likely to make mistakes!). I also try to imagine their questions and add a bit of context or answer those upfront, as part of the report.

To find out how Learning Ladders makes school report writing easy, whilst keeping all those individual touches that parents love, have a read about our automated pupil reports .

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Curriculum design is a critical aspect of educational planning that sets the foundation for the learning journey of young children in early years and primary

Learning Ladders is the award-winning pupil progress tracker tailored entirely to the needs of your school. Want to know more? Book a demo with our team.

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Ultimate Guide on How to Write a Report Tips and Sample

Defining a Report

A report is a type of writing that represents information, data, and research findings on a specific topic. The writer is expected to deliver a well-structured, credible, and informative text that dives into the small details of a certain topic, discussing its benefits and challenges.

Reports serve many important purposes. They provide recorded facts and findings. They are used to analyze data and draw insights that can be used for decision-making. Some reports serve as compliance checks to ensure that organizations meet certain standards and requirements. Also, reports are a formal way to communicate valuable information to decision-makers and stakeholders.

A report paper can be academic or about sales, science, business, etc. But unlike other texts, report writing takes much more than getting acquainted with the subject and forming an opinion about it. Report preparation is the most important stage of the writing process. Whether you are assigned to write an academic or a sales paper, before you start writing, you must do thorough research on the topic and ensure that every source of information is trustworthy.

Report writing has its rules. In this article, we will cover everything from how to start a report to how to format one. Below you will find a student research report sample. Check our paper writer service if you want one designed specifically for your requirements.

Student Research Report Sample

Before you read our article on how to write an act essay , see what an informative and well-structured report looks like. Below you will find a sample report that follows the format and tips we suggested in the article.

Explore and learn more about comprehensive but concise reports.

What are the Report Types

As mentioned, there are plenty of different types of report papers. Even though they are very formal, academic reports are only one of many people will come across in their lifetime. Some reports concentrate on the annual performance of a company, some on a project's progress, and others on scientific findings.

Next, we will elaborate more on different sorts of reports, their contents, and their purpose. Don't forget to also check out our report example that you can find below.

Academic Reports

An academic report represents supported data and information about a particular subject. This could be a historical event, a book, or a scientific finding. The credibility of such academic writing is very important as it, in the future, could be used as a backup for dissertations, essays, and other academic work.

Students are often assigned to write reports to test their understanding of a topic. They also provide evidence of the student's ability to critically analyze and synthesize information. It also demonstrates the student's writing skills and ability to simply convey complex findings and ideas.

Remember that the report outline will affect your final grade when writing an academic report. If you want to learn about the correct report writing format, keep reading the article. If you want to save time, you can always buy essays online .

Project Reports

Every project has numerous stakeholders who like to keep an eye on how things are going. This can be challenging if the number of people who need to be kept in the loop is high. One way to ensure everyone is updated and on the same page is periodic project reports.

Project managers are often assigned to make a report for people that affect the project's fate. It is a detailed document that summarizes the work done during the project and the work that needs to be completed. It informs about deadlines and helps form coherent expectations. Previous reports can be used as a reference point as the project progresses.

Sales Reports

Sales reports are excellent ways to keep your team updated on your sales strategies. It provides significant information to stakeholders, including managers, investors, and executives, so they can make informed decisions about the direction of their business.

A sales report usually provides information about a company's sales performance over a precise period. These reports include information about the revenue generated, the total number of units sold, and other metrics that help the company define the success of sales performance.

Sales report preparation is a meticulous job. To communicate information engagingly, you can put together graphs showing various information, including engagement increase, profit margins, and more.

Business Reports

If you were assigned a business report, something tells us you are wondering how to write a report for work. Let us tell you that the strategy is not much different from writing an academic report. A Strong thesis statement, compelling storytelling, credible sources, and correct format are all that matter.

Business reports can take many forms, such as marketing reports, operational reports, market research reports, feasible studies, and more. The purpose of such report writing is to provide analysis and recommendations to support decision-making and help shape a company's future strategy.

Most business reports include charts, graphs, and other visual aids that help illustrate key points and make complex information easy to digest.

Scientific Reports

Scientific reports present the results of scientific research or investigation to a specific audience. Unlike book reports, a scientific report is always reviewed by other experts in the field for its accuracy, quality, and relevance.

If you are a scientist or a science student, you can't escape writing a lab report. You will need to provide background information on the research topic and explain the study's purpose. A scientific report includes a discussion part where the researcher interprets the results and significance of the study.

Whether you are assigned to write medical reports or make a report about new findings in the field of physics, your writing should always have an introduction, methodology, results, conclusion, and references. These are the foundation of a well-written report.

Annual Reports

An annual report is a comprehensive piece of writing that provides information about a company's performance over a year. In its nature, it might remind us of extended financial reports.

Annual reports represent types of longer reports. They usually include an overview of a company's activities, a financial summary, detailed product and service information, and market conditions. But it's not just a report of the company's performance in the sales market, but also an overview of its social responsibility programs and sustainability activities.

The format of annual report writing depends on the company's specific requirements, the needs of its stakeholder, and the regulation of the country it's based.

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Report Format

As we've seen throughout this article, various types of reports exist. And even though their content differs, they share one essential element: report writing format. Structure, research methods, grammar, and reference lists are equally important to different reports.

Keep in mind that while the general format is the same for every type, you still need to check the requirements of the assigned report before writing one. School reports, lab reports, and financial reports are three different types of the same category.

We are now moving on to discuss the general report format. Let's direct our attention to how to start a report.

Title : You need a comprehensive but concise title to set the right tone and make a good impression. It should be reflective of the general themes in the report.

Table of Contents : Your title page must be followed by a table of contents. We suggest writing an entire report first and creating a table of content later.

Summary : The table of contents should be followed by an executive report summary. To create a comprehensive summary, wait until you have finished writing the full report.

Introduction : A major part of the report structure is an introduction. Make sure you convey the main idea of the report in just a few words. The introduction section must also include a strong thesis statement.

Body : The central part of your work is called the report's body. Here you should present relevant information and provide supported evidence. Make sure every paragraph starts with a topic sentence. Here you can use bullet points, graphs, and other visual aids.

Conclusion : Use this part to summarize your findings and focus on the main elements and what they bring to the table. Do not introduce new ideas. Good report writing means knowing the difference between a summary and a conclusion.

Recommendations : A report is designed to help decision-makers or provide crucial information to the conversation, including a set of goals or steps that should be taken to further advance the progress.

Appendices : As a finishing touch, include a list of source materials on which you based the information and facts. If you want your report to get acknowledged, don't neglect this part of the report format.

How to Write a Report Like a PRO

Mastering the report writing format is only a fraction of the job. Writing an exceptional report takes more than just including a title page and references.

Next, we will offer report-writing tips to help you figure out how to write a report like a PRO. Meanwhile, if you need someone to review your physics homework, our physics helper is ready to take on the job.

Start With a Strong Thesis

A strong thesis is essential to a good paper because it sets the direction for the rest. It should provide a well-defined but short summary of the main points and arguments made in the report.

A strong thesis can help you collect your thoughts and ensure that the report has a course and a coherent structure. It will help you stay focused on key points and tie every paragraph into one entity.

A clear thesis will make your report writing sound more confident and persuasive. It will make finding supporting evidence easier, and you will be able to effectively communicate your ideas to the reader.

Use Simple Wording

Reports are there to gather and distribute as much information to as many people as possible. So, the content of it should be accessible and understandable for everyone, despite their knowledge in the field. We encourage you to use simple words instead of fancy ones when writing reports for large audiences.

Other academic papers might require you to showcase advanced language knowledge and extensive vocabulary. Still, formal reports should present information in a way that does not confuse.

If you are wondering how to make report that is easy to read and digest, try finding simpler alternatives to fancy words. For example, use 'example' instead of 'paradigm'; Use 'relevant' instead of 'pertinent'; 'Exacerbate' is a fancier way to say 'worsen,' and while it makes you look educated, it might cause confusion and make you lose the reader. Choose words that are easier to understand.

Present Only One Concept in Each Phrase

Make your reports easier to understand by presenting only one concept in each paragraph. Simple, short sentences save everyone's time and make complex concepts easier to digest and memorize.

Report writing is not a single-use material. It will be reread and re-used many times. Someone else might use your sales report to support their financial report. So, to avoid confusion and misinterpretation, start each paragraph with a topic sentence and tie everything else into this main theme.

Only Present Reliable Facts

You might have a strong hunch about future events or outcomes, but a research report is not a place to voice them. Everything you write should be supported by undisputed evidence.

Don't forget that one of the essential report preparation steps is conducting thorough research. Limit yourself to the information which is based on credible information. Only present relevant facts to the topic and add value to your thesis.

One of our report writing tips would be to write a rough draft and eliminate all the information not supported by reliable data. Double-check the credibility of the sources before finalizing the writing process.

