ClearTips: Riveting reports

7. Gather Your Details, Examples, and Comments

On each page, under each point—20 for a 20-paragraph report, 100 for a 100-paragraph report-begin noting your support—data, details, examples, and comments. It helps to spread all your pages out on a large table. I generally carry them around in a binder. That allows jotting down—and not losing—ideas that come to mind. It also allows working on one paragraph at a time.

The support for some of your points will fill some pages quickly, while others remain empty. If one point is short on detail and examples, you may need to compile more information by doing more research. If you can't support a point well, consider cutting it. And remember, an ounce of example is worth a ton of abstract generalization.
Here are examples from the Rockefeller Foundation's report:

Point The integrated model provides in-depth training in the skills required for a specific job and—just as important—places heavy emphasis on work habits.

Support Less intensive programs offer little to those with special disadvantages

• Development of life skills
• Stresses punctuality and attendance

Point The integrated model provides literacy and numeracy training concurrently with job training.

Support Only elements directly related to job included

• Just-in-time remediation of basic skills speeds learning process
• The closer the tie between job skills and basic literacy and numeracy training, the more willing trainees are to increase basic skills

Point Another key feature of the integrated model is to have the education and employment program plugged directly into the requirements of industry—and to have industry plugged into the development of the program.

Support When the demand and wages for a skill fall, it is phased out of the skill offerings

• Technical instructors drawn from industry
  
• Approach treats training as a business

Having all your material slotted into a paragraph-by-paragraph plan enables you to refine it before you've written a paragraph.

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