Introduction
Report assignments and essay assignments are both common types of assessments that you may encounter while studying. Although they have some similarities, there are key differences between them. It is important to know these key differences because doing one instead of the other will affect your grade. The easiest way to find out the required one is from the assignment brief or question.
It will either mention an essay or a report. What’s the difference though? Some of the key differences are the structure, purpose and presentation. This article will show you the general differences so that you don’t mistakenly do one instead of the other when asked. For specific requirements, the assignment brief or lecturer is your best bet. Check out level-specific assignment requirements here.
The Purpose of a Report
A report assignment provides information about a specific topic or issue. This is normally broken down into the key elements that apply to the assignment question. Sometimes, because of the report assignment question, only specific parts of the topic are required. The goal of an assignment report is to inform an audience. Even though the marker knows about the topic, the report should be written as though he doesn’t.
The Purpose of an Essay
Because the purpose of an essay assignment varies, ensure that you are clear about it from the brief or lecturer. In general, an essay expresses a viewpoint or an argument. Some essays would require you to explore a topic in-depth and interpret information. However, an essay assignment in business and management studies can be quite different from that of other areas such as journalism and psychology. More details are below.
Language Differences
Within business and management studies, the language of both can be similar. This is because the same academic writing style is required for both. This is not the same in all areas of study. Your lecturer or instructor will inform you when you ask. In general, reports are typically written in a more formal and objective style, with a focus on presenting factual information.
Essays can allow some subjectivity such as personal opinions or perspectives. However, this depends on a number of factors which include the field of study, the assignment question, the location of study and the level. Some essays within business and management studies do not allow subjectivity. They are written in an objective academic style.
Essay Assignment Structure
An essay assignment typically has a basic structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The specific format of an essay assignment may vary depending on the lecturer’s guidelines or the requirements of the assignment. The following is a general structure of a typical essay assignment:
Essay Introduction: The introduction is the first paragraph of the essay. It should include an attention-grabbing opening statement, background information about the topic, and a statement that outlines the main argument or point of the essay.
Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs make up the main section of the essay. They should provide supporting evidence to back up the main statement. Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence or examples, and a concluding sentence that links back to the thesis statement. Use the PEA (point, evidence, analysis) technique to efficiently structure your paragraphs.
Essay Conclusion: The conclusion is the final paragraph of the essay. It should summarise the main points of the essay and restate the main statement in a new way. Also, it should provide a closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. See more tips on writing academic essays from Harvard University here.
report Assignment Structure
Specifically, the assignment requirements and lecturer’s guidelines will tell you the expected structure. Reports are structured with headings and subheadings to organize information in a clear and logical way. Generally, a report assignment structure will include the following sections:
Title Page: The title page should include the title of the report, the name of the author or authors, the date, and any other relevant information such as the name of the department or institution.
Table of Contents: The table of contents lists the major sections, subsections, and the corresponding page numbers of the report.
Executive Summary: The executive summary is a brief overview of the main findings and conclusions of the report. It should be concise and provide an overview of the entire report.
Abstract: In some reports, especially research articles and dissertations, an abstract is included. It concisely summarises the entire work. This includes the purpose of the research, the methods used, the findings and the conclusions.
Introduction: The introduction provides background information on the topic of the report. This includes any relevant history or context. It should also include the purpose of the report and the scope of the research.
Methodology: The methodology section explains the methods used to gather data and conduct research. This section may include details on the sample size, data collection tools and techniques, and data analysis methods. Some reports do not require a methodology section due to the report requirements. In others, this is embedded within the discussion section.
Results: The results section presents the findings of the research in a clear and organised way. This section may include tables, graphs, and other visual aids to help illustrate the data. In some reports, the results and visual aids are embedded in the discussion.
Discussion: The discussion section provides an analysis and interpretation of the results. This section should explain the significance of the findings and relate them back to the purpose of the report.
Conclusion: Here, the main findings and conclusions of the report are summarised. It should also include any recommendations for future action or research.
References: The references section lists all sources cited in the report, including books, articles, and other materials.
Bibliography: Where other sources have been read but not cited in the report, a bibliography is ideal. This is because it includes the sources that are not cited to the ones cited.
Appendices: The appendices section includes any additional information that supports the report, such as raw data, surveys, or detailed calculations.
Conclusion
Using the right structure suitable for the assignment question shows a good understanding of what’s required. It also contributes to the grade because of the professional presentation requirement in business and management assignments. However, using the wrong structure shows a lack of understanding which may affect the grade.
Ultimately, carefully review the assignment instructions and follow any specific guidelines provided by the lecturer. This is because the requirements for reports and essays are sometimes different from the norm. This is how you think like a Lecturer when doing your assignments.
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