report writing skills course

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Essay and report writing skills

Introduction.

Most academic courses will require you to write assignments or reports, and this free OpenLearn course, Essay and report writing skills , is designed to help you to develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes. It contains clear instruction and a range of activities to help you to understand what is required, and to plan, structure and write your assignments or reports. You will also find out how to use feedback to develop your skills.

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Online certificate course on reporting skills & professional writing.

• ELD Training

REPORTING SKILLS & PROFESSIONAL WRITING

PLAN, DRAFT AND EDIT REPORTS THAT LEAD TO ACTION

Effective reports are essential in any project M&E system. This course equips you with the practical tools and skills you need to produce reports that:

• Lead to action
• Support informed project decision-making
• Help steer projects towards measurable results for communities

This training is for anyone in working in relief, humanitarian or development contexts who is involved with data collection, analysis or reporting. You will learn a step-by-step process for reporting that will reduce wasted time and deadline stress, and ensure your reports have more impact.

WHAT THIS COURSE COVERS

• SETTING REPORTING OBJECTIVES : Learn how to define clear reporting objectives by understanding the reader’s expectations. Understand how to deconstruct the report template / TOR so you can manage complex reports and team reporting efforts.
• DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Learn how to select the most effective data collection methods for your project M&E. Unlock your ability to map valuable holistic insights and draw meaningful conclusions, revealing the stories behind the numbers.
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING YOUR WRITING: Learn an innovative approach to report planning that allows you to build your writing around its objectives. Acquire the skills to organize your ideas persuasively, ensuring maximum impact and engagement.
• COMMUNICATING WITH IMPACT: Master the art of clear communication and learn techniques to keep your readers interested and alert.

All topics are supported by frequent, clear, practical examples and case studies from relief, humanitarian and development work.

HOW THIS COURSE WORKS

This is a self-study training so you can work at your own pace. As soon as you sign up you will have access to:

• Over 6 hours of clear, practical, step-by-step sessions (downloadable, subtitled video, accessible on all devices)
• Discussion sections to leave questions and reflections
• Frequent tests to check and reinforce your learning
• A certificate of completion

This is a practical course. You will often be asked to pause and work through reflections and exercises. This is to support you in developing your own skills as you progress through the modules.

You can explore the early modules here:

VIDEO LESSON: WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL WRITING? (4.23)

VIDEO LESSON: WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE GET IT WRONG? (12.55)

And if you have any questions about whether this course is right for you, feel free to email us.

Your Instructor: Neil Kendrick

Leading ELD Training with over 25 years of experience, Neil Kendrick from the UK specializes in Professional Writing, Reporting Skills, Proposal Writing, Results-Based Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation. He has trained professionals from hundreds of organizations in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

"I've never experienced a course like ELD before. It's amazing, effective and enhanced my English writing."

• Nazrul Islam, District Facilitator, UNDP Bangladesh

"I have started to apply the skills I gained from the online training almost immediately. I found the course to be highly relevant and eye-opening. I would recommend the course to anyone who has to prepare written reports in their work."

• Haifa Naeem, Consultant, Anti-Corruption Commission, Maldives

"The course was engaging and relevant. Neil was able to deliver the course in a manner that was simple and easy to understand."

• Yvonne Manase, Public Health Cosultant, Zimbabwe

"I've learnt what I needed. I have a better understanding of the principles of professional writing and the writing process. I have been able to apply the learned skills to my writing and I appreciate the change. If I had had it earlier, I would have written better reports!"

• Florence Naluyinda-Kitabire, Public Health Consultant, Uganda

“Thanks for going through my report and all the recommendations. I really enjoyed the report analysis you did. My report writing will never be the same again.”

• Robson Vambe, TechnoServe, Zimbabwe

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts as soon as you are ready. It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.

How long do I have access to the course?

How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

How can I start?

You can pay by credit card sign up right away. You will have access to the whole course immediately.

My organization is funding this course. How can I enroll?

If your organization is sponsoring you, and you want to pay by bank transfer, send us an email at [email protected].

How can we enroll a group of participants?

Relief, humanitarian and development work is a team effort. Please email us to discuss enrolling groups.

What other ways can I pay?

You can pay by bank draft, PayPal and Western Union. Contact us at [email protected] for details.

What support is available during the course?

Although this is a self-study training, there are Discussion areas inside the course where you can post any additional questions about what was covered.

Fee information

How to register.

See the full course curriculum and sign up at: ONLINE COURSE ON REPORTING SKILLS & PROFESSIONAL WRITING | ELD (eldtraining.com) or contact us by email.

Latest Updates

Secretary-general strongly condemns deadly attack by rapid support forces in sudan, secretary-general renews call for ceasefire along lebanon, israel border, opt: humanitarian fund dashboard (may 2024).

South Sudan

South Sudan Key Message Update: Widespread Emergency (IPC Phase 4) amid aid delivery disruption and high food prices (May 2024)

Technical Report Writing Course

Available for groups as a self-paced online course, instructor-led virtual or instructor-led onsite training, and for individuals as a self-paced online course.

Download the Outline

Learn how this course will help your team or you quickly become an advanced business report writer.

Reports are the lifeblood of decision-making and monitoring in business. Ideally, they provide relevant, vetted information that allows a reader to easily understand both context and implications and make an informed decision. However, too often, important information is buried and organization is muddled. And, writing a technical document can often feel like a time-draining burden. This practicum course teaches the optimal planning and writing process to convey technical and complex information effectively. And, how to write reports more efficiently, saving you time and reducing frustration. The course also includes a live one-on-one coaching session to review a final report to ensure technical writing is strong.

INDIVIDUALS

Online self-paced course available for individuals. 

Online self-paced course and instructor-led training can be customized to match your needs. Group discounts apply.