Incorporate Bullet Points

When writing a research report, your goal is to make the information as consumable as possible. Don't shy away from using visual aids; this will only help you connect with a wider audience.

Bullet points are a great way to simplify the reading process and draw attention to the main concepts of the report. Use this technique in the body part of the report. If you notice that you are writing related information, use bullet points to point out their relation.

Incorporating bullet points and other visual aids in your report writing format will make a report easy to comprehend and use for further research.

While you are busy coming up with effective visual aids, you may not have enough time to take care of other assignments. Simply say, ' write my argumentative essay ,' and one of our expert writers will answer your prayer.

Review the Text for Accuracy and Inconsistencies

After completing report preparation and writing, ensure you don't skip the final stage. Even the greatest writers are not immune to grammatical mistakes and factual mix-ups.

Reviewing what you wrote is just as important as the research stage. Make sure there are no inconsistencies, and everything smoothly ties into the bigger scheme of events. Look out for spelling mistakes and word count.

If you want to further advance your writing skills, read our article about how to write a cover letter for essay .

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Annie Lambert

specializes in creating authoritative content on marketing, business, and finance, with a versatile ability to handle any essay type and dissertations. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for social issues, her writing not only educates but also inspires action. On EssayPro blog, Annie delivers detailed guides and thought-provoking discussions on pressing economic and social topics. When not writing, she’s a guest speaker at various business seminars.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

how to write an academic report: Examples and tips

Writing a report should be concise and to the point. It should also be relevant to the topic. Make sure to check your work with someone and read it aloud. Proofreading is also important because computer programs cannot catch every mistake. You may even want to wait a day before you read it to make sure that it is error-free. Keep in mind that an academic report differs from a business or technical report.

Avoiding the present tense

While the present tense is commonly used in academic writing, it isn’t always necessary. When anyone tells you about writing how to write an academic report , you can switch the tense within the same sentence or paragraph when you shift from general statements to more specific examples based on research. Other times, it’s appropriate to use the present tense when you write about a particular event that has changed over time.

The best time to use either tense is determined by the context in which you’re writing. While both are acceptable, you’ll want to ensure that your reader knows when you made your findings. In most cases, the present tense will mean that you’re writing about the time you did the research, while the past tense can be interpreted in different ways.

Introducing your topic

The introduction is the first section of your paper, and it should capture the reader’s interest and make them want to read the rest of your paper. You can do this by opening with a compelling story, question, or example that shows why your topic is important. The hook should also establish the relevance of your paper in the wider context.

The introduction should also have a thesis statement, which should explain your research paper’s topic and point of view. This statement will guide the organization of your essay. A strong thesis statement is specific, clear, and able to be proved.

Stating your thesis statement

Your thesis statement should be clear and concise. It should be able to persuade others while laying out your strong opinions. It should also contain an argument. For example, you could argue that the government should ban 4×4 pickup trucks. Or, you might argue that the amount of foul language in movies is disproportionate to the amount of it in real life.

A strong thesis statement contradicts a commonly held viewpoint. It is not too complex to explain over the course of the paper. It should also express a single main idea.

Putting together an outline before writing your report

Putting together an outline is a great way to organize your paper. Outline the content that you will cover and how you plan to support your main point. You can use a list format or alpha-numeric format to organize your outline. Regardless of the format, your outline should have a parallel structure and include the same types of words in each section. It is also a good idea to include citations whenever possible.

When you’re writing, outlining will help you get the most out of your writing. It will save you time and effort when writing because you can make full sentences and well-developed essays with an outline.

Avoiding jargon

One of the most important things to remember when writing an academic report is to avoid using jargon. These words are often difficult to understand, and although they are useful shorthand for scientists, they may alienate non-specialist readers. The use of jargon is the most common reason that readers complain about writing, but there are ways to replace these terms with plainer versions.

Jargon is specialized terminology used by a specific group. It can be incredibly difficult to understand if you’re not part of the group. It also tends to make your writing more complicated and shows that you’re trying to show off your knowledge.

How to Write an Academic Report – Examples and Tips

While the present tense is commonly used in academic writing, it isn’t always necessary. When writing an academic report, you can switch the tense within the same sentence or paragraph when you shift from general statements to more specific examples based on research. Other times, it’s appropriate to use the present tense when you write about a particular event that has changed over time.

Owen Ingram is a research-based content writer, who works for Cognizantt, a globally recognised professional SEO service and Research Prospect , a Servizio di redazione di saggi e dissertazioni . Mr Owen Ingram holds a PhD degree in English literature. He loves to express his views on a range of issues including education, technology, and more.

Which are the best report writer that assists me in writing academic report

Reflective report structure: here is the brief guide and help

Report writing

Reports are informative writing that present the results of an experiment or investigation to a specific audience in a structured way. Reports are broken up into sections using headings, and can often include diagrams, pictures, and bullet-point lists. They are used widely in science, social science, and business contexts.

Scroll down for our recommended strategies and resources.

Difference between reports and essays

Essays and reports are both common types of university assignments. Whilst an essay is usually a continuous piece of writing, a report is divided into sections. See this overview for more on the differences between reports and essays:

Features of reports (University of Reading)

Reports have an expected structure with set sections so information is easy to find. Science reports may have methods and results sections, but business reports may only have a discussion and recommendations section. Always check what type of structure is needed for each report assignment as they may change. See this overview of different types of report structures:

Sample report structures (RMIT University)

Finding your own headings

Sometimes you are given the choice of how to name your sub-headings and structure the main body of your report. This is common in business where the structure has to fit the needs of the information and the client. See this short video on how to find meaningful sub-headings:

Finding your own report structure [video] (University of Reading)

Purpose of each section

Each section of a report has a different role to play and contains different types of information. See this brief overview of what goes where and how to number the sections:

What goes into each section (University of Hull)

Writing style

As well as having a different purpose, each report section is written in a different way and they don’t have to be written in order. See these guides on the style and order for writing a report and on the features of scientific writing:

Writing up your report (University of Reading)

Scientific writing (University of Leeds)

Tables and figures

Reports commonly use graphs and tables to show data more effectively. Always ensure any visual information in your report has a purpose and is referred to in the text. See this introductory guide to presenting data:

Using figures and charts (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Further resources

If you’d like to read more about the structure and style of reports, see this resource and book list created by Brookes Library:

Writing essays, reports and other assignments reading list

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How to write a report

This brief, easy-to-follow video takes you through the key elements of writing a professional report and looks at what each of the sections of the report should include.

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How to write a scientific report at university

David foster, professor in science and engineering at the university of manchester, explains the best way to write a successful scientific report.

David H Foster

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At university, you might need to write scientific reports for laboratory experiments, computing and theoretical projects, and literature-based studies – and some eventually as research dissertations. All have a similar structure modelled on scientific journal articles. Their special format helps readers to navigate, understand and make comparisons across the research field.

Scientific report structure

The main components are similar for many subject areas, though some sections might be optional.

If you can choose a title, make it informative and not more than around 12 words. This is the average for scientific articles. Make every word count.

The abstract summarises your report’s content in a restricted word limit. It might be read separately from your full report, so it should contain a micro-report, without references or personalisation.

Usual elements you can include:

Some background to the research area.
Reason for the work.
Main results.
Any implications.

Ensure you omit empty statements such as “results are discussed”, as they usually are.

Introduction

The introduction should give enough background for readers to assess your work without consulting previous publications.

It can be organised along these lines:

An opening statement to set the context.
A summary of relevant published research.
Your research question, hypothesis or other motivation.
The purpose of your work.
An indication of methodology.
Your outcome.

Choose citations to any previous research carefully. They should reflect priority and importance, not necessarily recency. Your choices signal your grasp of the field.

Literature review

Dissertations and literature-based studies demand a more comprehensive review of published research than is summarised in the introduction. Fortunately, you don’t need to examine thousands of articles. Just proceed systematically.

Use two to three published reviews to familiarise yourself with the field.
Use authoritative databases such as Scopus or Web of Science to find the most frequently cited articles.
Read these articles, noting key points. Experiment with their order and then turn them into sentences, in your own words.
Get advice about expected review length and database usage from your individual programme.

Aims and objectives

Although the introduction describes the purpose of your work, dissertations might require something more accountable, with distinct aims and objectives.

The aim or aims represent the overall goal (for example, to land people on the moon). The objectives are the individual tasks that together achieve this goal (build rocket, recruit volunteers, launch rocket and so on).

The method section must give enough detail for a competent researcher to repeat your work. Technical descriptions should be accessible, so use generic names for equipment with proprietary names in parentheses (model, year, manufacturer, for example). Ensure that essential steps are clear, especially any affecting your conclusions.

