Technical research paper
Nablol
technical_report_examples__guidelines.html_.zipTechnical Report Examples & Guidelines.html
The final Technical Report due date is just around the corner, and examples are provided here to help you craft the "elements" of your reports.
The Report Examples section examines different types of reports that might be helpful to see as you work on your project. Note that these examples do no use: Thesis, Main Points, or Evaluation as headings. What you will see, for example, are headings like Executive Summary, Introduction, [specific divisions of the main points], Summary, and Conclusion.
The Guidelines and Template section provides assistance in gathering the information and entering it into a polished-looking product.
Report Examples
Covel & Associates is an analytical report written in memo format.
Hull Proposal is an example of a business/RFP proposal. Notice the headings and the flow of the report, and how costs are substantiated in the document.
Report Example is a technical report that shows great organization, and it was submitted by a student several years ago. Please note that the example is not complete, as I randomly selected pages to show some of the content.
Guidelines and Template
Report Guidelines provides more detail for your technical report.
Template provides detail on how to use the report template for Word. You can use this template document to add the report content. Simply remove the things you don't need. If you use the Headings provided, you can easily create a table of contents.
Proposal 101 dissects the proposal and provides ideas on what content to add to the sections of your report.
Citations
My citation preference is the Chicago Manual of Style, but if you are an English major, you can use MLA. Examples of inline and reference citations are in the textbook: The Elements of Technical Writing (Third Edition), Chapter 7, Write Ethically.
There are a few online resources that are helpful, too: OWL Purdue and BIBME.ORG. While the latter provides the general format, be careful of duplications, and incorrect spacing.
ReportExample.pdf
Technical Report Guidelines.docx
Technical Report Guidelines
Technical Report - General
1) Investigate a problem where you work and direct the report to your supervisor. Consider asking your supervisor specifically what problems he/she would like you to investigate.
2) Write either a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a proposal (bid) on behalf of your company.
3) Solve a social, political, or technical problem and propose your solution to an individual or a group that has the power to act on your recommendations.
The Technical Report is an exercise in examining a problem or need at your place of employment, and you are to create an argument (proposal) that logically supports your view. The report should be at least ten (10) pages—including collateral material—with at least six (6) pages of solid writing. In most cases, you will begin the report with a transmittal or cover letter. Interview at least one subject matter expert, and show costs and benefits, if at all possible. During the term, you will have an opportunity to see many reports that will assist you in writing a successful report.
Grading
Elements of Reports
The following list provides you with the organization for your report.
1. Letter of Transmittal or Cover Letter – Write it as an overview or proposal. If your report is not addressing anyone in particular, please address the letter to me to tell me what is in your report and point out anything that might be of interest outside the report or in the appendix. The letter can be very simple, but be sure to have addresses and the date, even if fictitious. Maralee Sautter, English Dept., PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207. See the example in the textbook.
2. Title Page
3. Table of Contents
4. Glossary (optional) – Use when you have eight or more complicated words or phrases to describe.
5. Body of Report – Select a format type from the textbook or from the examples in D2L, such as Proposal, Recommendation, Analytical, or Empirical Research Report. The body will be broken into sections such as Intro, Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations or whatever sections you choose for your format type. There should be six pages of solid writing with 1.5-paragraph spacing and double-spacing between paragraphs. I prefer left justified, but you can indent the first sentence if you choose. I’d like to see one graphic or table in this section, which can count as the writing as long as only takes half a page. If you have more than one visual aid, you may want to place them in the appendix. Remember to use “inline” references in the body of your report—(Pearsall 2001) or (Pearsall 2001, 100)—for clarity.
6. Works Cited or References – Be sure to look at the textbook (end of Writing Ethically chapter) to make sure you have indented the second line and each line after the reference.
7. Appendix (optional) – use when you have a lot of material that will interrupt the flow of text in the body of your report. This is meant for supporting material.
