Course Outline

Report Writing is organized into six modules (plus a short Next Steps section to help you plan later tutorials). You can see the tabs for all modules at the top of every page.

You should work through these six modules in sequence because they replicate the process of report writing. Below is an estimate of the amount of time it will take to complete each module. You may find that you need more time to revise assignments based on your tutor’s feedback.

Module 1: Writing Effectively at The World Bank (2-3 hours)

This module is designed to get you thinking about writing at the World Bank. It will help you assess your current writing skills and establish your expectations for the course. Through examples and activities, you will consider the idea of effective writing in the World Bank context.

Module 2: Starting Off Right With Planning (4-6 hours)

In this module, you will consider appropriate strategies for writing reports at the World Bank. You will employ a technique called the Dialogue with the Reader to get yourself thinking about a report that you would like to write.

Module 3: Organizing Your Report: The Pyramid Outline (4-6 hours)

This module introduces you to the concept of the pyramid outline as a way of organizing your ideas and information in a way that serves your purpose and is reader friendly. Developing a coherent and well-organized pyramid outline is critical to planning an effective report.

Module 4: Guiding the Reader: Introductions and Headings (2-4 hours)

This module focuses on introductions and headings, which are essential for making your report reader-friendly. Through analysis of examples and practice activities, you will be able to compose an introduction for your report and begin creating a structure for your text using headings.

Module 5: Drafting Your Report (3-5 hours)

In this module, you will work on the actual writing of your report. You will have the opportunity to examine and critique different styles of paragraphs and sentences, and you will try your hand at composing your own.

Module 6: Improving Your Report (6-8 hours)

This module helps you to review your work in order to refine your writing. You will focus on the style and mechanics of English-language writing, and you will develop techniques for critically reading and revising your work.

Total: 21-32 hours, plus time for assignment revision

Note: The time required to complete each module may vary depending on learners' capacities to work on the course.