Skills gained in this course:

• Reduce report time writing by at least 25%, and become a better technical writer.
• Synthesize complex, technical information and present it understandably to readers.
• Ensure report content conveys information for business decisions, within a readily absorbed format.
• Eliminate bloat and highlight only the information that matters.
• Write an executive summary that tightly summarizes the report content.
• Use correct grammar, English vocabulary, and punctuation to create polished and professional documents.

Create strong, professional, well-written reports.

Ten interactive lessons on the fundamentals of effective technical report writing including both substance and syntax .

Downloadable resources and class materials to maintain the practical skills learned throughout the training.

A list of simple tools and outside resources to continually hone key skills.

Detailed, individualized written instructor feedback while writing an actual work report and a live, one-hour coaching call to review the final technical report written in the course.

Individual written feedback for every student

Personal feedback from an expert instructor takes any communication skills to the next level. To truly improve writing habits and create strong writing skills, both course instruction and feedback on actual writing are needed.

Our feedback includes both subjective and objective feedback , in addition to a personal grammar diagnosis and additional helpful resources.

Objective feedback:

• Is the report based fully on reader's needs and perspective?
• Is the report logically organized?
• Does the reader have all the information needed (and none that is not needed) to achieve the objective of the report?

Subjective feedback:

• Is the proper use of active voice or passive voice being used?
• Is word choice clear and strong?
• Can you cut any unnecessary words?
• Are there any grammar errors?

Flexible training to meet your needs.

Online course for individuals or groups.

Online, self-paced training allows individuals and teams to train on their own schedule with 24/7 access to the course. This online training method has flexible deadlines for busy professionals and groups across different time zones to all receive the same training.

Virtual instructor-led course for groups

Virtual training allows for highly engaging instruction, exercises, and discussion in a professional setting. Learners complete activities in breakout rooms with fellow students, break down documents individually and are encouraged to participate in conversations and ask questions about these essential skills.

Onsite instructor-led course for groups

In-person training is highly interactive, with many individual and shared activities. Groups work together at your location to deconstruct documents, deep dive into individual writing concerns, plan an upcoming document, and more.

Schedule a call to find out more about group training options

Certificate of Completion

What is included in this course.

This practicum technical writing course is split into several detailed lessons including video lessons and online resources.

Getting Started

An introduction and self-assessment.

Review the objectives and breakdown of the course content. Share specific course goals, and tell us about the typical business reports and technical documentation you write.

6-Steps to Effective Report Writing

Learn a practical framework for effective business report writing. This six-step process helps you understand the strategies needed to write a clear report. This process will allow you to spend 30% less time on every report you write. This applies to all reports, including those that convey technical information.

Report Planning

Analyzing your audience frames everything about a report and conveys technical information, including content and organization.

We address the tools and best methodologies to generate information and plan reports to ensure the substantive information in the report is accurate and well organized and to help you write most efficiently.

Report Structure

Learn to organize a report logically, whether it is a business or technical report. Better technical communication can lead to fewer meetings, higher productivity, and better decisions.

This lesson focuses on how to organize and sequence information appropriately.

The Executive Summary

Reports get a bad rap for being long and painful to both read and write. The executive summary is the most important section that conveys the core findings and implications of your report. It allows a busy executive to absorb lots of information easily and make an informed decision.

Report Examples with Various Tools

Reports can feel overwhelming because there are so many variations and writing styles. Review examples of types of reports using the most common format and vital tools to ensure writing proficiency. 

This lesson also looks at important considerations when writing a report from a template.

Learn to weave in at-a-glance hooks to persuade and engage your reader. Titles, sub-titles, data presentation, and other areas can become much more compelling with skilled persuasive techniques applied.

Persuasion, done well, will highlight reader engagement and your credibility. Your technical knowledge will look strong.

Format Considerations

Technical information is dense. Learn formatting techniques to create a visually appealing, easy-to-scan report that helps your reader easily understand complex, technical information. The format is even helpful when writing for other technical professionals or when writing technical manuals.

Headings, white space, typography, visual structure, and the best graphical representation of data are addressed.

Clarity and Word Choice

Ensure your report is a pleasure to read with clear and concise language that presents your information competently and confidently. This module ensures that your sentences are accurate, easy to reach, and engaging, a critical part of effective report writing skills.

Grammar and Syntax

Learn proofreading tactics to avoid embarrassing grammar and spelling mistakes. These go beyond simple tips and tricks. These are proven grammar and syntax strategies that will make all your writing more professional.

Live Coaching Session

The course concludes with a live one-on-one coaching session with your instructor.

During this time you can ask any questions and review feedback about your report. The live coaching call acts to solidify the information learned during the course so you can apply your new knowledge to future reports and to provide detailed feedback on the report you wrote in the course.

View the full course outline and list of resources

What will writing look like after this training.

This course’s expert instructors

As a multilingual American, Kara has a unique perspective of the English language. She is an instructor and specializes in business writing, technical content, and generalized marketing.

Four years ago, backed by an Emory B.A. degree, Mercer University MBA, and a 20-year career in corporate America, Kara endeavored to engage in her true passion to help companies and people bolster their company and personal brand image through writing.

Kara resides at Lake Oconee, GA with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She is an active volunteer with the local Boys and Girls Club and high school Career Coaching.

Read more >>

Elisabeth O'Quinn

Elisabeth has a unique combination of business and business writing acumen, with an extensive background in writing, editing, and content marketing management.

She has supported a wide range of businesses, writing blog articles, white papers, presentations, and editing business documents. She has supported many of our clients with rave reviews of her writing feedback, helping countless participants with their technical report writing skills.

Elisabeth lives in Georgia with her cat and rescue pup. In addition to writing, she loves traveling with her twin sister, learning German, and creating watercolor prints.

