Front matter and back matter in a report are two distinct groups of information that must be included for a complete report.
Front matter consists of the introductory elements of a printed report, and can typically include a table of contents, a preface, list of illustrations, an executive summary, and an introduction. This information is often the most important part of the report and provides context and necessary background knowledge for readers to best understand the content.
Back matter includes the supplemental elements of a printed report, such as appendices, notes and a bibliography. This information is typically not essential for readers to follow the primary points of the report, but provides further references, data, and other supplemental notes.
Together, the front and back matter create a comprehensive submission that directs a reader through the main points of the report while also providing information to supplement the primary report. For example, a front matter may provide a description of the research methodology, while a back matter may contain a detailed appendix with the statistics used in the analysis.
The front and back matter should both be included, as it ensures that the reader has all the necessary information about the report, and encourages further exploration of the content.
For more information on creating reports, please refer to this resource: https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=283313&p=1889938
