How to Write a Report for School

Writing a School Report

Write About What Interests You

Any successful report has to have a great topic - one that is interesting and engaging to readers. Most importantly, the topic needs to be interesting to you as the writer. If you try to write a report on a topic you don't like, you'll probably have a hard time finishing it. Furthermore, you may not give it your best effort, resulting in a poorly developed report. So, take your time and choose your topic wisely.

Gather the Information

With your topic decided, the next step is research. You can use the Internet, encyclopedias, magazines or non-fiction books. You may even be able to interview professionals who know all about your topic. Either way, the more information you have, the more prepared you'll be to write a successful report. However, be sure that your sources are credible and that you give due credit when referencing the information in your report.

Create an Outline

Once you have all of the information gathered, create an outline. Determine what information will be included and excluded, as well as how to order the information. The outline will serve as a roadmap that helps you focus on what you're trying to say in the report, which will make the writing process faster and easier. Be sure to refer back to your outline frequently while writing so that you stay on topic. Remember that all outlines should contain a beginning, middle and end.

Edit Carefully

After completing your outline and a first draft of the report, edit it before submitting the final paper. Look over your work carefully and make sure you haven't left anything out or made grammatical errors. Have several people read it to look for errors and to give you their opinion. Take notes on any mistakes discovered and make the changes.

Write the Final Draft

Once you've gone through the preceding steps, you should be ready to write an interesting and detailed final draft. After you're completely done, remember to proofread your paper one more time to make sure you're turning in your best work.