English for Nurses

Appendix 3

Report Writing

Introduction

Report writing is a typical form of writing, different from expressive expository or descriptive writing. Report writing requires give and take, a dialogue, a follow-up, input and action. Most often, it creates action; it causes the person at the other end to react or respond. It is also a form of documentation where processes are described, recorded and analysed.

There are three factors determining report writing: purpose, audience and tone. The purpose of writing and the audience very often set the tone of a piece of writing. If you are writing a report solely for the purpose of documenting, your language will be different. But if you are presenting a proposal and trying to convince your colleagues, your ...