Grace Cuddy

Grace has extensive experience in Instructional Solutions' online English courses and also works with individuals and groups from several international companies across Europe as a business writing coach. She is an expert in business English writing and loves to help students improve their technical writing skills. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has a keen sensitivity to global writing. She has a strong background in corporate communication and management and successfully developed cross-functional writing and communication processes in a large corporate team. She has also helped professional engineers and firms develop professional training programs. She enjoys yoga, travel, and dance. She splits her time between New York City and Madrid.

Katie Almeida Spencer

Katie is an experienced Business Writing and English as a Second Language instructor, business English writing coach, and teacher trainer. She taught Business Skills and Academic Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She is very skilled at evaluating both the substance and language of business documents. Her writing critiques, instruction, and coaching have received stellar evaluations from our clients at Chartis Consulting, DuPont, Shell, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, and the World Wildlife Fund.

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her areas of expertise include business writing and technical report writing, proposal writing, English courses, and syntax and non-native writing.

Course feedback and testimonials

This course will minimize the time I spend when writing emails, reports, and letters. I spend hours each day reading and writing email, so you’ve given me back the most valuable commodity – my time! Thank you.

Claims Representative

This training will help in both my written and verbal communications because I learned to organize my thoughts. I now see the actual methodology to improve my technical reports.

Project Manager

I learned very valuable tips such as what to avoid when writing and how to follow a process. I will surely apply what I've learned when I write emails and risk assessment reports in the future.

Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager

This was a fantastic class, and the discussion of user requirement documents and project status reports was illuminating. I can see already how much time I will save using these techniques.

Business Analyst

Become a better report writer., sign up today or schedule a discussion to become a stronger report writer..

We offer customized and flexible online, virtual, and onsite courses, workshops, and classes that match your company’s needs.

Onsite Training Courses

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• Human Resources
• Leadership and Management
• Negotiation and Conflict Management
• Presentation Skills
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• Train-the-Trainer

Virtual Classroom Training Courses

• Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
• Management and Leadership
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Online Training Courses

• Business Etiquette and Professionalism
• Creative and Critical Thinking
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Nonprofit Management
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Leadership Development

Corporate college solutions, interactive keynotes, meeting and retreat facilitation, one-on-one coaching.

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Ask an Expert

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• Job Needs Assessment
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• Elizabeth George
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About Onsite Training What is onsite training?

The Full List See all onsite courses.

Locations Find out where we can deliver training.

Report writing course, structured findings: writing effective reports, available formats: full-day training course, multi-day training course, course outcomes.

This report writing course will:

• Help participants determine a report’s scope and depth prior to putting pen to paper.
• Provide participants with tools for identifying their report’s main points and supporting details.
• Suggest several steps writers can take to improve a report’s readability.
• Highlight common mistakes report writers make.
• Explain how to use white space, headings, bullets, and illustrations.
• Provide concrete guidance for creating effective executive summaries.
• Offer proofreading tips.

Course Overview

Learn to write reports that get read during this interactive report writing workshop.  During this session, participants will learn how to identify their documents’ readers, how to adjust the scope and depth of their writing to accommodate the interests of different groups, a process writers can follow to isolate their primary message and its supporting details, and simple actions report authors can take to improve the quality of their prose. While this course is not a basic writing program, the workshop does address common errors writers make and solutions to those problems. Furthermore, participants will learn how to use illustrations and photos to improve the attractiveness of their documents. Following that discussion, the instructor will share guidelines for creating good executive summaries. The program concludes with proofreading tips for finding mistakes before a report heads to the printing press.

Program Objectives

At this program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

• Identify a report’s readers.
• Define the scope of a report.
• Craft a thesis statement.
• Group information logically.
• Write an enticing introduction.
• Use headings, bullets, and other tools to make reading easier.
• Incorporate charts, photos, and other graphics to illustrate report findings.
• Create a compelling conclusion.
• Apply rules of standard English to their writing.

The following outline highlights some of the course’s key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).

Workshop Outline

Examining the evidence: what’s been happening.

This program kicks off with an evaluation of the current reports participants write.  During this workshop segment, group members will identify elements that detract from or enhance the credibility of their writing.  Next, they will highlight the specific challenges they wish to have addressed during the session.

Starting from Scratch: Write for the Reader

In this part of the program, we will discuss the importance of audience analysis and its role in determining the scope and depth of a report.  Working with a sample report, the group will identify audience segments.  Next, the participants will examine each segment’s interest in the topic, existing knowledge of the material, understanding of industry jargon, and additional elements that differentiate this group from other readers.  Once they have a firm grasp of their audiences’ needs, we will look at how those requirements should influence a report’s design.

Creating a Thesis Statement: What’s Your Point?

A report is easier to write when a strong main idea exists.  During this seminar segment, we will practice using a tool that will help participants identify a topic statement and its supporting ideas.  By the conclusion of this part of the course, participants should have an outline from which they can work during the session’s remainder.  

Making It Easy: Three Steps to Better Readability

Writing in the active voice, choosing accessible vocabulary, and using short sentences and paragraphs, are three actions writers can take to improve the quality of the texts.  Working with examples provided by the instructor, participants will apply these rules.  Next, they will review reports they have authored to determine whether those documents would benefit from the same treatment.

Preventing Laziness: Tighten Your Text

“There’s problems with the machine.” “Each employee should bring their ID to the meeting.” “The number of people failing the test are growing.”  Wrong, wrong, and wrong.  All of those sentences contain the type of errors that can ruin a piece of writing.  During this part of the program, we will review the common mistakes writers make and discuss tips for avoiding such blunders.  Following this discussion, participants will examine their writing and hunt for problems of which they may not have been previously aware.

