What Is a Report? A ccording to the Oxford English Dictionary , a report is a statement of the results of an investigation or any matter that provides definite information. Reports are formal, structured documents written in a specific format. They don’t just present facts — they also explain how the information was collected. Types of Reports At university, you may need to write different types of reports depending on your course or subject. Common types include: Laboratory reports Technical reports Work placement or industrial visit reports Field trip or fieldwork reports Although the purpose of each report may differ, all reports must: Follow a clear and logical structure Use formal, concise, and accurate language Be carefully planned before writing Stages in Report Writing Writing a good report involves several key steps: Clarify your terms of reference – Understand what the report is about and wha...