Technical Report Writing
Course Overview
This course covers detailed aspects of how to compile and write a technical report. The suggestions presented in the course may be employed, whether you are writing a single page report, or a multi-volume research study. Technical reports do, or at least should, have an explicit purpose and an identifiable audience. If you know clearly 'why' you are writing, and 'who' will read your report, you have the basis for the report design. Your audience, and their needs, must remain at the forefront of your thinking. In most organisations, the audience is a multi-layered collection of people. Some of your intended readers may be known to you, while others may not. Once you have determined the purpose of your writing, you must analyse your audience to the best of your ability. This course will suggest some ways to do this, in a systematic and easy to understand format. The course enables delegates to structure a report, organise the information, and identify under which heading the information belongs. This ensures that a clear, concise, and well-structured report is presented.
Course Objectives
- To analyse the different report types used
- To develop a positive report style
- To effectively plan and structure technical reports
- To ensure that reports are sequential, logical, and easy to read
- To identify and obtain the right information for inclusion in reports
- To have a clear understanding of the different sections within reports
- To understand how to present graphical data
- To be able to clearly analyse results, so as to write the best recommendations
What You Will Gain
Good technical report writing produces business reports that are readable and easy to understand; they prompt the reader into action. Reports are essential ingredients of modern business; yet far too many make dismal reading - and waste time and money for everyone. They are often badly structured, contain too much detail, and use anything but plain English. This course will provide you with a clearer understanding of how to identify the relevant information, and how to use professional language, by being clear, concise, and to the point.
Course Outline
DAY 1
- Types Of Technical Reports
- The Communication Model
- The Five 'C's Of Technical Communication
- Technical Writing: The Writing Process
- Audience Analysis
- Grammar For The Technical Report Writer
- Sentence Construction
- Sentence Structures
- Punctuation
- Numbers
- Plain English
- Drafting & Writing The Technical Report
- Technical Writing Process - From Identifying Audience, To Rough Draft, To Final Draft, To Finished Document
- Audience Analysis
- Parts Of The Report
- Drafting & Writing The Technical Report
- Lists
- Highlighting & Emphasis
DAY 2
- Information Structures
- Definitions
- Analysis
- Exemplification
- Comparison & Contrast
- Description
- Process Discussion
- Casual Discussion
- Classification
- Technical Writing
- Conclusions
- Introductions
- Abstracts
- Using Visual Aids
- Line Graphs
- Bar Graphs
- Gantt Charts
- Pie Charts
- Tables
- References
- Quality Control: Editing & Proofreading Technical Reports
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for people who have to report on the technical aspects of their job. Some people often have to go 'off-site' to attend to technical problems and must document all the technical findings. All personnel involved in technical report writing - (quality, engineering, laboratory, materials and R & D professionals), will also benefit from attending this programme.
Duration: 2 days
Dates
Locations
- Johannesburg
- Cape Town
- Durban