The results section should contain mainly data and analysis. Start with a sentence or two to orient your reader. For numeric data, use graphs over tables and try to make graphs self-explanatory. Leave any interpretations for the discussion section.

The purpose of the discussion is to say what your results mean. Useful items to include:

A reminder of the reason for the work.
A review of the results. Ensure you are not repeating the results themselves; this should be more about your thoughts on them.
The relationship between your results and the original objective.
Their relationship to the literature, with citations.
Any limitations of your results.
Any knowledge you gained, new questions or longer-term implications.

The last item might form a concluding paragraph or be placed in a separate conclusion section. If your report is an internal document, ensure you only refer to your future research plans.

Try to finish with a “take-home” message complementing the opening of your introduction. For example: “This analysis has shown the process is feasible, but cost will decide its acceptability.”

Five common mistakes to avoid when writing your doctoral dissertation 9 tips to improve your academic writing Five resources to help students with academic writing

Acknowledgements

If appropriate, thank colleagues for advice, reading your report and technical support. Make sure that you secure their agreement first. Thank any funding agency. Avoid emotional declarations that you might later regret. That is all that is required in this section.

Referencing

Giving references ensures other authors’ ideas, procedures, results and inferences are credited. Use Web of Science or Scopus as mentioned earlier. Avoid databases giving online sources without journal publication details because they might be unreliable.

Don’t refer to Wikipedia. It isn’t a citable source.

Use one referencing style consistently and make sure it matches the required style of your degree or department. Choose either numbers or author and year to refer to the full references listed near the end of your report. Include all publication details, not just website links. Every reference should be cited in the text.

Figures and tables

Each figure should have a caption below with a label, such as “Fig. 1”, with a title and a sentence or two about what it shows. Similarly for tables, except that the title appears above. Every figure and table should be cited in the text.

Theoretical studies

More flexibility is possible with theoretical reports, but extra care is needed with logical development and mathematical presentation. An introduction and discussion are still needed, and possibly a literature review.

Final steps

Check that your report satisfies the formatting requirements of your department or degree programme. Check for grammatical errors, misspellings, informal language, punctuation, typos and repetition or omission.

Ask fellow students to read your report critically. Then rewrite it. Put it aside for a few days and read it afresh, making any new edits you’ve noticed. Keep up this process until you are happy with the final report.

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Writing Effective Report Card Comments On Behavior

Writing Effective Report Card Comments on Behavior

When it comes to writing report card comments and progress reports, it can be challenging to find effective words to communicate the details of each studentâ€™s progress. When writing report card comments, remember to focus on the positive first. Comments on both academic and personal behaviors should be assessed and written in a report card so that students and parents can see their strengths and areas of improvement in order to create a progressive, effective outcome. We have included some thoughtful, constructive, and easily-customizable report card comments designed to address behavior issues and strengthen parent-teacher communication and improve student behavior.

______Â is a good citizen. He/she is dependable, responsible, and respectful.
______Â shares and listens. He/she works well with others.
_______is a pleasant, respectful, and well-behaved student.

Making Progress

Since our last conference, _______â€™s behavior has been improving. He/she is showing interest in his/her schoolwork and seems eager to learn.
_______ is showing increased desire to demonstrate appropriate attitudeÂ and acceptable behavior in the classroom.
_______ is learning to anticipate the consequences of his/her actions. This is improving his/her behavior because he/she is taking time to think before acting.
There has been noticeable improvement in _______â€™s behavior. He/she has made an effort to cooperate with his/her peers and practice self-control. Thank you for your support.
Lately, _______ has been working to correct his/her behavior, and I am very proud of him/her. I hope he/she continues to maintain improvement.

Needs Improvement

_______ can be very aggressive towards his classmates. Perhaps we should have him/her meet with the school counselor.
Please encourage _______ to use socially appropriate language at all time.
Socializing seems to be more important to Â_______ than classwork. He/she has great potential, but will not realize it until he/she pays better attention in class and focuses more in his/her work.
_______can be disruptive and disorderly. Please encourage him/her to be more responsible in his/her behavior, and call me to schedule a conference.

The above comments open the door to communication between the teacher and parents. It demonstrates reporting behavior progress in a clear, concise, and constructive manner. A teacherâ€™s well written report card comments will be effective and can have the power to encourage and impact students and their parents positively.

For more tips on report card comments in all subjects see, Writing Effective Report Card Comments .

3 thoughts on “Writing Effective Report Card Comments on Behavior”

These are awesome ideas, than you! Also, if need help with your classroom management visit Theclassroommanagementcoach.com , they have a classroom management package with tips and techniques AND classroom management consulting!

Shared! Shared! This is AWESOME stuff man! Thank you!

Great suggestions, it’s hard to personalize comments about each student, especially when you’re in a class that has students who struggle with academics or has learning disabilities.

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Academic Report

Report generator.

As a way of evaluating a student’s logical capacity, comprehension level and writing skill , some professors require their students to write a document presenting their ideas, thoughts, analyses, etc. about a certain topic. Other than writing an essay , the students can also use a report in order effectively present their objective deductions and findings.

A formal report is another way of presenting facts and analysis you have gathered from your readings about a certain topic. In requires thorough research, readings, rationalizing, analyzing and making a point. It goes beyond that of an essay, it is more than just arguing a position and drawing conclusions, although a report can also do that, it must comprehensively present pertinent facts and information in order for the reader to see the subject in new light.

As you may know, report writing is a very useful skill not only academically but also in your future career. Not only does it hones your writing skills it also improves your analytical and critical thinking skills since it urges you to come up with objective findings based on facts. Therefore, it will surely help you be good at whatever job you wish to pursue in the future; no employer says no to a critically and analytically adept individual. You may also see marketing report examples.

Academic Research Report Template

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Academic Report Format Guide Example

Size: 168 KB

Difference Between an Essay and Report

An essay and a report are both effective ways of presenting information and data. However, some professors may prefer one over the other. In order to know the difference between the two, a list of their differences are presented below:

Essay are rarely used outside the academic realm.
It focuses on analyzing or evaluating theory, past research by other people, and ideas.
Rarely presents the findings of a newly conducted research.
It only has four significant parts or elements.
The flow of writing is continuous and does not have dividing sections.
It usually does not include table, charts, and/or diagrams.
It should not be used as the method in arriving at conclusions.
Is usually not reflective about the process of researching and writing the essay itself.
It does not include recommendations.
It is argumentative and mostly based on ideas.
Only offers conclusions on a question or on presented issues or problems.

You may also see business report examples.

Originated from the professional world but is still used academically.
Often presents data and findings that the researcher himself has gathered.
Uses data gathering methods such as surveys, experiment or case study, or by applying theory.
Commonly has at least 12 parts or sections and 14 parts or sections at most.
Topics are divided into different sections or headings or sub-headings.
It usually contains tables, graphs, charts and diagrams.
Includes the method/s the researcher used.
It includes recommendations on what actions to make.
It is an informative and fact-based document.
Follows specific style for each section.
It is written with a specific purpose and reader in mind.

You may also like examples of short report .

Management Decisions and Control Academic Report Example

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Digital Storytelling Academic Report Example

Size: 309 KB

Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Engineering Academic Report Example

Flood Mitigation and Water Storage Engineerng Academic Report Example

Size: 201 KB

Contents of an Academic Report

An effective academic report must have the contents and sections necessary to nit-pick and through explain a subject. Listed below are the contents of an academic report:

Author Declaration
Abstract or Executive Summary
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
Introduction
Literature Review
Method or Methodology or Research Design
Results or Findings
Discussion of Results or Analysis or Interpretation
Conclusions
Recommendations
References or Bibliography

How to Write an Academic Report

1. title page.

This means what it literally means. The title of the general report should be indicated on this page of the academic report. In some cases, the title page also includes your name as the author and student number, the name of the course and the course code. For example:

Communication Skills Relevant in International Business

John Smith (012345) Business 300

2. Author Declaration

In some universities or colleges, you will need to fill out a form from the department or faculty conforming that the report is in fact your own output. This form is attached to any assigned report or essay for your course.

3. Abstract or Executive Summary

An abstract is a short opening for your entire report. It is a basically a summary of the report as a whole and therefore should only be around 150 words in length. In order to effectively write it, a good techniques is writing it after all the sections, headings and sub-headings have been presented. Here’s a tip: write one or two sentences representing each section of the report in order to have a complete and comprehensive abstract.

4. Acknowledgements

Although acknowledgements are normally necessary in major reports, it can also be included in an academic report. This acknowledges the people who have supported you in your research and has contributed in the completion of the report. However, do not go overboard. This should only be short and direct to the point. You may also like consulting report examples.

6. Table of Contents

This is where the reader goes to look for specific sections or topics found in your report. This contains the actual titles of each section, heading and sub-headings along with their actual page numbers. A good way or organizing your table of contents is to list the contents in according to hierarchy numbers, from first to last. After the list of the contents comes a separate list for the tables, charts, diagrams, etc that is found in your report. You may also check out management report examples.

