[header] How to write a report quickly and painlessly [title] Brainstorm ideas. [step] Once you've established what your report will focus on, write down everything that you know about the topic. This will give you a place to start. 
Even if you don't know much about the topic, having a starting point for your research alleviates the pressure of not knowing where to start in the writing process. [substeps] As you write down what you know about the topic, look for gaps in your knowledge.