Business Documents Research Report 1 Research Report MLA

Business Documents: Research Report 1

Research Report (MLA) What is a Research Report? n It is a multi-page document that usually contains several sub-topics of information related to one main topic. n Example of use (of a Research Report): n A marketing research report summarizing the supply and demand statistics for a new product. 2

3 Types of Reports n n n Unbound-Short reports that are prepared without binders or covers. Left Bound-Longer reports prepared with binders. Left margin is wider (1. 5”) to accommodate binding along the left margin. Top Bound-Top margin is wider (1. 5”) to accommodate binding along the top margin . 3

Components of a Research Report n n n Title Page (Sometimes) Title Header and Page Number 4

Research Report Components Title Page n Components of a Research Report: n Title page (optional) – includes the following: n the name of the document n the writer’s name n the teacher/professor’s name (optional), and n the date of publication n The title page is the first page of a report. It gives the title of the report, the name of the writer, the name of the school or class, and the date. 5

Title Page n n n 1 st document of a report Identifies the: n Title of the report n Author of the report n Teacher that the report is for n Class that the report is for n Date that the report is due/was completed Formatting n 2” top margin n 1” side margins n All information is horizontally centered n Report title is keyed in ALL CAPS Information appears in this order

Formatting a Title Page… 2” top margin REPORT TITLE Size 12 font 3” (16 returns) Student name Size 12 font 3” (16 returns) Teacher’s name SS Course name Current date Size 12 font

Research Report Components: Title The Title of a report is required. The Title includes the identifying information and is keyed in the top left header of the Report. 8

Research Report Components Header and Page Number A Header is placed on every page of the report; right aligned in the header includes: n the writer’s last name, and n the page number n Example Dunn 1 9

Research Report Components: Body The Body of the Report is the content, the main text within the paragraphs. The body of the report is double spaced. Double Spaced -Pressing the enter key twice (2) leaving one blank line. This can also refer to line spacing using the word processing feature to leave one blank line between each line of text. The Body may contain Side Headings -Headings used to separate the report into sections. 10

Research Report Components Intext Citations n n Parenthetical citations are reference notes keyed in the body of the report. (Gomez, 2013) 11

Example n MLA formatted report with no title page. 12

Research Report Components References, Bibilography and Works Cited A References, Bibilography, Works Cited is: n a complete listing of references cited parenthetically in the Report. n A list of all references used in a report. This allows the writer to give credit to the author of the material used in the report. n it is keyed on a separate page n Uses Hanging Indent-A temporary left margin that indents all lines but the first line of the text. n n n Notes (Page): a complete list of resources and references used to accompany endnotes it is keyed on a separate page 13

Bibliography Title • Alphabetical list of the sources of information you used in writing a report • Sources are single-spaced and formatted with a hanging indent • Leave a blank line between the sources • If a page number is included, place it ½ inch from top of the page. Alphabetical listing of sources

Tips to remember when writing a bibliography… n n n n First line of each entry should be flush with left margin Succeeding lines should be indented 5 spaces from the left (hanging indent) Each entry should end with a period SS entries; DS between entries Alphabetize entries according to the last name of the author Underline or italicize book, magazine, and newspaper titles and place quotation marks around the titles of articles, poetry, or essays The date of the issue follows the periodical title

Additional Parts of a Report Endnotes/Footnotes: n Endnotes and Footnotes are another type of reference format used in reports, but recommended for use only when necessary to add commentary or to clarify. n Endnotes are typically used to add commentary n References are used to cite a source 16