7. Introduction

The introduction must present the purpose or objective of the report and explain why the report is necessary or how it’s useful. It must immediately let the reader know that the report is useful in the field it is focused on and that it has a positive impact and recommendations on the subject at hand. In addition, you can define key terms you have repeatedly used in the report so that the reader has a clear idea on what you mean when you use the term. You might be interested in recruitment report examples.

Author’s Note : The following sections (8-11) are primarily used in major reports such as research, an experiment, survey or observation. If your report is based on reading, you can replace these sections with topic heading of your own choosing.

8. Literature Review

In this section, describe and report the previous and current thinking and research on the topic. You include a summary on what other have written about the topic you are reporting. This section will mostly consist of in-text citations from the books, articles, reports, etc. you have read about the topic. You may also see report examples in excel .

Simply, it is a review of all the literature you have read in order to form your own thinking about the topic. These literature are your basis for conducting your own report. The literature review should follow the format, MLA or APA format, you professor has required in citing your references.

9. Method or Methodology or Research Design

This section is all about the method or way you have gathered or collected your data. You present and tell your reader/s how were you able the data you have in your report. For example, you can describe the step-by-step process you did when you conducted an experiment or write a detailed description of a situation you have observed. In addition, in this section it is normal that you also have to explain why you collected the data through that method. An normally, the justification should also be quite detailed. You can include some in-text references to research methods references to help explain and justify your choice of method(s). You may also like monthly report examples & samples.

10. Results or Findings

Simply present the results or findings of your report in this section. There is no need for discussions, analysis and explanations of the results. Oftentimes, this section includes a table to comprehensively present the findings. Aside from that, this is also where you state whether you accept or reject the hypothesis or hypotheses you have made in you report. You may also check out sample activity reports .

11. Discussion of Results or Analysis or Interpretation

This is where you present what you think about the results you have formulated in your report. You can also include comment abut your results in this section. Here are other things the discussion section can include:

Describing and suggesting reasons for any patterns in the results, possibly including anomalies (results that don’t ‘fit in with’ the rest).
Explaining what you found (perhaps with reference to theory). You may also see performance report examples.
Commenting on how much your findings agree or disagree with the literature.
Considering the accuracy and reliability of your results (and how the methods you used might have affected that accuracy).
Considering the implications of your results – what they might mean for your practice, for example. • Discussing what further research in this area might be useful in future. You may also like investigation report samples and examples.

12. Conclusions

In the conclusions, you should summarize the key findings of your report. Remember that all the information that you include in the conclusions should have been presented before and are new information. The conclusions should effectively summarize and present all the major points you have made so far in you report.

13. Recommendations

Recommendations are not necessarily needed in all academic reports, however, work-related and case studies should always present recommendations. These suggestions are for future actions in order to solve or improve issues or problems presented in the report. You may also check out free report examples & samples.

14. References or Bibliography

There should be a list on all the references you have used to cite and to back your claims. It should only contain all the literature you have cited in your report. Depending on the requirement, you can follow either an MLA or APA format for citation.

15. Appendices

Appendices contains all the supplementary information is ‘stored’. This could be table of data, copies of observation forms or notes, extracts from large documents, a transcript of a recording, etc. You might be interested in technical report examples & samples.

School Program Report Example

Size: 183 KB

New School Report Example

We hope you found our article on creating an academic report to be useful for your academic studies. We also included some examples which you can use as a reference/guide.

Text prompt

Instructive
Professional

Generate a report on the impact of technology in the classroom on student learning outcomes

Prepare a report analyzing the trends in student participation in sports and arts programs over the last five years at your school.

223 Copy and Paste Final Report Card Comments

Hey, Teacher! Is it report writing time again?

Hopefully these comments for student report cards will come in helpful.

decorative text that says report card comments for all ages

Copy and paste these report card comments for your students. It’ll save you time and heartache!

Read below for my full list of report card comment ideas:

Positive Comments

Use a few positive comments to show the strengths of the student and how they’ve improved recently.

Positive Attitude to Learning

Comes to class every day ready and willing to learn.
Has an inquisitive and engaged mind.
Is excited to tackle her tasks every day.
Likes to come to school and learn with her friends.
Has a positive attitude to self-development.
Tends to come into the classroom with a big smile and an open mind.
Sets herself very high standards and strives to meet them each and every day.

Showing Improvement

Is consistently improving.
Is developing very well for her age.
Has shown strong signs of growth in all learning areas.
Has made clear and commendable gains.
Improves each and every day.
Her hard work and effort has paid off.

Positive Behavior

Is always very well behaved during class time.
Has a good ability to avoid peers who she sees may be distractions to her learning.
Is always willing to listen to instructions.
Is a very helpful and respectful student.
Never misbehaves in class.
Sets a good standard for classmates to follow.
Is very good at following the rules.

Shows Respect for Others

Has a great deal of respect for all visitors to the classroom.
Cares for and respects her classmates.
Is always respectful to classroom equipment.
Always puts her hand up and follows instructions.
Is very considerate of others and often puts others’ needs and interests at the front of her mind.
Is a very respectful and responsible classmate.
Has proven to be a courteous and polite classmate.
Is held in high regard for her kindness to others.
Is a very outgoing, positive and upbeat student.
Tackles every task with enthusiasm and self-belief.
Is building her confidence more and more every day.
Has shown remarkable growth in confidence this year.
Has reached many achievements this year, which is reflected in her budding confidence.
Is a self-assured young learner who is always willing to try something new.
Can always be trusted with tasks assigned to her.
Conducts herself with honesty and integrity at all times.
Is trusted with school equipment including expensive computer technology.
Is open, honest and upfront about her thoughts and beliefs.
Shares thoughtful and genuine opinions during lessons.
Is always willing to self-reflect and provide genuine analyses of her progress.

Self-Expression

Is a very expressive and confident student.
Has a great ability to express thoughts and feelings in writing.
Is always willing to express herself in front of the class with a bold and confident voice.
Has artistic talent and can articulate her thoughts through drawing and painting very well.
Is a very articulate public speaker when talking about issues that she knows well.
Is always willing to contribute her own thoughts and beliefs in class discussions.
Uses her body and hand movements to express herself artistically.

High Motivation

Has a great deal of intrinsic motivation . She’s a real go getter!
Has bucket loads of initiative.
Has an active mind and is eager to achieve.
Comes to class with a huge willingness to participate.
Never wants to waste a day in the classroom.
Loves to soak up all the information around her.
Is an ambitious and proactive student.
Knows her goals and strives every day to achieve them.

Strong Communication Skills

Projects her voice very well when communicating in class.
Is effective at using the written word to express herself.
Has a great deal of confidence when speaking to groups.
Is very good at clearly and succinctly speaking up when she feels she has a valuable contribution.
Consistently provides valuable contributions to class discussion.
Is a skilled public speaker.
Has shown great strides in written communication skills in recent months.

Is Neat and Tidy

Always keeps her belongings neatly organized.
Looks after her belongings very carefully.
Always has neat book work which shows respect and high regard for her own work.
Keeps her desk space very tidy, clean and organized.
Takes pride in keeping her work neat, clean and tidy for every submission.
Keeps her personal work spaces very well organized.

Good Listening Skills

Is an active listener who is always ready to respond with relevant and engaging questions.
Listens thoughtfully to other people’s ideas and contributes her own thoughtful ideas.
Listens with an open mind to her classmates’ perspectives.
Always listens intently with the hope of learning new things.
Concentrates and pays close attention during demonstrations to ensure she understands task requirements.
Takes directions well and is quick to apply directions to tasks.
Is always attentive in class and asks for clarification when required.
Is good at working in small groups unaided by a teacher.
Listens intently to others and takes their opinions in mind.
Excels when given leadership roles in small groups.
Appears to thrive in group learning situations.
Has developed strong skills in communicating in groups.
Works productively in groups of all sizes to get tasks done.
Has a knack for managing multiple personalities in group situations.
Could work on sharing resources more fairly during group tasks.
Needs to work on allowing other group members equal time to speak during group discussions.

Strong Organization and Time Management

Always arrives to class on time with her books and is ready to learn.
Is exceptionally good at completing tasks in a timely manner.
Is a natural organizer and is often seen helping to get her peers organized and ready for tasks.
Is always trusted to meet deadlines.
Uses color coding and headings in her books effectively to organize her notes.
Keeps a neat and organized work space at all times.

Good at Homework

Always comes to class with very neat and well written homework.
Tends to complete independent homework tasks with ease.
Thrives with independent homework tasks, which are always presented in a timely manner.
Comes to class with great questions based on the assigned homework tasks, showing thoughtfulness and independence.
Can be trusted to complete her homework in time.
Often asks for extra homework. She has shown great thirst for knowledge.

