Report Writing

For this module we also have to write a report, Last year I wrote a report on the ethics behind using photoshop to edit childrens photos.
I have thought a lot about what to write my report on this year and I am going to go with what people think is acceptable to pay/charge for prints within the photography business.

I'm going use the website www.surveymonkey.com to create a survey, I did this last year, I will get photographers and members of the public to fill in this survey so I can college data and results as to what they find acceptable to pay for prints, here is an example of one of my questions from my survey this year:

I have kept my questions very simple and straight to the point so that I can achieve the best results possible from my survey. I am going to post this survey onto many photographic Facebook pages, onto my own classes Facebook page and also on my photographic Facebook page. I have decided to post it on my own photography page because on there I have clients that have bought prints from myself so they will have an opinion on what they are willing to pay.

I also need to recap my memory on how to write a report Thankfully Jill has supplied us with a presentation of information about writing reports, I took notes from the presentation:

• Not an essay – a more structured form of writing
• Based on fact rather than pure argument
• Identify the purpose of the report – an overall aim with identified objectives of how to get there...This must be linked to your design specialism

The title of the report – this can be the question to want to answer or the overall aim

 Your name

 Module Title

Course

Date of hand-in 

• Acknowledge any help that you have received in collecting the information for the report

• List all the main sections of the report in sequence with the page number they start from
• If you include charts, tables or diagrams these should be listed separately under “List of Illustrations”

• A short paragraph summarising the main contents
• Methods used
• Conclusion reached
• Any recommendations

• Give the context of the report – what you want to find out
• State your objectives clearly
• Define the limits of this report
• Outline the method of enquiry
• Offer a brief background of the subject

• How did you get your research – there must be reference to both primary sourced and secondary sourced research.
• All students will undertake either interviews/ questionnaires or both. 
• How did you compare the data and how did you select your subjects for interview/ questionnaire

• Present your findings clearly and appropriately
• Graphs/ tables/ percentages/ diagrams 

• Analyse and interpret the data
• Explain the significance
• Identify important issues, only use fact
• Outline any problems encountered and try to present a balance view

• Bring together the main issues – do not bring in any new information
• Keep it clear
• List any recommendations – if appropriate

• Additional related information like the completed questionnaires etc..This should include an analysis sheet of all returned questionnaires
• Information that does not need to be read but can be consulted by the reader
• Include a list of all companies/ individuals targeted both via e-mail and internet

• Leave wide margins for binding – spiral binding is the best and most professional style of presentation if appropriate for your report
• Use clear headings
• Clearly label illustrations i.e. Table 1, so that they can be referred to in the content
• The first draft needs to be carefully read and checked, make necessary changes and present professionally

After looking through this presentation I am prepared and feel ready to write my report, I just need to collect more results using my survey.