Attributes/Genre Reports Essay

Approach Tends to be focused more on the problem and is action

oriented
Tends to be focused more on analysis of
situation without necessarily providing
solutions
Topic/Focus Usually set by other with a specific expected end
result/findings
Usually set by others as a topic to be
answered
Context This is submitted for aiding the decision making, problem
solving and term of reference, but will attract criticisms
and compliments.
This is for academic world submitted for
markings
Summary Normally given, sometimes with key recommendations
and conclusions
Not included often

Audience reading Reports are likely to be skimmed through looking at the
key information
Likely to be read thoroughly to understand
the content
Introduction Must be included, it sets the scenes to appear in the report Included sometimes to brief the content
Discussion/ analysis Included Included
Conclusion Yes included as it give sums up the information Yes included as it sums up the information
Recommendations This is must in a report as comparison has to be made and
writers opinion had to be mentioned after thorough
research
Usually not made as the topic is generic
which do not require a recommendation
Layout techniques - Paragraph tends to be shorter, informative
- Sections and subsections are numbered drawing
attention of the reader
- Bullet points sometimes used
- Paragraphs are usually long
- Sections and subsections are not
numbered
- Bullet points not often used
Tables/ Graphics Widely used to represent the data Not used
Expression of opinion They are expressed at the conclusion or recommendations
as the general content should be facts and findings
They are expressed throughout the content
Style - Tends to be impersonal and objective
- Sentences and words tends to be shorter
- Can be personal and subjective or
impersonal and objective
- Maybe sometimes it gains high readability scores
due to use of professional jargons
- The sentences and words tends to
be lengthy
- Mostly gain high readability because
of academic jargons
Referencing quotation Usually referencing is light as primary data can be used as
much as the secondary data
Essays are written fully referring on the
secondary data and fact in place, so
referencing is must
Authoring Usually collective author Mostly individual author
Relationship to spoken
Presentation
Reports mostly lead to spoken presentations Not likely to involve spoken presentations