The key distinction between article writing and report writing is that article writing encompasses the writer’s personal opinions, while report writing is primarily concerned with factual information and evidence. Both forms of writing necessitate strong writing abilities. Articles are intended to inform people and alter their perspectives, whereas reports are detailed and based on factual information. Reports are organized into chapters and always include citations, unlike articles, which do not contain personal opinions.
Key Takeaways
- Article writing involves the writer’s personal opinions and is intended to inform and influence readers.
- Report writing is based on factual information, research, and evidence, and is often more detailed and structured than articles.
- While both forms of writing require strong writing skills and research, reports typically include citations and may be more formal in tone and structure.
What is Article Writing?
An article is a written piece that appears in newspapers, magazines, and websites. The purpose of articles is to inform the public about various topics, which requires extensive research, a strong vocabulary, and good writing skills. An article writer can not only provide well-informed information but also change people’s perspectives on various aspects through their writing. Articles written for newspapers, magazines, and web articles may take different formats and address different audiences, but they generally share the same objectives.
Objectives of Article Writing:
- To provide information on various topics
- To narrate events and stories
- To describe current events, people, places, and different types of things
- To provide suggestions
- To give advice
- To influence readers
Types of Article Writing:
- Persuasive – convinces the audience about something with factual information
- Expository – subject-oriented and commonly used, especially in formal and academic writing. Gives information without including the personal opinions of the writer
- Descriptive – provides in-depth information in a descriptive manner
- Narrative – used in telling stories
Format of Article Writing:
- Title
- Writer’s name
- Body of the article with factual information (two to three paragraphs)
- Conclusion
Important Aspects in Article Writing:
- Target audience
- Purpose
- Collecting information
- Organizing information
What is Report Writing?
Report writing involves presenting factual information based on research. Reports deliver facts, analyze information, provide suggestions, and offer recommendations about various projects or situations on different topics, which can be academic, scientific, technical, or business-oriented. Reports should be accurate, well-structured, clear, and suitable for the intended audience. The target audience, purpose, necessity, and information are the most crucial aspects of reports.
Types of Reports:
- Formal reports – well-structured and emphasize objectivity and organization. Free from personal pronouns
- Informal reports – short messages with casual language
- Short reports and long reports – based on the length of the report
- Informational reports – carry objective information from one area of the organization to another – annual or financial reports
- Analytical reports – attempt to solve problems, such as scientific research
- Proposal reports – a type of problem-solving report
- Vertical reports – upward or downward hierarchy reports
- Lateral reports – reports between various units of the same organization
- Internal reports – within the organization
- External reports – outside the organization
- Periodic reports – on regularly scheduled dates
- Functional reports – accounting, financial, or marketing reports
Format of Reports:
- Title
- Table of contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
- References
What is the Difference Between Article Writing and Report Writing?
The primary difference between article writing and report writing is that article writing includes the writer’s personal opinions, while report writing focuses on factual information and evidence. Additionally, articles are generally shorter than reports, so report writing involves more writing.
Summary – Article Writing vs Report Writing
Article writing is a piece of writing created for a substantial audience with the help of the press, published in newspapers, websites, and magazines. They are short and provide information, narrate and describe stories and events, give advice, suggestions, and influence readers. Report writing involves presenting factual information based on research. Reports are long, accurate, and detailed, often including graphs, pictures, tables, charts, and figures. Citations are required when writing reports, unlike in articles. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between article writing and report writing.
Reference:
1. “Steps of Article Writing.” TOPPR-Guides.
2. “Report.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2021.
Image Courtesy:1. “Wikinews easy article writing – Example6” By Wikinews – my screenshot (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Report” By Freepik – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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