Showing the Way: How Photos, Illustrations, and Formatting Can Help

If it doesn’t look good, it probably won’t get read.  Unfair? Maybe.  True? Yes.  Sleek, clean, and good looking reports attract eyeballs. During this part of the workshop, we will review tips for improving a document’s readability with the use of headings, bullets, white space, and illustrations.  What was that? You’re not artistically inclined? Thanks to many low-cost or no-cost stock image sites and drawing tools, you don’t have to be.  Business Training Works maintains a list of such resources, and at the end of this segment, the instructor will share our latest finds.

Economizing: What’s the Executive Summary

Once a writer completes a report, it’s time to write the executive summary.   These one or two-page documents get to the heart of a report’s main point, conclusion, and recommendations.  In this part of the training program, participants will learn best practices for creating executive summaries.  Following that discussion, they will draft a summary of their reports.

Checking Twice: Proofreading Tips

“How those typos made it into that report, I will never know.  I swear they weren’t there when I was working on it!”   At some point, most writers have the unpleasant experience of finding errors in their work despite having performed what seemed like a thorough review.  Unfortunately, for many report writers, the more time they spend with their text, the less likely they will see its flaws.  This inconvenient truth can make the proofreading process difficult.  In this final course segment, we will offer suggestions for reviewing documents and catching errors that might have otherwise initially gone unnoticed.

At the program’s conclusion, participants should understand the elements a report should contain and the steps they should follow to succinctly present their findings.

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Didn't find what you were looking for, the business training works difference.

When you team with us, you’ll get:

• A partner who will ask questions about your goals and objectives.
• An opportunity to have a tailoring call and to speak with the program facilitator prior to a workshop.
• Interactive facilitation conducted by someone who has a deep understanding of adult learning and the topic at hand.
• A post-training web-based skills check-in meeting if desired.
• People behind the scenes who will work to make our relationship a success.

You won’t get:

• A workshop leader who sells products during class time.
• A talking head with a PowerPoint presentation and not much else.
• Lecture-based training that’s too academic, not practical, and doesn’t connect to life in the workplace.
• The sense that you are a number, a transaction, or a cog in a machine.

Onsite Training Course Reminders

Our instructor-led training courses are available to private groups.  These workshops are not offered in a public seminar format.  Please  contact us  to speak with a facilitator about your needs and bringing training to your organization.

We also travel to Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Canada, Central America, Continental Europe, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.

Please contact us about your location.

• For information about pricing, please see our fee schedule .
• For instructor-led webinars, take a look at our  virtual classroom programs .
• For information about self-paced courses available to anyone, visit our online courses catalog .
• For free resources, check out our resources pages .

Questions This Page Answers About Report Writing Training

• Where can I find an onsite course to learn how to write better reports?
• Who offers report writing training?
• Who has a workshop I can bring to my office to help my team learn how to write better reports?

“Pamela Sumner is professional, warm, and highly educated. Her style translates to small groups as well as large formal settings. She is definitely an asset to BTW.”

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“Phillip was a great presenter. He kept the class moving forward and kept us all engaged and participating. We all got a lot out of the training and hope to have him back again for follow up.”

“The team was quite impressed with your materials and more importantly delivery style. I feel like we all took something positive away from the course which is all I can ever ask for.”

“Greg Jones was a DYNAMITE presenter! He was fun, knowledgeable, and engaging and had our large group of 50+ people laughing and participating right up until the 5:00 PM end time. I am always impressed when a facilitator can keep a group engaged and involved WITHOUT using PPT and Greg did just that with his handouts, flip charting, storytelling and mixing up activities at table groups, teams, and with partners. We would love to have him back!”

“We had an amazing day today! Everyone I spoke to during the day today said they were really enjoying the session (as did I). Charlie did a fantastic job. Thank you both for a great experience!”

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“We did enjoy the class and yes, I am excited to work with you to bring in more. Charles is a great teacher, I would like to have him teach them.”

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“Phillip was engaging and professional. I had many people who were in the session tell me that they enjoyed it.”

“The course was high-quality, first-class, first-rate, superior, fine, excellent and hence forth.  Charles’ way of teaching was pleasant, exceptional, superb, and commendable. My department will speak well about this course for a while. Thank you so much for the quality of training and attention to detail. We are excited to use the tools created by zombies. However, in all seriousness the course was facio delicias and nuntiisque (fun and informative in Latin). I look forward to using your company in the future.”

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“Greg was awesome! Very informative and interactive. He got rave reviews from the participants.”

“Thank you again for working with us last week. As always, the team loved the session, and I’ve been hearing great feedback. The change in the leadership team’s behavior, even since just last week, is noticeable. The executive team and I have literally had people coming up to us all week talking about how excited they are for the future, how they believe in where we are headed, and thanking us for what’s being done. As a business leader, this time period is truly a career highlight for me. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Pamela was a gem! We really enjoyed it. The one main piece of feedback I got was they wanted more time.”

“The workshop was appreciated very much, and you (Stefanie) were indeed a big hit. Thank you for all your support and value you brought this team. I look forward to another opportunity to work with you, you were an absolute delight.”

“I would like to say that yesterday was simply amazing. Our team is very happy with the training and the content that was presented. Thomas was exactly who we needed to address our etiquette training needs. Our team was receptive and the activities were fun and engaging. I would definitely recommend Thomas to anyone looking to enhance their team with etiquette training.”

“It was a positive experience to have this training, very useful to understanding myself as a provider and patients. Laurie was engaging as a speaker. I learned to approach patient care differently seeing patients as different and not “difficult.” I took away key points and different strategies to use in my interactions with patients, just a matter of finding the time to make adjustments and implement these changes.”

“Shawn was an excellent facilitator. After our class he took the time to look over the questions we use during our interview and provided positive feedback. I highly recommend Shawn and this course, ‘How to Interview and Hire Well’.”

“I wanted to reach out to you regarding Phillip and what wonderful experience it was for our teams to have him as our facilitator for the team building and cross-cultural communication course last Friday. He’s a very talented and engaging trainer, and he was able to get even our toughest employees to participate. Everyone really liked Phillip and enjoyed the course.”

