What should the introduction of a report include?

• A. Date and time of the incident, location, identities of people involved, and initial actions
• B. A detailed description of every step taken
• C. A list of witnesses with phone numbers
• D. The conclusions drawn from the investigation

Answer: (A)

Begin with the essential facts that set the scene. The introduction should include the date and time of the incident, where it occurred, the identities of people involved, and the initial actions taken. Presenting these elements upfront gives readers a clear snapshot of what happened, where and when it happened, who was involved, and how the situation started. This framing establishes the report’s scope and supports accountability by letting readers orient themselves quickly to the sequence of events from the moment the incident began.

Details like a blow-by-blow account of every step are too granular for the opening; those belong in the body or a separate timeline. A list of witnesses with phone numbers belongs in supporting materials or a section dedicated to sources, not in the opening narrative. Conclusions or findings come later, after the facts have been described and analyzed. So the best opening is a concise summary of the incident’s basic facts and the initial actions taken, which prepares the reader for the fuller narrative to come.