Writing Sample / Report Writing Exercise
Writing Sample / Report Writing Exercise
This domain tests whether you can produce a clear, factual, chronological, and objective account. The reader should be able to reconstruct what happened without guessing what you felt or concluded.
Core rules
- Answer who, what, when, where, how, and what happened next.
- Separate observable facts from conclusions. "Hands trembled" is observable; "nervous" is an interpretation.
- Use active voice with a clear actor: "I observed" rather than "it was observed."
- Keep names, times, and exhibit numbers consistent throughout.
- Quote statements exactly when wording matters; paraphrase elsewhere.
- Include exculpatory or weakening details, not only helpful facts.
Worked example
Weak sentence: "The subject was acting suspiciously near the door." Revised: "At 1412, I saw the subject walk to the north exit, look through the glass for about ten seconds, and then walk back toward the counter without opening the door." The revision replaces a conclusion with behavior another officer could verify. The reasoning is that "suspiciously" invites disagreement and omits the specific movements that made the conduct notable.
Traps
- Editorial adjectives such as "obviously," "clearly," or "suspiciously."
- Passive voice that hides who acted.
- Inconsistent times, names, or exhibit references.
- Omitting a fact because it weakens the case theory.
- Writing a conclusion without the supporting observations.