Report Writing

Technical Report Writing Workshop Add your name here Add your Email address here © Loughborough University 2009. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License .
Please note that this resource is accompanied by a text document and is part of five workshops on Key Skills for Engineering undergraduates.
The other workshops are:
Working in Groups – 90 - 120 minutes
Oral Presentations – 90 - 120 minutes
Sourcing Material and Writing a Literature Review – 90 - 120 minutes
Preparing for Placement – 120 - 150 minutes.
Please note there is also an introductory document providing general instructions on the workshops.

Aims and Objectives
AIMS
To understand the purposes of a report
OBJECTIVES
To produce a report that is effectively presented and well written

Overview
1. What is a report?
2. Different types of technical reports
3. Before you start
4. Structure of a report
5. Layout, presentation and style of writing
6. Plagiarism and referencing
7. Spelling, grammar and punctuation
8. Writing your report

1. What is a Report?
A means of communication
Different to a novel
Will be needed in the workplace

2. Different Types of Technical Reports (i)
Technical-background report
Instruction leaflets and manuals
Feasibility Report
Primary research report

2. Different Types of Technical Reports (ii)
Technical specifications
Proposals
Business prospectus

3. Before you start
Departmental guidelines
Terms of reference
Identify your audience
Importance of a Draft Plan
Timetable

4. Structure of the Report (i)
Title page
Summary/ Abstract
Contents page

4. Structure of the Report (ii)
Introduction and background
Main Body of the report
Conclusion & Recommendations

4. Structure of the Report (iii)
References
Acknowledgements
Appendices

Task 1
Writing an Abstract

5. Layout, Presentation and Style of Writing
Layout:
Sections
Sub-sections
Figures
Equations
Bullet points

5. Layout, Presentation and Style of Writing (ii)
Presentation:
Font
Margins
Acronyms

5. Layout, Presentation and Style of Writing (iii)
Style of writing:
Active or Passive
First Person or Third Person

Task 2
What is plagiarism?

6. Plagiarism and Referencing (i)
What constitutes plagiarism
Plagiarism is using the work of others and, by failing to reference it, passing it off as your own work

6. Plagiarism and Referencing (ii)
An overview of different referencing systems
The importance of accuracy

7. Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation
Spelling – frequently misspelt words, words with similar spellings and words which sound the same
Grammar – common errors
Punctuation: commas, apostrophes, colons and semi-colons

Task 3
Spot the mistakes

8. Writing Your Report
From start to finish
What is expected
Possible shortcomings
Checking your report

Concluding Remarks
A final checklist
Feedback forms
Thank You and Good Luck

This resource was created by Glynis Perkin, Loughborough University and released as an open educational resource through the Open Engineering Resources project of the HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER programme.
© 2009 Loughborough University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License .
The name of Loughborough University, and the Loughborough University logo are the name and registered marks of Loughborough University. To the fullest extent permitted by law Loughborough University reserves all its rights in its name and marks which may not be used except with its written permission.
The JISC logo is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence. All reproductions must comply with the terms of that licence.
The HEA logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely distributed and copied for educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher.

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Report Writing

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