Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Languages

Department of English

Report WritingLecturer: OR Vitou ( OVT)

Class: E4.9

Semester I Academic Year 2010-2011

Doeuy Chandara Keo Chantra Lao Seavpheng Meng Kea PENG Veasna SAM

Chanmakara Teang Sokunthea

I. Locate sources of relevant information 1. People 2. Books and other publications 3. Information technology 4. Events and places

II. Obtaining the information 1. Experimentation 7. Telephone call

2. Reading 8. Questionnaire3. Listening 9. Research on the internet

4. Observation5. Interview6. Letter

III. Sorting and grouping your findings

IV. Evaluate your findingsV. Prioritising your findingsVI. Check your findings

Our required information must be compatible with the things below: The precise purpose of the report The needs of your readers Your objective(s) Your resources Your skeletal framework

Sources of Information: People

Colleagues, members of the public, politicians, producers, manufacturers, retailers, federations, unions, pressure groups, and international organizations,.. or The Information Bureau

Books and Other publicationsEncyclopedias, reference books, text books,

guides, handbooks, journals and magazines, newspapers, maps and charts, previous reports, correspondence and minutes…

Information Technology Computer with its CD Rom to store the data A TV tuner card connected to PC to watch TV The Internet

Events and PlacesLibraries, learning resources centers,

research institutions, exhibitions, museums, galleries, laboratories, theatres, concerts, talks….

Information can be gathered by:

1. experimentation2. reading3. listening4. observation5. interview6. letter7. telephone call8. questionnaire9. research on the Internet

state clear objective giving a brief account providing a hypothesis (optional) describe how the experiment was carried

out and provide a diagram of apparatus used.

provide a complete list provide a full statement of the final result. conclusion

The SQ3R method of reading: Survey Question Read Recall Review

Assume that the topic is boring or irrelevant Criticise delivery or presentation;

concentrate on the content Submit to emotional phrases Become over stimulated Remain passive. Listening is an active

process, so stay alert Tolerate distractions Listen to only what you want to hearEvade

difficult subjects. Face problems head on

Do not:

Run ahead of the speaker Examine the evidence presented. Is it

accurate, objective and complete? Is it strong or weak?

Recap every few minutes Remember that listening is an active

process

find out more specific information recording information

Greeting Give a friendly manner Avoid talking too much or less Maintain a professional image Explain the purpose of the interview Ask question (Open question) Sum up the interview and check your

understanding Thank the interviewee for his/her co-

operation

Person name Heading Explain the purpose (First Paragraph) Ask the information you require, keep it

short, clear, but comprehensive Draw a table where this information can

be inserted (If possible) Limit the time for the reply Enclosed a stamped address envelope Conclude the letter with thanks

Give your name Ask for the right person Explain the purpose of calling Remain your politeness while asking

information Thank the person

Two kinds of information Factual Opinion

Note: Approaching member of the public, and

having no obligation to assist you Assure that all questions are relevant to the

subject of report

Checklist for a good questionnaire: Does it have a title Does it have a reference or questionnaire

number Does it record the name of the interviewer Is it well spaced Does it explain the purpose of the

questionnaire Where appropriate, does it emphasize that all

replies will be treated confidentially? Is it clear and unambiguous? Is it simple? Is it logically developed? Does it ask one question at a time

Does it require definite answer? Does it avoid leading question? Does it avoid an appeal for vanity? Does it avoid an appeal to sympathy? Where appropriate, does it leave sensitive

areas until last? Is the questionnaire written in such a way

that that will make it straight forward to record and analyze your overall results?

Has the questionnaire been ‘pilot tested’ among a small number of respondents to highlight any obvious errors, omission, ambiguities and other shortcomings before the survey goes live?

Simple random sampling Systematic random sampling Quota sampling

Do not deliberately select people or items Do not substitute or replace items selected

randomly Do not deliberately omit items that should be

selected randomly Do not vary the wording of your question Do not ask leading questions Do not ask questions which appeal to vanity Do not ask questions which appeal to sympathy

All the too easy to get side-tracked: The internet can take up all your research time Remember what you are trying to achieve Beware of the need to evaluate information

obtained on the internet Before beginning your research: Write down the questions you hope to answer Spend time thinking about would be likely to know

the answers Develop a list of subtopic and synonyms that you

can use as search terms Using a subject directory Using metasearchers Using various combinations of search terms

If there is no match for your request: May have miss pelt one or more words May have used the wrong symbols or phrase May need to try a different search engine May have submitted too narrow a search Give both the abbreviation and the full name

If there are too many listings: Take a look at the first ten result Skim a few of first ten listings on your topic Add

more words to your search string, putting a more specific word first

Information to each section and subsection Complete the heading and subheading of the skeletal framework

1. Reliable2. Significant

1. Reliability Accuracy Objective Completeness Strength

2. Significant HOW?

Highlight (only) your most significant finding

Amend the skeletal framework Use any appendix Don’t waste the reader’s time

Collected & handled all information Accurate and reliable information

Thanks for Your AttentionThanks for Your Attention @-@ @-@

Q & AQ & A