I think this algorithm is useful for students to write reports, but one might find it useful for other types of reports.
Step 1. Determine number of paragraphs you would like to (or sometimes have to) write. Paragraph is the building block in this method. Let ‘P’ be the number of paragraphs, and to determine P you can easily estimate number of paragraphs from number of pages you have to write (usually maximum and minimum size of a report is specified otherwise you would better to do that for yourself).
Step 2. Assign each paragraph to a phrase which can remind you what the paragraph is about. The phrase is actually the goal of the paragraph.
Step 3. Determine a set of categories that the phrase can be one of them:
3.a If the paragraph is supposed to give a ‘definition’:
- read some resources about the subject (to be defined) and understand it and write it in your own words. Sometimes it is better to bring the definition with original words and refer to its author.
3.b If the paragraph describes some related works from other authors:
- look at your notes you wrote during your literature study (so this means you need to take notes and organize your readings in some way during literature study. I used citeulike for this purpose and found it useful.)
- Search for more articles if you think you have missed during your literature study)
- Write the paragraph about related works and put the references wherever needed. I used to add a reference on demand, so the bibliography section of the report will be gradually completed while the report is being completed.
3.c If paragraph is about introducing other chapters:
- make a list of chapters and describe each one very briefly.
3.d Other types of paragraph ,et cetera, et cetera
Step 4. Write a draft version for each paragraph
Step 5. Order the paragraphs and glue them together:
Although you have to have thought about the order of the paragraphs in advance, you still need to revise it when the report is being gradually completed.
The following is an example of ordering the paragraphs I used for (the introduction section of) my thesis report:
I. Description of the problem (from requirement to applications)
II. Why is the subject (which you are writing about) important?
III. What has been done by others in this field?
IV. What is your goal with the current work (your thesis project?)
V. How does your experiment differ from what has been done previously?
VI. What will be seen in the next sections of this report.
(Some parts of the paragraphs’ order are suggested by my supervisor, Mattias)
Step 6. Read your report a couple of times and revise it. If you have enough time, get back to the report after some days and review it, this gap lets your brain perform differently.