“It was a pleasure to work with Charlie last week. He was fantastic, and I have received great responses from the participants about the training!”

“Pamela did a great job of engaging our participants in the training. They all had very positive feedback about the day and Pamela specifically. She was approachable and easy to relate to and was able to illustrate the points in a way that the team understood.”

“I just wanted to send out an email to express our appreciation for the service that Greg provided. He was a very motivated and inspirational speaker. We really, and I seriously mean this, enjoyed him. We are going to adapt some of our training procedures to fit his suggestions.”

“I liked that fact that we were kept busy – it never got boring.”

“Kate was a refreshing start to 2020! Very energetic and captivating the entire session. Moments of reflection, laughter, and engagement made this a great FLAG kickoff to the year!”

“Stefanie is knowledgeable, credible, fun and engaging as a facilitator.”

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REPORT WRITING SKILLS TRAINING COURSE . CLASS . WORKSHOP . SEMINAR . PROGRAM

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Report Writing Skills Training Course

Our Report Writing Skills training course is delivered as an online virtual open course. We can also deliver the course in-house just for your business as an in-person course or a live virtual online course.

One Day Course | Online Virtual Open Course | In-House Delivery Available

Report Writing Skills Course – The Details

Flick through the tabs below to see all the details about our report writing skills training course.

• Course Overview
• Who Should Attend?
• What You Get
• Delivery Options

Course Highlights

Here’s some quick information about our report writing skills course:

• 1-day open training course delivered online
• Delivered anywhere in the UK as an in-house course
• Booking is easy. Just select a date and click Book Now!

This report writing skills training course will provide you with a toolkit to improve your business report writing skills. It focuses on the key elements of writing and presenting business reports such as Preparation, structure, writing and presenting.

The session includes a range of activities that will allow you to practice skills, alongside trainer-led sessions to introduce the relevant knowledge.

We look at how to plan reports and what you want people to get from them, compose and structure reports, and present the information clearly.

Course Objectives

By attending this Report Writing Skills Training Course you will be able to:

• Create a basic report outline
• Organise the key points and support them with relevant facts
• Write some rough draft notes and check existing reports against the overall structure
• Choose appropriate visuals such as charts, graphs, and tables to present figures
• Write an effective conclusion
• Write an executive summary that highlights the report’s main ideas
• Professionally present the report

Course Content

Here’s what we cover in our report writing skills training course:

Preparing the Report

• Defining the purpose
• Setting the Objectives
• Investigate the topic
• Thinking about the reader

Report Sections

• Title or title page
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Discussions/Body/Investigation
• Summary & Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Numbering Sections and figures
• Diagrams, graphs and tables

Proof-reading

• Originality & Plagiarism
• Business English
• Punctuation

Presenting the Report*

• How to talk through the report
• Use persuasive language
• Get buy-in to the ideas you are presenting

When you bring this course in-house, the content above can be tweaked and changed to meet the needs of your team.

Download the Course Brochure

Download a copy of our report writing skills training course brochure below.

Who Should Attend our Report Writing Skills Training Course?

This report writing skills training course is for anyone who has to produce a report as part of their role

If you want to:

• Present information in a clear and concise way
• Have a go-to tool kit for writing and producing reports
• Present information in a more structured and influential way
• More professional looking reports
• Speed up the process of writing reports
• Get writing right first time around

Then this report writing skills course is for you.

The course is suitable for people of all levels and in all roles and industries.

In-House Delivery

A 1 day training course with one of our highly experienced trainers at your location or online. You also get

• Course materials for each delegate to take away
• A course certificate
• Reporting on delegate evaluation
• Access to MyRevolution Learning to retain access to your materials and stay in touch with your trainer

Online Training Courses

A 1 day online live virtual training course with one of our highly experienced report writing skills trainers. You also get:

• A highly interactive online experience
• A digital copy of the course materials from the course
• A digital course certificate

Have Some Questions?

Here are some of the common questions we get asked about our report writing skills training course:

Who delivers your report writing skills training courses?

Our report writing skills courses are delivered by our friendly and highly experienced trainers. We live and breathe what we talk about in these sessions as we use most of the tools and techniques ourselves on a daily bases and bring this real-world experience into the session and the examples that we use.

What type of documents are discussed in the course?

We look at a structure that can be applied to all types of reports and potentially other business documents too.

Is there a practical Element?

Yes. We have a number of exercises for you to have a go at during the course. This will help you embed the learning and allow you to discuss the approach in more detail with your trainer and fellow delegates.

Can you review my previous work?

We encourage anyone who attends this course to bring along examples of reports that they have produced in the past. These can be used as case studies for the practical exercises and also you trainer can provide some initial feedback on them.

Do you have any report writing skills articles I can read?

Open online course.

Our Online Report Writing Skills course is an interactive live virtual course. The content remains the same but the delivery and approach has been re-imagined for the virtual environment. Our online training courses are delivered by Zoom.

We can also deliver this Report Writing Skills course just for your organisation. We can do this in-person at your office or a location of your choice or as a live virtual training course. We can deliver this via Zoom, Teams, Webex or any other platform that you are currently using and comfortable with.

Here are the most recent reviews that have been left for our Report Writing Skills Training Course. If you would like to see more detailed reviews then please get in touch and we can pull some data from our course evaluations together for you.

Ready to Book?

You can attend our Report Writing Skills course in the following ways. Click an option to see the full details.

• Bring In-House

Join our live online virtual Report Writing Skills training course from work or home for an interactive online learning experience.

Bring this Report Writing Skills training course in-house and train your team together at the same time.

• Delivered online or in person at your business premises
• Course content can be tailored to your specific requirements

Complete the form below to get a personalised quote from a member of our team.

