This chapter needs a lot of work. Stay tuned...

A data report, here, is a report containing lots of data in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. The technical writer:

  1. starts with source that contains mostly tables.
  2. creates charts and graphs that more vividly depict the data in those tables.
  3. adds explanatory cross-references to state key trends and conclusions in the tabular data.

The results of the technical writer's work would be a data report that is much much easier to skim and pick up the key points.

Data reports are used in every industry and branch of government:

  • Police departments give reports on crime statistics.
  • Public corporations of every kind put out quarterly financial reports.
  • Non-profit watchdog groups provide data reports on government spending.
  • Environmental consultants report on pollution levels and fish populations.

Be sure to check out the examples.

Anatomy of a Data Report

Like humans, data reports come in all shapes and sizes. Presented here is one framework that you can use as-is or modify.

If you are creating a data report, see Create Data Report

  • Notice the basic contents of the body sections of the example data reports, not necessarily in this order or all included:

    heading
    table
    chart
    explanatory cross-reference
    source indicator

    Data report chart without table or cross-reference explanation

    Shown above is a chart without a table. Here's the related table (unfortunately, misnumbered), which could come before or after the chart:
    Data report table relevant to the chart

    Now below the chart (or above with minor revisions) is the explanatory cross-reference. For the very busy or the less inclined, the explanatory cross-reference states a major fact or trend in the chart. It can also indicate the source with a hypertext link or standard hardcopy cross-reference:

    As can be seen in Figure 5, generated paper materials have outdistanced recycled paper materials 6730 million tons 4760 million tons over the the 1960 to 2015 period.

    The table can be deleted and accessible by a link or cross-reference. The chart can precede the table if that is preferable.

    Here's another example of an explanatory cross-reference:

    Chart depicting trends in MSW generation and recovery
  • Notice the front and back matter of the example data reports:

I would appreciate your thoughts, reactions, criticism regarding this chapter: your response—David McMurrey.