Strong Participation

Is always willing to jump in and participate in any task.
Is a great helper, always giving people a hand when she sees they are in need.
Participates in all tasks, no matter her skill level. This enthusiasm is laudable.
Always comes to class willing to get involved in the daily activities.
Is always the first person to put their hand up to volunteer for a task.
Loves to learn by getting involved and gaining first-hand experiences.
Is beginning to develop her own interest and is eager to learn more about them.
Has a strong personal interest in ________ and has been taking the initiative to explore the topic.
Is very enthusiastic about ________ and has shown great promise in this area.
Has picked a great extracurricular hobby of _____. Her skills learned in this hobby has helped to boost her confidence in the classroom.
Shows interest in a variety of different topics which she has been enthusiastically exploring during free study time.
Always finds personal interest in topics presented in class.

Independence

Is showing increasing independence to learn and study without the need for excessive guidance.
Is a fiercely independent person who knows what she wants and goes out to get it.
Has an independent and free spirited mind.
Is not afraid to go against the majority if she is certain of her beliefs and thoughts.
Happily goes about her tasks independently but seeks help when required.
Shows confidence striking out on her own to do things she is interested in.

Strong Learning and Thinking Skills

Is very resourceful and uses the internet, books and peers to find new knowledge.
Is aware of her learning styles and makes every effort to work to her strengths as a student.
Uses higher-order thinking strategies like analysis and critique to question assumptions.
Knows when she needs help and asks for it willingly.
Thinks deeply about her responses before providing them.
Is very good at reflecting on her weaknesses and working on them to grow as a person.
Is great at solving problems using her own initiative.

Good Attention to Detail

Pays close attention to the details of a tasks so that she doesn’t miss anything.
Is very systematic about going about her tasks so she can complete them thoroughly.
Is great at identifying small and nuanced mistakes in her own work.
Always creates very presentable and professional looking pieces of work.
Has great self-reflection skills , being able to identify her own strengths and weaknesses.
Can pause and look at her own work to identify areas for improvement.
Has the ability to stop and change course when she identifies areas for improvement.
Is very good at identifying and repairing errors in drafts.
Has exercised great thoughtfulness about her own capabilities.
Has shown the ability to empathize with classmates and show great compassion.

Perseverance and Determination

Shows great determination when is set a challenging task.
Perseveres through difficulties to achieve her goals.
Is resilient in the face of significant challenges and problems presented.
Will always work through struggles and come out the other end more confident and skilled.

Constructive Comments

Present constructive comments to show the areas for improvement for the student. Carefully craft the comments so they’re not overly upsetting or impersonal.

Negative Attitude to Learning

Occasionally needs special assistance to stay on task.
Requires some coaxing to complete tasks.
Is at times distracted or uninterested in learning.
Is working on paying more attention to her tasks.
Has some off days where she is uninterested in learning.
Is easily distracted by friends.
Will often come to class unwilling to contribute to group discussions.

Needs Improvement

Needs to work on focus and concentration during class time.
Has improved in some areas, but continues to slip behind in others.
Is showing some lack of focus and is slipping behind in some subjects.
There is still a lot of room for growth and we are working on improving her focus and drive in coming months.
It would be great to see some improvement in her weakest subjects in the future.
I would like to see her asking for help when stuck on tasks.

Disruptive Behavior

Can occasionally disrupt her friends and classmates.
Is at times a distraction to other students.
Can be unsettled when entering the class after breaks.
Can be talkative during quiet times and individual tasks.
Could work on being more considerate to other classmates.
Has had a difficult time getting comfortable in class this year.
Has at times sought undue attention and distracted the flow of lessons.

Read Also: 13 Best Classroom Management Theories

Low Motivation

Sometimes struggles to engage in class discussions.
Requires a lot of external rewards to get focused.
Works well below her capabilities due to lack of motivation to do her best.
Relies heavily on extrinsic motivation. It would be great to see more intrinsic desire to succeed in coming months.
Struggles to find things she is interested in.
Has trouble getting engaged and interested in class topics.
Will respond well to rewards but struggles to use initiative.
Needs to dig deep and find greater motivation to learn in coming months.

Is Not Neat and Tidy

Occasionally presents work that is messy and difficult to read.
I would like to see her paying more attention to neatness in her writing.
It would be great to see her showing more care for her workspace to ensure all her belongings are well cared for.
At times comes to class disheveled and disorganized.
Presents homework that is untidy and appears to have been rushed.
Needs to work on ensuring her work is presentable, neat, and error-free.

Weak Communication Skills

Speaks very softly. An area for improvement is speaking up in class discussions.
Could work some more on communicating her opinions during discussions.
Is often shy and intimidated when asked to speak up in class discussions.
Needs coaxing to share her thoughts in class.
Can work on being clearer when expressing her thoughts in writing.
I look forward to seeing further development in expressing her thoughts in class.

Poor Listening Skills

Has had some trouble paying attention to others during class discussions.
Has some trouble listening to peers and teachers.
Is easily distracted during class discussions.
Is a good talker but needs to work on pausing and listening to others more attentively.
Is often fidgety and distracted when spoken to.
Is often resistant to make eye contact and be responsive when spoken to.
Has trouble repeating and remembering instructions.

Read Also: 47 Best Classroom Rules for Middle and High School

Weak Organization and Time Management

Tends to leave tasks to the last minute.
Often submits incomplete drafts due to poor time management.
Is often disorganized and forgets important school supplies.
Has submitted homework late on several occasions.
Could work on using her time more efficiently to complete tasks in allotted time periods.
I would like to see her working on her organizational skills in coming months so she can use her class time more efficiently.

Bad at Homework

Will often skip assigned homework tasks.
Regularly forgets to bring homework to school.
Her homework is often brought to class incomplete and rushed.
Is often seen completing homework tasks the morning before they are due.
I would like to see her working on setting aside more time for homework in the coming months.
Is good at class work, but needs more initiative to complete her weekly homework in a timely manner.

Poor Attention to Detail

Could be getting higher grades if she edited her work more carefully before submission.
Will sometimes make mistakes due to distractedness and carelessness.
Has started to let carelessness seep into his work for the past few months.
Often does not pay enough attention to test questions, leading to small unforced errors.

Preschool and Kindergarten Comments

Here are some great comments specifically for children in the early years of their development.

Play Based Learning – Strong

Plays well with other children.
Shares resources with her peers during play time.
Has begun to develop cooperative play skills such as sharing and taking turns.
Is a creative and imaginative learner.
Engages in strong exploratory and discovery play behaviors without prompting.
Is enthusiastic and engaged when given developmentally appropriate resources to play with.
Thrives in unstructured play environments where she can explore, learn and discover in her own time.
Has started to use extended vocabulary well during play scenarios.
Is great at taking measured risks during play which reveals great self-confidence for her age.

Play Based Learning – Needs Improvement

Plays in parallel with other children, but needs to start developing cooperative play strategies in the coming months.
Is good at solitary play, but needs more practice sharing and playing with other students.
Is curious about playing with others, but often sits back due to shyness.
Needs encouragement to use more language skills during play-based learning .
Struggles to take turns when playing with others.

Strong Development

Is developing in an age appropriate way and continues to show good progress.
Has visibly developed fine and gross motor skills during class sessions.
Is using language at an age appropriate level.
Is starting to move out of her comfort zone to explore more and more new challenges.
Is socially, cognitively and physically on track for transition to school.

Socialization

Has shown remarkable strides in communication skills at preschool.
Plays well with others.
Is a thoughtful and kind student who plays well with others.
Always shares and thinks about others during play scenarios.
Is a popular student who finds it very easy to make friends with other children.
Has been seen to show some great emerging leadership skills during play scenarios.
Is very happy to play in groups and learn from peers .

Final Thoughts

I will often start with a comment bank like the one above. For each student, I’ll copy four or five of the most suitable statements.

But, I will also follow-up my generic comment from the comment bank with a specific example for the parents to read.

Parents do like to see that you have provided specific and thoughtful statements – so don’t forget to use the student’s name and specific anecdotes as much as possible.

I do hope this comment bank for report card comments has come in handy for you.

Remember to also maintain a positive but honest and constructive voice when writing.

If there is serious concern that might be difficult to express in writing, you should arrange for a parent-teacher conference to have a discussion and see how things progress.

Good luck with your report card writing!

About The Author: Hi, I’m Chris Drew (Ph.D) and I run things around here. I’m an Education expert and university professor.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources

How to Cite Sources

Here is a complete list for how to cite sources. Most of these guides present citation guidance and examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

If you’re looking for general information on MLA or APA citations , the EasyBib Writing Center was designed for you! It has articles on what’s needed in an MLA in-text citation , how to format an APA paper, what an MLA annotated bibliography is, making an MLA works cited page, and much more!

