PPPt for report writing in final exam

1. REPORT WRITING
- non-linear input -
ULAB 1042

2. INTRO
Sometimes, information is best presented in
graphics or non-linear forms. For this course,
the students are expected to be able to draw
information from non-linear stimuli, and to
integrate all the information given. This
means that they have to write about the given
visuals with the aim to show that they
understand the visuals and can present the
information intelligently.

3. TYPES OF VISUAL INPUT
Various types of non-linear stimuli exist. Some
of the common ones are tables, graphs /
charts (i.e. bar, pie, line) and pictographs.
Students need to understand these visuals
before they can write about them.

4. Understanding Graphic Aids
The following strategies may help students determine
the topic and inferring the main idea presented by the
non-linear stimuli:
• Strategy 1: Read the title / headings (it usually tells
you the topic)
• Strategy 2: Look at the source and date of
information (current / outdated?)
• Strategy 3: Read the legend / key (what do the
visuals represent?)
• Strategy 4: Read the labels (x and y-axes, top of
columns, beginning of rows, labels on slices of a pie
chart)

5. Structuring the Report
Generally, the report should consist of a title and three paragraphs.
The layout of the report should be as follows:
• Title: _____________________________________
• Paragraph 1
- Introduction
- Overview / General Trend
• Paragraph 2
- Interpretation of data: Analysis / Synthesis
• Paragraph 3
- Conclusion

6. WRITING THE REPORT
I. Writing the title
• The title can be extracted from the rubrics /
instructions of the question, and is not included in
the word count.
• Example:
Question: A survey was carried out to find out
about the number of tourists visiting Pulau
Langkawi. Using the information given, write a
report about the reasons for visiting Pulau
Langkawi.
Title: Reasons for Visiting Pulau Langkawi

7. WRITING THE REPORT
II. Writing the Introduction
• The introduction
– introduces the report
– answers the questions ’what’, ‘when’, or / and ‘where’
– can be extracted from the title(s)of the visual(s) given
– can be written in the form of:
• The table shows …
• Figure 1 shows … and Table 1 shows …
• The tables show …
• The headlines highlight …

8. WRITING THE REPORT
III.Writing the Overview / Overall Trend
• The overview or overall trend
• gives the overall pattern / movement of the visuals
(‘trend word’)
• should not include any specific data
• shows a link between visuals
• answers the questions ‘what’, ‘where’, or / and ‘when’
• can be written in the form of:
» Generally, the trend shows …
» In general, the overview shows …

9. EXAMPLE
Overview: In general, there is a difference (trend word) in the interest s among youths
(what) between 1994 and 2014.
Table 1: Interests among youth
1994
INTEREST %
football 45
reading 15
Collecting stamps 25
drawing 15
Table 2: Interests among youth
2014
INTEREST %
facebook 35
blogging 25
Online games 25
Window shopping 15

10. WRITING THE REPORT
IV. Writing the Analysis / Synthesis
The interpretation of the visuals (analysis / synthesis of data) should
include:
• Key feature (KF) : item discussed
• Trend (T) : movement or change in the data
• Data (D) : items that are quantified in percentage,
ranking, etc.
• Duration (TF) : time frame
• Comparison (C) : differences or similarities of information of
Key Features
Establish a synthesis by making a connection between the visuals
given or comparing 2 key features with 2 sets of data

11. WRITING THE REPORT
IV.Writing the conclusion
The conclusion should finish off the report and
can be written as follows:
– A rewording of the overall trend / overview
– A summary of the report
– A projection
• Example
Conclusion: In conclusion, the employers’
expectations of qualities they look for in job
applicants differ significantly from the applicants’
perception of qualities required at the workplace.