Assignment report

When a report is told it drifted off topic, the cause usually sits in the introduction, not the body. If the introduction never fixes a scope, the body just pours out whatever the writer knows in no particular order. This frame splits the introduction into three lines: which conversation you are inside, what is still missing in it, and what this piece will do about that.

Each body heading should pair one to one with something the introduction promised. When a section has no partner, either delete the section or fix the introduction. Fill the references slot the moment you open a source, rather than reconstructing it at the end.

Start with this template

What is inside

Report title: what you ask and what you answer

Course:, Instructor:, Due:, Length required:

Introduction

Territory: two sentences on which conversation this sits in.

Gap: one sentence on what is still unsettled there.

Claim: one sentence on what this report does about it.

Body 1

Takes one piece of the claim. Attach the source at the end of the paragraph.

Body 2

Handle counter-evidence and exceptions here.

Conclusion

Not a summary but an answer to the opening question. Add one line on what is left open.

References

Author, title, where it appeared, year, date you checked it.

Before submitting

Whether the argument still flows when you read only the headings

Whether you actually opened every source you cited

Whether the file name and format match what the syllabus asked for