Report Writing – SS3 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (Third Term)

A project report is a written record of everything you did during a beauty project.

• Tracks progress: it shows what you did from start to finish.
• Proves learning: it shows what you understood.
• Builds a portfolio: it is evidence of your work for future clients and employers.
• Supported by: a daily log, labelled before-and-after photographs and a final reflection.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the purpose of a project report;
2. list the parts of a project report in the correct order;
3. write a daily log entry with the correct details;
4. take and caption before-and-after photographs for a report;
5. write a reflection and check a report before submitting it.

Why do we write project reports?

We write project reports to show teachers, and later business partners, that we are organised and professional.

• Your hands do the work: your report tells the story of that work.
• Proof of organisation: a written record shows you can plan and keep records.

What is the purpose of a project report?

A project report has three main purposes.

• To track progress: it shows how you started, the challenges you faced and how you finished.
• To prove learning: it shows that you understood the science and business behind the services, as well as the practical skill, such as doing hair.
• To build a portfolio: a good report can be added to your CV as proof that you can manage a business.

What must a professional report be?

A professional report must be clear, honest and organised.

1. Clear: use simple words.
2. Honest: if something went wrong, write it down. Learning from mistakes is part of good practice and may earn marks.
3. Organised: use headings so the reader does not get lost.

What is the structure of a project report?

A project report has five parts: the preliminary pages, then Chapters 1 to 4.

What are the preliminary pages?

The preliminary pages come before Chapter 1 and introduce the report.

• Title page: your name, the project name and the date.
• Acknowledgement: a short thank you to people who helped you, such as teachers, parents and models.

What goes into Chapter 1: Introduction?

The introduction states what the project was about.

• Goal: what you set out to do, for example “To run a mini-salon for three weeks”.
• Reason: why you chose this project.

What goes into Chapter 2: Daily operations?

Daily operations is the main body of the report.

• Daily activities: what you did every day, taken from your daily log.
• Station set-up: how you arranged your tools, products and workspace.

What goes into Chapter 3: Financial summary?

The financial summary shows the money side of the project.

• Expenses: how much you spent on products and materials.
• Income: how much you made from services.
• Profit or loss: income minus expenses.

What goes into Chapter 4: Conclusion and recommendations?

The conclusion states the outcome and gives advice.

• Final result: whether the project met its goal.
• Recommendations: advice you would give to the next class.

How do you document the process with a daily log?

A daily log is a short written record of each day’s work, made on the same day.

• Common mistake: trying to write the whole report on the last day.
• Better habit: write the log every day so the details stay accurate.

What should you write down every day?

A daily log entry has five details.

• Date and time: keep it precise.
• Client details: keep it professional, for example “Client A” or “Model 1”.
• Service provided: for example a manicure, a facial or a hair treatment.
• Materials used: list the products, for example “20ml of neutralising shampoo” or “3 cotton pads”. This helps you track your stock.
• Observations: for example, did the client’s hair feel dry? Was the skin sensitive?

What does a sample log entry look like?

A sample entry shows each detail on its own line.

What is the action word technique?

The action word technique means starting your sentences with strong verbs that show your skill.

• Weak: “I did makeup.”
• “Applied”: I applied a clay mask to treat oily skin.
• “Consulted”: I consulted the client to choose the best nail shape.
• “Sterilised”: I sterilised all metal tools before the next appointment.

How do you document your work with photographs?

Photographs in a report tell a visual story that text alone cannot show.

• Include both: put pictures and text in the same report.
• Label every picture: each one needs a figure number and a caption.

What are the rules for professional photos?

There are four types of photo to take: before, after, detail and work-in-progress.

1. The “before” shot: take it in natural light with the model wearing a neutral face. It shows the problem you are going to solve.
2. The “after” shot: use the exact same background and lighting as the “before” shot. This shows that the improvement is real and not a trick of the light.
3. The detail shot: take a close-up if you did detailed braiding or nail art.
4. The work-in-progress shot: ask someone to photograph you working in your apron and gloves. It is evidence of your professional habits.

How do you caption your photos?

A good caption has a figure number and says exactly what the photo shows.

What is reflection and “lessons learned”?

A reflection is the final page of the report, where you show what you learned and how you grew.

What questions should you answer in your reflection?

A good reflection answers four questions.

• What was the biggest challenge? For example, “The electricity went out during a blow-dry session.”
• How did you solve it? For example, “I switched to a hand-styling technique to finish the look.”
• What was your favourite moment? For example, “Seeing the client’s confidence rise after the facial.”
• What would you change? For example, “I would buy more high-quality base coat next time to make the nails last longer.”

What is the final checklist before submitting a report?

The final checklist is a set of checks you make before you hand in the report.

• Spelling: are the product names spelt correctly?
• Photos: are they clear and not blurry?
• Maths: are the figures in the financial section correct?
• Signature: did you sign your name at the end?

Evaluation

1. State three purposes of a project report.
2. List the five parts of a project report in order.
3. What five details should be written in a daily log each day?
4. Why must the “after” photo use the same background and lighting as the “before” photo?
5. Give one example of a good photo caption.

Assignment

Write one daily log entry for a beauty service of your choice (for example, a manicure or a facial). Include the date and time, client details, service provided, materials used and observations. Then write one sentence that uses an action word, and one good caption for a photo of the finished work.