MLA Format Citation Examples

The Modern Language Association created the MLA Style, currently in its 9th edition, to provide researchers with guidelines for writing and documenting scholarly borrowings. Most often used in the humanities, MLA style (or MLA format ) has been adopted and used by numerous other disciplines, in multiple parts of the world.

MLA provides standard rules to follow so that most research papers are formatted in a similar manner. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the information. The MLA in-text citation guidelines, MLA works cited standards, and MLA annotated bibliography instructions provide scholars with the information they need to properly cite sources in their research papers, articles, and assignments.

Book Chapter
Conference Paper
Documentary
Encyclopedia
Google Images
Kindle Book
Memorial Inscription
Museum Exhibit
Painting or Artwork
PowerPoint Presentation
Sheet Music
Thesis or Dissertation
YouTube Video

APA Format Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association created the APA citation style in 1929 as a way to help psychologists, anthropologists, and even business managers establish one common way to cite sources and present content.

APA is used when citing sources for academic articles such as journals, and is intended to help readers better comprehend content, and to avoid language bias wherever possible. The APA style (or APA format ) is now in its 7th edition, and provides citation style guides for virtually any type of resource.

Chicago Style Citation Examples

The Chicago/Turabian style of citing sources is generally used when citing sources for humanities papers, and is best known for its requirement that writers place bibliographic citations at the bottom of a page (in Chicago-format footnotes ) or at the end of a paper (endnotes).

The Turabian and Chicago citation styles are almost identical, but the Turabian style is geared towards student published papers such as theses and dissertations, while the Chicago style provides guidelines for all types of publications. This is why you’ll commonly see Chicago style and Turabian style presented together. The Chicago Manual of Style is currently in its 17th edition, and Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations is in its 8th edition.

Citing Specific Sources or Events

Declaration of Independence
Gettysburg Address
Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
President Obama’s Farewell Address
President Trump’s Inauguration Speech
White House Press Briefing

Additional FAQs

Citing Archived Contributors
Citing a Blog
Citing a Book Chapter
Citing a Source in a Foreign Language
Citing an Image
Citing a Song
Citing Special Contributors
Citing a Translated Article
Citing a Tweet

6 Interesting Citation Facts

The world of citations may seem cut and dry, but there’s more to them than just specific capitalization rules, MLA in-text citations , and other formatting specifications. Citations have been helping researches document their sources for hundreds of years, and are a great way to learn more about a particular subject area.

Ever wonder what sets all the different styles apart, or how they came to be in the first place? Read on for some interesting facts about citations!

1. There are Over 7,000 Different Citation Styles

You may be familiar with MLA and APA citation styles, but there are actually thousands of citation styles used for all different academic disciplines all across the world. Deciding which one to use can be difficult, so be sure to ask you instructor which one you should be using for your next paper.

2. Some Citation Styles are Named After People

While a majority of citation styles are named for the specific organizations that publish them (i.e. APA is published by the American Psychological Association, and MLA format is named for the Modern Language Association), some are actually named after individuals. The most well-known example of this is perhaps Turabian style, named for Kate L. Turabian, an American educator and writer. She developed this style as a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style in order to present a more concise set of rules to students.

3. There are Some Really Specific and Uniquely Named Citation Styles

How specific can citation styles get? The answer is very. For example, the “Flavour and Fragrance Journal” style is based on a bimonthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published since 1985 by John Wiley & Sons. It publishes original research articles, reviews and special reports on all aspects of flavor and fragrance. Another example is “Nordic Pulp and Paper Research,” a style used by an international scientific magazine covering science and technology for the areas of wood or bio-mass constituents.

4. More citations were created on EasyBib.com in the first quarter of 2018 than there are people in California.

The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39.5 million people live in the state of California. Meanwhile, about 43 million citations were made on EasyBib from January to March of 2018. That’s a lot of citations.

5. “Citations” is a Word With a Long History

The word “citations” can be traced back literally thousands of years to the Latin word “citare” meaning “to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite.” The word then took on its more modern meaning and relevance to writing papers in the 1600s, where it became known as the “act of citing or quoting a passage from a book, etc.”

6. Citation Styles are Always Changing

The concept of citations always stays the same. It is a means of preventing plagiarism and demonstrating where you relied on outside sources. The specific style rules, however, can and do change regularly. For example, in 2018 alone, 46 new citation styles were introduced , and 106 updates were made to exiting styles. At EasyBib, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our styles and opportunities to add new ones to our list.

Why Citations Matter

Here are the ways accurate citations can help your students achieve academic success, and how you can answer the dreaded question, “why should I cite my sources?”

They Give Credit to the Right People

Citing their sources makes sure that the reader can differentiate the student’s original thoughts from those of other researchers. Not only does this make sure that the sources they use receive proper credit for their work, it ensures that the student receives deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the topic. Whether the student is citing in MLA format , APA format , or any other style, citations serve as a natural way to place a student’s work in the broader context of the subject area, and serve as an easy way to gauge their commitment to the project.

They Provide Hard Evidence of Ideas

Having many citations from a wide variety of sources related to their idea means that the student is working on a well-researched and respected subject. Citing sources that back up their claim creates room for fact-checking and further research . And, if they can cite a few sources that have the converse opinion or idea, and then demonstrate to the reader why they believe that that viewpoint is wrong by again citing credible sources, the student is well on their way to winning over the reader and cementing their point of view.

They Promote Originality and Prevent Plagiarism

The point of research projects is not to regurgitate information that can already be found elsewhere. We have Google for that! What the student’s project should aim to do is promote an original idea or a spin on an existing idea, and use reliable sources to promote that idea. Copying or directly referencing a source without proper citation can lead to not only a poor grade, but accusations of academic dishonesty. By citing their sources regularly and accurately, students can easily avoid the trap of plagiarism , and promote further research on their topic.

They Create Better Researchers

By researching sources to back up and promote their ideas, students are becoming better researchers without even knowing it! Each time a new source is read or researched, the student is becoming more engaged with the project and is developing a deeper understanding of the subject area. Proper citations demonstrate a breadth of the student’s reading and dedication to the project itself. By creating citations, students are compelled to make connections between their sources and discern research patterns. Each time they complete this process, they are helping themselves become better researchers and writers overall.

When is the Right Time to Start Making Citations?

Make in-text/parenthetical citations as you need them.

As you are writing your paper, be sure to include references within the text that correspond with references in a works cited or bibliography. These are usually called in-text citations or parenthetical citations in MLA and APA formats. The most effective time to complete these is directly after you have made your reference to another source. For instance, after writing the line from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” you would include a citation like this (depending on your chosen citation style):

(Dickens 11).

This signals to the reader that you have referenced an outside source. What’s great about this system is that the in-text citations serve as a natural list for all of the citations you have made in your paper, which will make completing the works cited page a whole lot easier. After you are done writing, all that will be left for you to do is scan your paper for these references, and then build a works cited page that includes a citation for each one.

Need help creating an MLA works cited page ? Try the MLA format generator on EasyBib.com! We also have a guide on how to format an APA reference page .

2. Understand the General Formatting Rules of Your Citation Style Before You Start Writing

While reading up on paper formatting may not sound exciting, being aware of how your paper should look early on in the paper writing process is super important. Citation styles can dictate more than just the appearance of the citations themselves, but rather can impact the layout of your paper as a whole, with specific guidelines concerning margin width, title treatment, and even font size and spacing. Knowing how to organize your paper before you start writing will ensure that you do not receive a low grade for something as trivial as forgetting a hanging indent.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a formatting guide on APA format .

3. Double-check All of Your Outside Sources for Relevance and Trustworthiness First

Collecting outside sources that support your research and specific topic is a critical step in writing an effective paper. But before you run to the library and grab the first 20 books you can lay your hands on, keep in mind that selecting a source to include in your paper should not be taken lightly. Before you proceed with using it to backup your ideas, run a quick Internet search for it and see if other scholars in your field have written about it as well. Check to see if there are book reviews about it or peer accolades. If you spot something that seems off to you, you may want to consider leaving it out of your work. Doing this before your start making citations can save you a ton of time in the long run.

Finished with your paper? It may be time to run it through a grammar and plagiarism checker , like the one offered by EasyBib Plus. If you’re just looking to brush up on the basics, our grammar guides are ready anytime you are.

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How to Create a More Neurodiversity-Affirming Evaluation

by Rebecca Stanborough

People are wonderfully diverse. Bodies, brains, abilities, experiences…they’re all strikingly different from one person to the next. The last thing a competent, compassionate practitioner would want to do is to pathologize that individuality—and yet the process of identifying neurodevelopmental conditions and designing supports can leave some neurodivergent people feeling isolated and stigmatized.

