Writing a Report

[Hornspieler]

Writing a Report

... such as reviewing a concert or commenting on matters raised by other members.


The report should be brief but, at the same time should not omit any comment or information which is relevant to the matter under review.

So a member writing a report on a concert, would do well to follow a few basic principles where they apply:

1) Write using language that is easily understood by all who may read it.
2) Remember to comment on what is good as well as what could be improved
3) Keep the report as brief as possible
4) Keep to the subject or performance under discussion.
5) Check grammar and spelling, particularly of foreign language words
6) Always try to be objective in your comments.
7) Don't hurl insults at the performers or at your fellow members

Of course, a report of one's reaction to a performance, a written article, or a statement; whether fact or of opinion, is bound to invite a subjective response, but it is always best to avoid unneccesary confrontation and to be prepared to consider alternative points of view from one's own.

If we all try to follow those simple principles, it would make life a lot easier for our hosts and release a lot of space on these message boards.

HS

[eighthobstruction]

Are you sending a bill for this advice...??

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

1) Write using language that is in common use.
2) Always comment on what is good as well as what was bad
3) Keep the report as brief as possible
4) Keep to the subject or performance under discussion.
5) Don’t show off!

If we all try to follow those simple principles, it would make life a lot easier for our hosts and release a lot of space on these message boards.


HS

Possibly. And I think that these are excellent general principles, but I suspect that, like many others, I believe that we all actually do follow these "simple principles" - it's just that, for example, my idea of "language in commom use" might not be the same as everyone reading what I write (are terms such as "Relative minor", "Recapitulation", "Inversion" "common use"? If not, what should we use instead?) I also believe that my comments are "as brief as possible" (pause whilst everyone composes themselves) - but it's not impossible that my idea of "possible" does not always coincide with everyone else's. And one person's "showing off" is another's "wit and eloquent expression".

[Nick Armstrong]

The suggestion to

3) Keep the report as brief as possible

and ensure that it is

phrased in such a way as to be clearly understandable by all

could usefully be applied to political and current affairs debate, as well as concert reviews, I think.

[mercia]

is concerto a word in common use ? not down at my local Co-Op I think

[eighthobstruction]

Perhaps not, but surely there are a symphony of TRULY irresistible foods....

[johnb]

You might add:

6) Avoid pomposity

[Hornspieler]

You might add:

6) Avoid pomposity

Well, that's really the same as "Don't show off" and although it might be good advice, I don't remember it being mentioned by the Institute of Management Services whose advice I was quoting.

HS

[doversoul1]

Dear HS
Your advice is very useful if we were writing reports, but we are not on this forum. This is a place where people can pour out their personal thoughts and opinions. Wouldn’t it be rather boring if all posts read like perfect reports by business consultants or well trained students? Besides, I expect many members read enough reports at work and would prefer to read something more unstructured and sometime nonsensical.

All the same, I enjoy reading your ‘report’ It suites me better than other styles but that’s my taste.

[eighthobstruction]

Dear HS
Your advice is very useful if we were writing reports, but we are not on this forum. This is a place where people can pour out their personal thoughts and opinions. Wouldn’t it be rather boring if all posts read like perfect reports by business consultants or well trained students? Besides, I expect many members read enough reports at work and would prefer to read something more unstructured and sometime nonsensical.

....quite right..

[LeMartinPecheur]

The suggestion to
and ensure that it is

could usefully be applied to political and current affairs debate, as well as concert reviews, I think

Hell, sorry about the loss of quotes says LMP, please see Caliban's 4 above!!!

But isn't this precisely why political debate and discussion is so abysmally poor at the moment? If everything has to be understandable by all, we can't discuss anything that actually is complicated. Like science, economics, law, ecology, ethics (of war, social care, allocation of medical resources...). Most of life really

Reduce everything to two sentences of monosyllabic words and the job's done innit?

[Serial_Apologist]

I think one should avoid hypostatisation and mystification; obscurantism is so much more fun!

[teamsaint]

I think one should avoid hypostatisation and mystification; obscurantism is so much more fun!

Like in the good old days?...........

[Nick Armstrong]

But isn't this precisely political debate and discussion is so abysmally poor at the moment? If everything has to be understandable by all, we can't discuss anything that actually is complicated. Like science, economics, law, ecology, ethics (of war, social care, allocation of medical resources...). Most of life really

Reduce everything to two sentences of monosyllabic words and the job's done innit?

Agreed, and I don't advocate that extreme either

[Serial_Apologist]

Like in the good old days?...........

Indeed yes, TS - I've been going through some leftist pamphlets from the 1970s recently which prove the case.