Our report writing skills training course is delivered as a scheduled live online virtual training course. Join from work or home for an interactive online learning experience.

Price per delegate includes multiple person discounts. Group booking price only applicable when delegates book onto the same course date

Bring this report writing skills course in-house and train your team together at the same time.

Our Approach

Yes, you read that right! We’ve removed PowerPoint from our in-person training courses.

Instead we opt for more creative ways to deliver course content and create more discussions in our courses.

No matter how you attend your course, we will always ensure it's interactive and engaging.

Our courses are designed specially for the delivery method to ensure we maximise the tools available.

We don’t spend time on theory. We’ll introduce it but focus more attention on practical tools and ideas that you can actually take away and use.

We’ll provide the theory in your course materials to take away with you.

Our pricing is clear. You’ll see the exact price of our open training courses on our site where these are available.

We’ll quote an all-inclusive price for in-house and bespoke work. You won’t pay a penny more than we quote you.

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Effective Minute Taking and Report Writing Skills Training Course

• Course Overview
• Course Topics

Why select this training course?

Good writing is more than just words on a page. It is your voice and the way you express ideas. You want to impress your audience so that they understand the core of what you are saying in each message. Good business writing can influence the tone and, thereby, your reader’s emotions. Business writing is often quick to make assumptions and may not always be as clear as it could be, so it’s important to ensure your business writing inspires confidence in your company by writing consistently good prose.

What are the benefits of report writing skills?

A report is structured and specific in the way that it presents information. It tells a clear story, often giving a start, build, and finish to situations. Taking a report might be the most common form of assessment in your workplace . Writing a report is a great way to demonstrate what you have learned and include evidence that supports your conclusions. By presenting and evaluating several sorts of pertinent data for the topic you are researching, reports can highlight what you have learned from your reading, study, and experience.

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Why does every professional need good writing skills?

Minute-taking and report writing apply to any business, whether you are a start-up or an established company. Attention should be paid to each aspect of your writing to establish credibility, trustworthiness, and the business message. Meetings should be documented in minutes. Meeting minutes are like a motion for approval and planning, but they also let you revisit decisions and work as guidelines for unplanned meetings. Minute writing is a simple yet vital tool to track what happens in a meeting. They can be used to inform people who couldn’t attend the meeting about what happened or to keep track of things that happened during the meeting so that you can revisit them and use them to inform future decisions.

In Rcademy’s Effective Minute Taking and Report Writing Skills Training Course, you’ll learn how to write meeting minutes and reports that are informative, interesting, and attractive to your readers. You will master using different forms of evidence in your reports, such as tables, graphs, photos, and summaries. You will also learn how to write better paragraphs for effective communication and maximize reader engagement. We work with you to define how we can help you reach this objective and ensure our process lends itself well to your specific goals.

Who should attend?

The course is apt for professionals from all walks of life:

• Senior executives and leaders
• Departmental heads and managers
• Government officials
• Business administrators
• Team leaders and managers
• Office manager, secretary, and clerk
• Entrepreneurs and start-up founders

What are the course objectives?

The course has been developed with the following objectives:

• To understand the basics of efficient business writing
• To understand the use of minutes to convey necessary information
• To develop skills for effective minute writing
• To learn to successfully organize and categorize information for business writing
• To assist in managerial decision-making through useful report writing and presentation skills
• To gain knowledge of various tools and techniques used in the preparation of business writing
• To gain an understanding of the means of internal communication
• To understand methods for data collection, presentation, and summarisation

How will the course be presented?

• Interactive sessions
• Use of case studies
• Management games
• Learning preparation of reports, charts, graphs
• Real-time exercises
• Problem-solving and Group discussion sessions

What are the topics covered?

Module 1: Business Writing 

• What is business writing
• Purpose of business writing
• Instructional business writing
• Informational business writing
• Persuasive business writing
• Transactional business writing
• Principles of good business writing

Module 2: What are Minutes?

• Elements of a minute
• Minutes of narration
• Minutes of resolution
• Differentiating between agenda and minute

Module 3: Preparation before the Meeting

• Selecting the platform
• Looking at previous minutes for clues
• Obtaining the meeting agenda
• Informal or formal meeting
• Arriving early
• Seating chart
• Minute template

Module 4: Minute Taking during the Meeting

• Tap into your listening skills
• Summarising
• Recording motions
• Tips on what to record and what not to record
• How to record
• Emotionless recording
• Importance of bullet lists
• Tips for interrupting in between for clarification

Module 5: Minute Taking in Special Situations

• When the meeting moves off the agenda
• If an argument breaks out
• Using terminology that the minute taker doesn’t understand

Module 6: Turning Minutes into Action Plans

• What happens next?
• Action minutes
• Recording only decisions
• Mention action steps

Module 7: After the Meeting

• Creating a draft
• Using attachments
• Forwarding the draft
• Making corrections
• Master book

Module 8: Introduction to Report Writing

• What is a report?
• Purpose of writing a report
• Report for internal communication
• Report structure
• Executive summary in the report
• Findings and Recommendations section
• Importance of references

Module 9: Prerequisites to Report Writing

• Ask yourself: what should be the starting point
• Beginning with data gathering
• Preparing an outline of the report
• Organizing information into horizontal plans

Module 10: Writing Style

• Know your target audience
• Using technical jargon
• Active voice
• Writing univocally

Module 11: Presentation of the Report

• Chapterisation and creating sections
• Type of paragraphs
• Developing tables and figures
• Drawing charts and graphs
• Questionnaire

Module 12: Tools for Presentation of Data in Excel 

• Column charts
• Scatter charts
• Creating and managing charts

Module 13: Report Writing Checklist 

• Checking for the report
• Proper title page
• Ensuring numbering and table of contents
• Importance of conclusions and recommendations
• Ensure precise and unambiguous writing style
• Checking the visual appearance
• Citations and references

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Report Writing Training

Home > Courses > Report Writing Training

Start date: Arranged on a date convenient for you

Who is the course for: Staff with report writing responsibilities

Duration: One day Course

The whole purpose of a report is to convey information to the reader in a clear understandable format, in order that the reader may make an informed decision upon. How many times have you read a report and been more confused after reading it than before? How many times have you become lost in the detail, which has overshadowed the main theme and arguments? This course is designed to provide the report writer with the professional skills to make their reports a compelling read that is easy to understand.

