Chapter 17: Writing Informational Reports
High Plains Water-Level Monitoring Study, United States Geological Survey
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Report Presented as a Website

It is important to follow conventional patterns of organization and formatting whenever you write a report. These patterns have developed over time because they help provide readers the information they need. In turn, readers have developed certain expectations for the content of a report. They expect to see an introduction that provides background information on why the report was written and what the report contains; a methods section that explains how and where the information for the report was collected; a results section that describes what researchers learned; and a conclusion that wraps up the report and tells readers what they should do after reading and understanding the results.

Although reports follow conventional patterns, they can still vary greatly depending on their purpose and audience. For example, some reports emphasize results or recommendations and say little about methods. Long reports might include an executive summary for managers or for general readers who do not need the more detailed information found in the full report.

When you deliver a report in an online format, it is still important to divide the report into typical sections. Readers’ expectations for the content of a report will be similar for print and online formats. Readers of an online report will skim through it by clicking links rather than by turning printed pages; they will be able to navigate the report more effectively if it is broken into the sections they expect to see.

The website shown here reports changes in water levels and water storage for the High Plains aquifer, also called the Ogallala aquifer. Congress directed the United States Geological Survey to report this information to Congress and to the public every two years.

Explore the website and consider the question(s) below. Then “submit” your response.

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On the home page, explore the navigation links on the left side, and look in the middle of the page at the objectives of the High Plains Water-Level Monitoring Study. Compare the sections identified by the navigation links with the standard sections of reports described below. How would you describe the purpose of this report? Does it appear to be a full report or a summary? For what audience do you think it was written?
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A typical report introduction will provide a general summary of all areas of the report. It will describe the purpose of the report, provide background information, identify the source of information used for the report, briefly summarize the findings of the report, identify major parts of the report, and define key terms. How well does this home page serve as an introduction? What would you do to improve it?
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When you cite sources in a research paper or a report, you include a citation in parentheses to refer readers to a list of references or works cited at the end of your paper. You might also cite page numbers for quotations or list the URLs for online sources. Click on the citations in parentheses on this page. How do they compare to the citations you would include in a traditional paper or report? How do they differ?

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On the “Generalized Geology and Hydrogeology” page, look at the section headed “Water-Level Change Since Predevelopment (about 1950)” and focus on the tone of the writing. The section states that water levels have varied over time, in some places more than others. Do you think the tone of this section is appropriate, given the objectives stated on the website’s home page? Why or why not?
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Why do you think the creators of this website provide small thumbnail images that you have to click on? Should they have inserted each image at full size instead? Discuss this approach to inserting images in an online report. What are the advantages and disadvantages to readers?

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