Bryden Carlson-Giving, OTD, OTR/L is one of a growing number of health and education professionals who are aiming to make the evaluation process more affirming for neurodivergent individuals. A neurodivergent practitioner himself, Dr. Carlson-Giving is the creator of Neurodivergent Nexus , a knowledge translation tool to support affirming evaluation, assessment, and intervention practices.

Building a neurodiversity-affirming evaluation, he says, begins with how we view differences and disabilities. When clinicians and educators start with a medical model of disability—the perspective that differences in functioning are the result of an underlying abnormality that needs to be corrected—it’s easy to see a neurodivergent child as a collection of impairments and deficits.

When caregivers adopt a deficit-based view, the child’s self-image can ultimately be harmed. “It leads to really low mental health, low self-esteem, low self-identity. We’re setting up neurodivergent students and clients for failure, instead of having a healthy way of living that isn’t dominated by what other people think. We may be taking away the chance to have health defined on their own terms.”

The medical model of disability doesn’t necessarily address what the individual wants to address or prioritize. And it does not consider the social environment, which may not be providing enough support to allow neurodivergent people to participate in areas where they want to do so.

Yet, in many systems and settings, eligibility for services may hinge on meeting deficit-oriented diagnostic criteria. In such circumstances, how can clinicians and educators make the evaluation process more affirming for neurodivergent students and their families?

Dr. Carlsen-Giving shares these recommendations from the forthcoming book, Neurodiversity Affirming Occupational Therapy Practice: An Anti-Ableist Approach , to be published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers :

1. Start from a place of trust and understanding.

“When you walk into the room, your first step is to believe the individual and their experience, especially if someone is open to talking about feeling misunderstood by society and feeling they can’t authentically be who they are,” Dr. Carlson-Giving says.

“Oftentimes in schools, I’ll have meetings with families and they’ll share… ‘When we met with our outpatient OT or with our pediatrician, we felt like we were not heard. We told them about masking, and the problematic features of an assessment tool and how it made us feel a lot worse about our child. We felt like they were not listening because they knew better.’”

In neurodiversity-affirming practice, practitioners center the lived experience of the individual. “It’s the foundation of the entire evaluation,” Dr. Carlson-Giving says.

2. Challenge accepted beliefs about what health and wellness look like

What people believe about the nature of health and wellness affects the way they conduct assessments, write goals, and provide services. Your patient, client, or student may have a different definition of what health looks like for them and what contributes to their sense of well-being.

To look at health and wellness from your client’s perspective, you may need to dismantle some of what we have all learned about what “normal” looks like, Dr. Carlson-Giving points out.

You may also want to explore your own privilege and your own identities—just as you might do when building your cultural sensitivity in other areas. This kind of reflection can be uncomfortable and challenging because it may involve the discovery that some of our beliefs are rooted in a type of ableism—the view that what is neurotypical is inherently healthier than neurodivergence.

3. Select appropriate assessment tools.

One of the most affirming steps you can take is to ensure you are using assessments that consider the student’s lived experience and support their involvement in goal setting.

“My favorite assessment tools within pediatrics are the Perceived Efficacy of Goal Setting (PEGS) System, the Dynamic Assessment of Social Emotional Learning (DASEL), and the Visual Activity Card Sort,” says Dr. Carlson-Giving. He has also obtained meaningful data from function-based assessments such as the Goal-Oriented Assessment of Lifeskills (GOAL™).

It's important to know that neurodivergent people sometimes mask or camouflage their characteristics during standardized assessments. That means test results may not accurately reflect an individual’s capabilities, daily experience, or needs. It’s also important to understand that many standardized tools are mapped to deficit-based diagnostic criteria. Information about a person’s strengths, and about environmental supports to improve their quality of life, may need to be gathered through other means.

One additional concern has been raised by some neurodiversity experts: “Standardized assessments often compare disabled and neurodivergent individuals to nondisabled individuals, making neurotypicality an implicit goal of therapy,” Dr. Carlson-Giving explains.

In many settings, resources and supports are linked to a formal diagnosis. For that reason, many autistic children and adults, as well as their families and advocates, say diagnosis matters (Rutherford & Johnston, 2022). While standardized tests are not always needed to access services, they are sometimes the key that opens the diagnostic door. Still, a whole-child practice always strives to make room for individuality, even in a controlled assessment environment.

4. Emphasize strengths in your report .

“Language influences everything,” says Dr. Carlson-Giving. “People forget that how we talk about a diagnosis, especially when it’s new, will often translate into the parents’ or the family’s view of their child,” he explains.

An affirming report presents an accurate portrayal of a child’s strengths. It describes the child’s communication differences, interests, and competencies in neutral, non-judgmental terms. Instead of labeling a child’s behavior “restrictive and repetitive” in the narrative portion of a report, you might simply describe what the child enjoys doing: Artfully arranging toy ponies, for example.

Dr. Carlson-Giving also recommends placing test scores at the end of a report so that more emphasis is given to the client’s goals, strengths, and interests.

More research needs to be done to clarify the benefits of strengths-based reporting, but there is evidence to suggest that when autistic individuals are supported in identifying and using their strengths, it can lead to “better quality of life, well-being, and mental health” as well as “feelings of self-worth…positive affect and self-esteem” (Taylor et al., 2023).

5. Write affirming, empowering goals .

A core tenet of neurodiversity-affirming practice is writing goals that are meaningful to the individual at the center of the evaluation.

“You’re asking probing questions,” Dr. Carlson-Giving says. “You’re asking what’s meaningful for them . You’re asking what they actually want to participate in, without any thought of what you think they should be participating in, or where they could be participating more or more efficiently.”

One thing to keep in mind: Neurotypicality itself shouldn’t be the goal. In neurodiversity-affirming practice, goals do not focus on correcting or reducing autistic traits or learning to be more neurotypical. Instead, goals reflect the priorities of the autistic individual and the family. They often aim to build self-advocacy skills, self-esteem, or mental health. Goals can also focus on aligning supports and environmental adaptations with a person’s expressed needs

When writing goals, Dr. Carlson-Giving notes, you’re asking about strengths and interests in terms that align with your professional discipline. “From an OT perspective, we’re asking, ‘What are the best parts of your day? What are the most challenging parts of your day? In your dream scenario, what would you like to get better at?’”

Collaborating on goal setting in this way builds self-advocacy and a sense of agency within the individual being evaluated. “It’s essential that the client has the opportunity to exercise their own self-determination and say how they want to experience the world and make decisions for themselves,” he explains.

In his research , Dr. Carlson-Giving illustrates how goals can be rewritten so they’re more accepting and supportive of neurodiversity:

(Carlson-Giving, 202 3)

Key Messages

These five steps are just a starting place

Centering the lived experience of children and their families, redefining health from your client’s perspective, selecting appropriate assessment tools, adopting a strengths-based approach, and writing empowering goals are key features of neurodiversity-affirming practice. These strategies can be employed by occupational therapists, school psychologists, special educators, speech-language pathologists, and any other professional who serves neurodivergent children and adults.

Creating more affirming evaluations will take careful listening, learning, and reflecting. Parts of the process may require thinking anew about long-held practices. But early evidence suggests that there are likely to be significant benefits—both for you and for your marvelously diverse students.

Carlson-Giving, B. (2024, May 5). Personal interview.

Carlson-Giving, B. (2023). Embracing neurodivergent occupations and empowering disabled voices: A knowledge translation tool to support neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy practice and challenge ableism within the profession. OpenBU. https://hdl.handle.net/2144/46622

Santhanam S. P. (2023). An interactive and neurodiversity-affirming approach to communication supports for autistic students through videogaming. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in schools, 54 (1), 120–139. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00027

Rutherford, M. & Johnston, L. (2022). Rethinking autism assessment, diagnosis, and intervention within a neurodevelopmental pathway framework. In M. Carotenuto, Editor, Autism spectrum disorders – Recent advances and new perspectives . University of Campania. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84848

Taylor, E. C., Livingston, L. A., Clutterbuck, R. A., Callan, M. J., & Shah, P. (2023). Psychological strengths and well-being: Strengths use predicts quality of life, well-being and mental health in autism. Autism, 27 (6), 1826–1839. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221146440

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Why Is N.Y.U. Forcing Protesters to Write Apology Letters?

The university calls it a “restorative practice”; the students call it a coerced confession.

Young people sit in a bus, some masked, while others stand outside, raising their fists or taking cellphone photos.

By Ginia Bellafante

Ginia Bellafante writes the Big City column, a weekly commentary on the politics, culture and life of New York City.

At one point during the demonstrations at Columbia University in 1968, protesters took the acting dean of the liberal arts college hostage. Barricading his office door with furniture, they kept Henry Simmons Coleman, a former Navy man, locked up for 26 hours. When he was finally released, he seemed unfazed; there had been plenty to eat. Retaliation was not on his agenda. So little did it interest him, apparently, that he went on to write letters of recommendation on behalf of those captors who applied to law school.

