What are the Seven Keys to a Well Written Report?

• A. Clear, Concise, Complete, Correct
• B. WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY HOW ACTION TAKEN
• C. Gather Record Organize Write Evaluate
• D. Incident Report & Supplemental Incident Report

Answer: (B)

A well-written report shines when it answers all the essential questions that let someone understand exactly what happened. The seven keys are who, what, where, when, why, how, and the action taken. Including these elements ensures the narrative is complete: who was involved, what occurred, where and when it happened, why it happened, how it unfolded, and what was done in response. This structure makes the report clear, verifiable, and useful for anyone reviewing the incident or taking follow-up steps.

Other options point to good qualities like being clear, concise, complete, and correct, or to general process steps such as gathering, recording, organizing, writing, and evaluating, or to the existence of different report types. While those ideas are valuable, they don’t by themselves guarantee a full, actionable account. Only the seven keys ensure that every critical detail is captured in one coherent, actionable report.