ELEC7082: AI in Finance, University of Hong Kong

Great projects can be let down by poor reports. Hopefully, the following suggestions will help students do justice to their work

Guide to Project Report Writing

1. How to approach the report
   The best way to approach the assignment is to assume that you are presenting your findings to your boss, with the hope that you will be asked to lead a team to further develop your ideas.
2. Executive Report and Appendices
   All the key findings should be summarized in the executive report. Details can be placed in the appendices. The principle is: readers should not have to read the appendices to appreciate what you have done. Point readers to the appendices that substantiate each of your points.
3. What is your main finding?
   It's best to state what your main findings are in one sentence. Keep it factual (what you have found, not how good it is). This is the statement that you will be judged on. Everything else that you say is supporting evidence.
4. Define everything carefully
   If the terms used in your report are unclear, readers will not be able to follow the rest of your report.
5. Explain the basics
   Do not assume that the readers know everything. What you consider "basic" may turn out to be complicated to the readers; sometimes because it is more complicated than you think, and sometimes because the readers come to your "basics" points from a different angle.
6. Focus on depth, not breadth
   A project that covers 3 topics is almost always weaker than a project that covers a single topic. Students sometimes feel that they need to do more to score points. The opposite is true. If your work on one of the three topics is strong, the other two topics can only lose you marks (if you make mistakes there).
7. Narrow your frontline
   Only defend what you need to defend. Do not make unnecessary points. The longer your frontline, the harder it is to defend it. Your defence is only as strong as your weakest link.
8. What is original
   Did you find anything original? For example, did you look at the markets from a new perspective? Does it report a new risk measure? If you have developed anything original, state that in a simple sentence.
9. Why is your finding significant?
   Explain why someone should read your report carefully. For example, does it help its readers to trade? Does it help readers find good portfolios?
10. Presentation
    Colourful figures do not always score, but poor spelling and poor presentation can often lose you marks.

The above advice is given by Edward Tsang; last updated 2026.04.10