Academic Report Writing Overview

What has changed regarding the writing of academic reports in modern times?

Which of these elements is NOT typically included in an academic report?

What type of data should be included in a well-constructed report?

What perspective is recommended for the writing of academic reports?

What characteristic has been debunked regarding traditional academic reports?

How should a report conclude?

Why is the use of eyewitness reports becoming popular in modern reporting?

What is a common misconception about academic reports held by traditionalists?

What should be included in the contextualization of a report?

Which formatting style has become less rigid in modern reports?

Academic Report Writing

Traditional reports were seen as objective, unbiased accounts, a view now considered outdated.
Modern reports acknowledge subjectivity and bias are inherent in writing.
Universalist views are biased toward a Western, Greek-influenced tradition.
First-person perspective ("I," "one") is now common in reports, replacing third-person.
Eye-witness reports (i-reports) use first-person accounts of events.
Using first-person ("I") or formal ("one") is acceptable in modern academic reports.
Reports need descriptive context.
Reports should present conclusions based on observations and data.
Conclusions should be generalizations derived from objective facts.

Report Structure

Contextualization: Providing background information about the report's subject.
Facts/Data: Presenting collected information (statistics, observations, evidence).
Description: Detailing subjects and relevant aspects.
Conclusions: Drawing inferences and insights from the data.

Report Content

Reports are NOT position papers, and are not supported by philosophical principles.
Concrete data is crucial, including statistics, observations, textual evidence, interviews, or surveys.
Reports benefit from a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.
Qualitative data: Non-numerical, derived from observations, ethnography, text analysis, or interviews.
Quantitative data: Numerical, including statistics, surveys, or scientific experiments.
While quantitative data was once favored, qualitative data is gaining ground as it reveals information that quantitative data might overlook. Quantitative data can be manipulated and therefore false conclusions can be achieved.

This quiz explores the evolution of academic report writing, highlighting the shift from traditional objective perspectives to the acceptance of subjectivity and bias. It also outlines the modern structure of reports, emphasizing contextualization, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Test your understanding of contemporary reporting practices.