Your first step is to gather the information for your report. Following these guidelines will ensure that what you gather is accurate.

• Collect your evidence before you write by observing, interviewing, doing research, and gathering data.
• Organize your evidence.
• Keep your evidence clear of your opinions. Make sure that your own bias isn't skewing the evidence by letting how you feel about it get in the way of what you gather.

In most studies, you will gather masses of information and you must be selective about what goes into your report. Your selection should be based on:

• The purpose of your report. What is it meant to achieve?
• The people to whom it is directed (the reader or readers). You have to decide what the readers already know and what they need to know.