Which elements should a complete report include?

Which elements should a complete report include?

• A. Who, What, Where, When, and How
• B. Who, What, When, Where, Why
• C. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
• D. Who, What, When, Where

Answer: (C)

A complete report provides the full picture: who did it, what happened, when and where it occurred, why it happened, and how it happened. Including Why reveals the reasons or motives behind events, while including How explains the method, steps, or process involved. Together, these six elements give clarity, justification, and actionable insight, making the report thorough and understandable. The best answer includes all six elements: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. The other options miss one or more essential parts—some omit Why, others omit How, and one omits both Why and How—so they don’t give a full, useful portrait of the situation.

A complete report provides the full picture: who did it, what happened, when and where it occurred, why it happened, and how it happened. Including Why reveals the reasons or motives behind events, while including How explains the method, steps, or process involved. Together, these six elements give clarity, justification, and actionable insight, making the report thorough and understandable.

The best answer includes all six elements: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. The other options miss one or more essential parts—some omit Why, others omit How, and one omits both Why and How—so they don’t give a full, useful portrait of the situation.