Course overview

This valued report writing training course gives report writers the necessary writing skills to prepare and complete a report professionally. It also provides them with the critical skills to evaluate their subject and present conclusions objectively. Focus is also placed on the importance of gearing the report content for the benefit of the reader and achieving the main purpose of any report – to convey information on a subject clearly, fairly and without bias.

The Report Writing Skills Course Content

We tailor all our courses to reflect the needs of the organisation together with the individual needs of each delegate.  We use a combination of theory and exercises designed to develop delegates’ report writing skills. Real-life work scenarios can be built into the training to support the learning and help to generate ideas and solutions that can be implemented in the workplace.

How We Will Support Your Learning

On the day, a colour printed workbook with techniques, tips and space for notes will be available to all delegates for their personal use.

What are the Learning Outcomes?

Here are a number of learning outcomes from the Report Writing Skills Training Course which will provide you with the skills and confidence to prepare and complete professional reports:

• Recognise how to plan and complete reports for maximum impact
• Understand the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
• Identify the different measures of readability
• Know how to tailor a report for a specific audience
• Understand the different stages and time allocation of report writing
• Know the difference between active and passive verbs
• Recognise when to use data to back up your report
• Identify which type of diagram to use to support your data findings
• Be able to effectively revise and fine-tune the report

A summary of the Report Writing Skills Course

This report writing training course covers skills from every angle, from preparation through to completion. We will teach you to write reports that prioritise value over volume. An essential part of this is knowing how to address multiple audiences, as you never know who will end up reading your report. By the end of the course, you will be confident in identifying important information to include in your report and relaying it in a clear and concise manner. To find out more about the course, feel free to get in touch with us today and ask any questions.

Module content

• Attributes and Objectives of Effective Report Writing
• Critical thinking
• Tailoring a Report for your audience
• The purpose of a Report
• Organising your information
• Setting aims and objectives
• Writing a Report
• Effective proof reading
• Grammar and punctuation
• General style guidance
• The 'So what?' test

'Fantastic tutor, could not have asked for better.'

Jackson, Sussex Police

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Mastering Report Writing Skills: A Guide to Communicating Complex Information

By Jody Bruner

May 22, 2023

Writing Skills

It’s a reality that business writers often need to create reports that serve the needs of more than one group of readers. For business writers communicating highly technical information, the challenge intensifies: satisfying both technical and non-technical audiences with the same document is no small feat. Here’s how to boost your report-writing skills.

Know who you’re writing for and why

Take time to understand the answers to the questions who and why before you begin to draft. Readers come to your reports seeking the information they need to do their jobs. Keep these questions in your sightlines to help you write technical reports that are useful.

First, analyze your audience:

• Who are your readers?
• Where are the potential gaps in their knowledge?
• What are their needs?
• How will they use the information you’re presenting in your report?
• What will they be looking for?

Next, define your own reason for writing that report:

• What’s your main purpose?
• Do you want to inform or persuade?
• What’s your desired outcome?
• Should anything change as a result of the report being out in the world? If so, what?

Wait until you have clear answers or your reader won’t have them either.

Use plain language

Plain language, aka plain English, is writing that can be read and understood in a single pass. Let that be your standard. Don’t make your readers work harder than necessary.

Consider the level of formality in your report writing. Does it mirror the way you speak to those readers? Compare these pairs:

• Advise / Say, tell
• Endeavour / Try
• Utilize / Use

If you write with words from the formal column but speak to those same readers with words from the conversational column, ask yourself why. Does it help the reader?

Remember Einstein’s maxim: Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Break information into sections

Business readers skim technical reports to find sections of interest to them. Structure your report with that in mind: think in terms of sections instead of long narrative passages that act as discouraging walls of text. Short paragraphs in logical groupings allow readers to find the information they need to do their own work quickly and easily.

To meet the needs of technical and non-technical readers alike, structure the report so that the main body isn’t bogged down with extensive technical details, such as spreadsheets or functional specifications. Instead, refer interested technical readers to appendices organized by data type and write a detailed table of contents so they can easily find what they’re looking for.

Use subheadings to highlight important concepts

Use a system of headings and subheadings to help readers skim (they’re going to do it anyway) as I’ve done with this article. Load your headings and subheadings with a distilled version of that section. A well-written set of headings and subheadings provides some readers with enough information to do their jobs—and they value the effort you made to make that possible.

Information-rich headings also help the reader navigate a report to quickly find a section of interest. Use verbs in your headings to energize them and make them concise.

• Recommendation to Upgrade Existing Laptops
• Committee Approved Pay Raise
• How to Prepare for Meetings

Steer clear of unnecessary jargon

Jargon is industry- and discipline-specific shorthand that saves time among members of that industry or discipline, but it can leave non-technical readers confused.

Acronyms are one kind of jargon. They can be handy space savers for readers who can crack the code. If you’re unsure if all readers of your report know an acronym you want to use, define it with the first use.

The AML (anti-money laundering) department is being relocated to Halifax.

Sensitize yourself to your own industry or discipline jargon. Try the neighbourhood cocktail party test: would you use that term or phrase with friends? If not, it’s probably jargon. Share the secret handshake in context. For example:

Heavy water, which contains significantly more hydrogen and is 10% denser than ordinary water, is used as a moderator in some reactors.

