Summary

Having a clear purpose and taking into account your reader’s needs will help you plan your report. A good way of planning is to imagine a dialogue with your readers, starting with your purpose and then anticipating the main question your readers will have. The answer to that question will form your main message.

Most main messages take the form of either a thesis statement or an umbrella statement. (Some may combine elements of both.) The type of statement you choose must align with your purpose in writing the report.

Your main message is critical, since it is the first piece of writing that contributes to your report. For this reason, your main message must

• Be clearly stated, often taking a position (as in a thesis statement).
• Reflect your purpose.
• Answer your reader’s main question.
• Establish the basis for extending your dialogue with the reader—additional questions and answers from which you can build an outline.
• Have substantive information but consist of only one or two sentences.