Although elite-college officials have been spared kidnapping amid the current turmoil resulting from the war in Gaza, it is hard to imagine any administrator acting quite so forgivingly now. In the decades since the previous round of unrest, the modern university has become paradoxically more coddling and less conciliatory — caught between its subservience to the student consumer demanding an almost therapeutic comfort and a donor base insistent in its perceived authority, bending to no one.

Inevitably, questions around consequences for the student protests have become entangled in these contradictions. A few days after she and dozens of other students and faculty members were arrested at a demonstration at New York University on April 22, Ellis Garey, who had just completed a doctorate in history, got an email from the Office of the Dean of Students that she found perplexing.

“Living and processing this distressing experience evokes various emotions and complex feelings which may affect your ability to focus and feel safe,” it read. But the only “distressing experience,” to her mind, was N.Y.U.’s decision to call in the police to quiet the protests in the first place. The office went on to promise “guidance, encouragement and support” for the problem it had created.

While the university eventually moved to have the criminal charges against the students dropped, it initiated a disciplinary process against some of them (the university will not disclose how many) that seemed as if it had been conjured in the writers’ room of a dystopian sci-fi series . In order to return to the university, some students would be required to complete a 49-page set of readings and tasks — “modules” — known as the Ethos Integrity Series, geared at helping participants “make gains” in “moral reasoning” and “ethical decision making.” In a letter to the administration, Liam Murphy, a professor at the law school, called it “an intellectual embarrassment,” betraying the university’s mission as a training ground for independent thought and forcing students merely “to consume pages and pages of pablum.”

The Ethos Integrity Series was not the only command. Some students would be assigned a “reflection paper,” the details of which were laid out by the Office of Student Conduct. In it they would address several questions, among them: What are your values? Did the decision you made align with your personal values? What have you done or need still to do to make things right? Explicitly instructed not to “justify” their actions, the students were told to turn their papers in by May 29 in “12-point Times New Roman or similar font.”

In an email, John Beckman, a spokesman for N.Y.U., defended the protocols, explaining that these papers have been a common sanction at the university for at least eight years, part of an approach to discipline that relies on “restorative practices.” In this instance, though, the exercise cannibalizes the mission, favoring a will to dishonesty — inviting a charade of guilt. Anyone driven to protest is marching and chanting precisely as an expression of a certain set of fiercely held moral beliefs and values — not in deviation from them. Someone leaving her dorm room with a sign that says “Free Palestine” probably believes she is already doing what she needs to do “to make things right.”

As Ms. Garey put it, “I’m not going to apologize for opposing genocide.” The risk to her — someone who has finished her Ph.D. work — is the threat of a mark on her transcript, she said, for a failure to comply.

She and her cohort have had the support of various members of the faculty, who have condemned the approach as punitive and infantilizing, a capitulation to a corporate management style steeped in the art of reprisal and delivered in the name of personal growth. In a faculty listserv, this week, Robert Cohen , a professor of history and social studies at N.Y.U. whose scholarship focuses on 20th-century protest movements, said that he could think of no instance from the campus demonstrations in the ’60s in which a university had so “coerced” students to declare that their dissent was “wrong.”

Over the past two decades, N.Y.U. has seen its status and fortunes rise as a global brand. This, in the view of Paula Chakravartty, a professor of media and communications at N.Y.U., and many of her colleagues is exactly where the problem lies — because it cannot be both “the Starbucks of education” and “a serious university.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the surname of an N.Y.U. doctoral student. She is Ellis Garey, not Geary.

How we handle corrections

Ginia Bellafante has served as a reporter, critic and, since 2011, as the Big City columnist . She began her career at The Times as a fashion critic, and has also been a television critic. She previously worked at Time magazine. More about Ginia Bellafante

The Campus Protests Over the Gaza War

News and Analysis

Harvard said that it will no longer take positions on matters outside of the university , accepting the recommendations of a faculty committee that urged the school to reduce its messages on issues of the day.

Weeks after counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, the university police have made the first arrest related to the attack .

A union for academic workers in the University of California system announced that an ongoing strike challenging the system’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations would extend to two more campuses , U.C.L.A. and U.C. Davis.

The Battle Over College Speech: University demonstrations over the war in Gaza have reignited the debate over campus speech, and have led to a rethinking of who sets the terms for language in academia .

Making Sense of the Protests: In the weeks leading up to graduation, our reporter spoke with more than a dozen students at Columbia University and Barnard College about how the campus protests had shaped them .

A Complex Summer: Many university leaders and officials may be confronting federal investigations, disputes over student discipline — and the prospect that the protests start all over again in the fall.

A New Litmus Test: Some Jewish students say their views on Zionism — which are sometimes assumed — have affected their social life on campus .

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Amy Ettinger (Image credit: Dan White)

Amy Jordana Ettinger, a Bay Area author and Stanford Continuing Studies writing instructor, died March 20 at her home in Santa Cruz. She was 49.

Ettinger began teaching in the Stanford Continuing Studies creative writing program in 2019 and continued teaching after she was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and incurable form of cancer. During her time at Stanford, she taught 14 non-fiction writing classes, including courses like CNF 75: Creative Nonfiction Book: From Idea to Proposal and CNF 76: Pitch and Publish Your Nonfiction Stories .

“Amy graciously and generously shared her love of writing with students who gravitated to her for her energy, enthusiasm, and unflagging support,” said Malena Watrous, the creative writing coordinator at Stanford Continuing Studies. “She wanted them to know that being a published writer was within the realm of possibility for anyone who was willing to pursue a story and put in the work of getting it on paper and revising it until it shone.”

Ettinger taught two courses in the program until she began hospice care.

She wrote about her experiences with a terminal illness in two pieces for the Washington Post – her final story published in print the day before she died – in which she reflected on some of the meaningful moments during her final months. One of the highlights she shared was teaching at Stanford to the very end of her life.

“Amy had a generous spirit. She never did anything in half measures, whether she was writing a personal essay for the Washington Post or teaching her writing classes at Stanford,” said Ettinger’s husband, Dan White. “She cared very much about her students, and she was so proud of the work they did.”

Helping students find their own sweet spot

Ettinger was an accomplished writer herself.

She began her career writing for the Monterey Bay Herald before becoming a freelance journalist. Her pieces appeared in national outlets including the New York Times , the Washington Post , New York Magazine , Salon , CNN , and Newsweek . In 2017, Ettinger published her own nonfiction book, Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America (Penguin Random House).

“Amy loved to connect to large audiences with her writing, but teaching added a whole new dimension to her career,” said White. “She loved the idea of helping students demystify the process of getting published and writing proposals, or removing some of the fear factor and help them consider the perspective of the editors and publishers who would be looking at their work.”

Ettinger encouraged her Stanford Continuing Studies students to find their own sweet spot.

Ettinger’s classes filled with both new and returning students, including Alyssa Lauren Stone who took two courses with Ettinger in 2022. Within months of working with Ettinger, Stone published her own work in well-known news outlets. She credits her early success to working with Ettinger, particularly her advice on pitching compelling ideas to editors.

“Amy had a real knack for knowing what stories editors like,” Stone said. “Amy was a generous teacher who did not hold back from sharing her tools for success.”

Ettinger was also a mentor to another instructor in the Stanford Continuing Studies creative writing program, Gregg Wrenn.

“Amy was an extraordinary creative nonfiction instructor who gave me the emotional support and editorial expertise I needed to finish my memoir,” said Wren. “Her work touched hundreds of students just like me who will miss her deeply.”

Ettinger is survived by her husband Dan and their daughter, Julianna.

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15 Helpful Tips for Writing Student Reports
Proofread first thing in the morning. Read your report card comments out loud and also silently. Read them slowly. Use a spell checker and grammar checker as a first screening, but don't depend on them. Keep a list of your most common errors and proof for these separately. Double-check the spelling of names.
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Use the '4 parts' rule. Each statement in a school report should include 4 elements: the achievement/success; evidence of that success; the target; resources to help meet the target. So, a four-part phrase might be: "Joshua has progressed well in handwriting. He is now joining most of his letters in each word.
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Title: You need a comprehensive but concise title to set the right tone and make a good impression. It should be reflective of the general themes in the report. Table of Contents: Your title page must be followed by a table of contents. We suggest writing an entire report first and creating a table of content later.
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Writing a report should be concise and to the point. It should also be relevant to the topic. Make sure to check your work with someone and read it aloud. Proofreading is also important because computer programs cannot catch every mistake. You may even want to wait a day before you read it to make sure that it is error-free. Keep in mind that ...
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How to Write a Progress Report for Students: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding the Purpose of a Progress Report

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Subject Areas

Performance Indicators

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Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Progress Report

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ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Progress Report for Students

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