How to Write a One-Page Report on Intercessory Prayer

Starting is often the hardest part of writing a report.

Writing a report can be a daunting task, and writing about a topic as personal and controversial as intercessory prayer may add even more pressure to the assignment. A writing tutorial published by the Northern Virginia Community College stresses the importance of completing adequate research even when writing a short paper. One page can be a lot to fill if you are not familiar with your subject. No matter what the topic, remember there are three important steps to producing an effective report: prewrite (or prepare), write and rewrite.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Research the topic of intercessory prayer. Make certain you understand the concept before attempting to write about it. Learn more about intercessory prayer by researching the subject online or by speaking with a minister. Take notes as you research.

2. Jot down ideas about the main point or points you wish to present in regards to intercessory prayer. This is called brainstorming. Write down whatever comes to you without judgment or censoring.

3. Form a thesis based on the ideas you developed by brainstorming. A thesis is the proposition you will be forwarding in your report. For instance, "Intercessory prayer is an outdated concept for modern Christians" could be a thesis statement. Your report would then attempt to prove the validity of that statement.

4. Arrange your notes to follow a simple outline for a three to five paragraph format. A three-paragraph paper includes an introductory paragraph that states your thesis, a paragraph that supports the thesis and a conclusion. A five-paragraph format includes an introduction, a conclusion and three supporting paragraphs, each with a different point of supportive information.

5. Fill in the paragraphs by referring to your notes and additional information learned through research.

6. Read your report out loud to check for flow, organization and mistakes. Revise as necessary.

References

• Northern Virginia Community College: Writing the One-Page Paper
• Got Questions: What is Intercessory Prayer?