Practicing empathy for your reader’s needs results in technical reports that meet their needs, and that means improved information flows through the organization. Skilled report writers know it’s time well spent.

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Report Writing Stages (Short Course)

Business management (short course).

• Course Overview
• Learning Outcomes
• Certification

Discover how the accuracy and professionalism of any business report can impact the message it delivers.  Build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to write a variety of business reports, contributing to your continuous professional development.  With no deadlines or time restrictions imposed, you’re free to study at a time and pace that suit your lifestyle.  Sign up for this exclusive business report writing course online, or contact Oxford Home Study Centre anytime for more information.

By the end of this course the learner will be able to:

• Explore four stages of report writing.

All free online certificate courses at Oxford Home Study Centre are 100% free of charge from start to finish.  There is no enrolment fee, all study aids are provided via our online learning platform and all of our courses are self-paced for total flexibility.

Our exclusive free courses provide the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge, develop new skills and explore new professions.  Upon completion of your free online certificate course, you will have the option of claiming one of three different types of certificates for a small fee:

• An official Course Completion Certificate from Oxford Home Study Centre
• A CPD Accredited Certificate to boost your CPD profile
• An Endorsed Certificate issued by the Quality Licence Scheme

Each of these certificates could prove helpful in supporting future job applications, or helping you climb the career ladder with your current employer. All certificates are 100% optional upon successful completion of your course - available to purchase with your preferred postage option.

For more information on certificate costs, head over to our pricing page or contact a member of the team at Oxford Home Study Centre anytime. 

COURSE CONTENT

Topics covered in the course.

This free Course covers the following topics:

• The First Stage–Investigating
• The Second Stage–Planning
• The Third Stage–Writing
• The Fourth Stage–Revising

Student Feedback

David Doyle

2 years ago

Awesome loved learned no this course

Precious Goulden

This course is amazing.

Pyone Pyone Yee

Easy to understand and achieve general concept in a short period of time. Worth to learn.

ADEMOLA AREGBESOLA

i learned more than alot on Business Management...

charishma Katta

Interested in further of this course if available

HOW IT WORKS

Enhance your skills with our highly informative courses.

Pass the assignments by getting the required marks.

Get certified and enhance the worth of your CV.

WHY GET CERTIFIED

Once you get certified, employers have more trust in your capabilities. You can easily add the certification to your credentials and share it everywhere.

Becoming a certified professional gives the impression that you have better skills and you are committed to enhancing your skills. As a result, your chances of getting hired got increased.

Enhancing your understanding and knowledge is the key to get hired, achieve a higher position, and pursue a new career.

RELATED COURSES

Creative thinking (short course), research skills (short course), diploma in creative writing, certificate in creative writing.

Course Info

British Council Singapore Singapore

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• Professional skills
• Written Communication Skills workshops

Report Writing Skills

Are your teams’ reports clear, credible and engaging? Do they make an impact on your organisation’s key stakeholders? Enough for them to quickly follow up and take action?

This course develops the fundamental skills of planning, structuring and writing reports. Your teams will gain valuable tools and techniques to make any report more targeted, persuasive and appealing to read. These essential skills will save your stakeholders valuable time and enhance your organisation’s professional image.

• Write complete, coherent and clear reports that are easy to read
• Write credible, impartial and insightful reports that enhance the writer's professional image
• Write engaging, persuasive reports that influence others to take action 
• Participants will enhance their credibility, engage stakeholders and achieve their goals through productive report writing
• Stakeholders will save time, make more informed decisions and confidently implement report recommendations for continued improvement
• Your organisation will benefit by showcasing its expertise to external stakeholders, boosting business growth through enhanced credibility

Workshop outline

Report writing essentials.

• Analysing effective writing in different report types
• Evaluating your report writing skills and setting personal goals

Writing the background and introduction to a report

• Selecting and structuring content
• Using engaging language

Writing credible report findings 

• Aligning content to your purpose and audience 
• Writing evidence-based findings

Using visuals to make reports more appealing 

• Selecting and designing memorable visuals for different types of reports
• Describing visuals clearly and persuasively

Writing effective report conclusions

• Using guidelines for witing effective conclusions 
• Analysing the language of bias

Writing persuasive report recommendations 

• Selecting and structuring content for different types of recommendations 
• Choosing the right tone for your context and audience

Writing executive summaries  

• Selecting key points and structuring your executive summary
• Using hooks to engage your audience

Report writing mini-clinic   

• Evaluating your report against effective practices 
• Setting goals and action planning to improve your report writing

Who should attend?

• Establishing level course: Build strong foundations
• Experience: None needed
• Minimum CEFR Upper-Intermediate (B2) level English 

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability.  Track your progress .

Why choose us?

Find out  why you should choose us  and how we deliver our workshops  face-to-face or online . 

Full-day workshop schedule

• Length:  14 hours
• Workshop fee:  S$900.00 (subject to prevailing GST)
• Venue:  Toa Payoh Centre

Enquire Now

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Report Writing

This one-day seminar is for anyone involved in writing on behalf of their employer, in particular those for whom reports are, or will become, integral to their job.

Report writing is a skill called for in many jobs and professions. Reports must be produced that engage the reader and provide clear and reliable information. They must be focused on the objectives of those commissioning the report, and authors often face demanding deadlines by when they must achieve all this. This course is designed for people who would like to improve their report writing and long document writing skills.

By the End of This Workshop You Should Be Able To:

• Identify the key areas of a report
• Create an appropriate format for your report
• Assess what should and should not be included in your report
• Clearly define the purpose of your report
• Plan your reports using a 5 step process
• Develop your report outline quickly and efficiently
• Understand the key principles of grammar, punctuation and spelling for use in your report
• Express yourself effectively using plain English
• Identify ways of writing with more impact
• Revise and correct your reports effectively

Session Dates

Take the first step towards better skills, better careers, and a better life, certified by.

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