Instructions

1 Write your introduction. This section explains the problem under investigation, presents your hypotheses and summarizes previous, relevant research. In longer scientific reports, the background or previous research may be in its own section and should tie your work to the state-of-the-art in the area of inquiry.

2 Compose the methods section of the report. This elaborates on the techniques, processes or tests you used to confirm or reject your hypotheses and why these methods were chosen.

3 Report your findings. This section contains raw data usually in tables, lists and figures.

4 Discuss or interpret your results relative to the hypotheses. The section may also include a discussion of the significance of the findings and point to future research topics. If there are constraints on the extrapolation of your findings, place those in the discussion section.

5 Construct the bibliography or references used in your report. Carefully follow the citation guidelines in the approved style guide in preparing this list.

6 Write the abstract, if required. In publications, the abstract is a key report section because it is often what is provided to information browsers in lieu of the full text of your report.

7 Complete the title page for your report. The report title should summarize succinctly the main idea of your paper. The page includes your name and all co-authors and your institutional or organizational affiliation.

8 Format headers, subheadings, tables and figures according to the required style guide.

9 Review your draft for typographical errors, orderly presentation, correct and complete references and grammar.