FORMAT DEVICES IN THE BODY OF Tl:iE FORMAL REPORT
In planning the format of the body, you will have to make careful decisions about heads and page numbers.
Hends
Levels of heads an Choose d head system that has enough levels for the divisions of your text. In addition,. follow these guidelines:
- Generously put first-level heads at the top of pages, giving each section “chapter a appearance.
- Use content word, not generic words Total Cost not Criterion Section One Sometimes you can combine the two types: “Problem:
- Parts out of ranee
- Maintain parallel structure for each Level Use all words, or “how to” phrases, or whatever, The different levels do not have to be parallel with one another
- Questions can be very effective. In a proposal, instead of using the head Cost say How Much Will the Solution Cost find other attractive reports to use as’ a model for ‘formatting your heads.
Pagination
Assign each page in a report a number, whether or not the number actually appears on the page. There are many page numbering systems. The key is to be consistent within your own report. Follow these guidelines:
- Place the numbers in the upper right-hand corner or bottom middle
of the page, with no punctuation. - Use headers and footers (phrases in the top and bottom margins), to identify the topic of a page or section. Most word processing programs include the ability to create headers and footers.
- Consider the title page as page 1. Do not number the title page.
- Give each full-page table or figure a page number. .
- In very long reports, use small roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for all the pages before the text of the discussion .
- See below for paging the appendix.
Many word-processing systems automatically place the number centered at the bottom, without any punctuation. As these systems are standardized, this method will probably become more prevalent. Most word-processing systems will number the title page as page I, unless instructed not to.