10. Are all figures and tables
o numbered in separate series (e.g., Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Table 3, Figure 2)?
o informatively titled (e.g., Table 1: Annual precipitation in Calgary, 1980 - 1990)?
o properly formatted, with the title for tables above and that for figures below?
o accompanied by legends or footnotes to explain abbreviations or provide information
necessary to interpret the information presented?
o referred to and discussed in the body of the report?
o accompanied by a source citation, if the information was borrowed or adapted?
11. Does the conclusions section
o summarize the most important findings in the report and indicate their significance
(answering the reader’s implied question “so what”)?
o include only conclusions that flow from the data and discussion presented?
o show how the report's objectives have been met?
o refrain from introducing new information?
12. Does the recommendations section
o suggest actions that should be taken or considered in light of the report’s conclusions?
o present recommendations in a numbered list (if there are several)?
Note that while it’s conventional to include separate Conclusions and Recommendations
sections, not all reports include recommendations and in some reports, the Conclusions and
Recommendations sections are occasionally combined.
13. Is the writing style generally characterized by
o sensitivity to the audience (e.g., by including definitions and avoiding jargon for general
readers and by using gender-neutral terms and pronouns)?
o paragraphs that begin with a topic sentence?
o straightforward, concise, and natural wording (e.g., "use" rather than "utilize", "now"
rather than "at this point in time," and "We" rather than "The writers")?
o precise wording (e.g., avoiding general terms like "a large increase")?
o the use of strong verbs and active voice? (e.g., "The Ministry of the Environment
investigated the problem” rather than “The problem was investigated.”)
o Note that Research Methods sections are often presented in the passive voice.
o grammatical parallelism in lists and headings (e.g., We propose to identify the factors
contributing to the problem, to evaluate their impact, and to recommend solutions”)?
o relatively few sentences over 30 words or two typed lines?
o relatively few paragraphs over a half-page long?
o appropriate use of verb tense (e.g., the past tense to describe work completed and the
present tense for conclusions and general statements)?
o a coherent flow, linking new information to known or previously given information?
o correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling? (Hint: keeping generalizations in the plural,
e.g., writing “users” rather than “the user,” may eliminate some problems.)