Technical Writing

How to write a technical report

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Preparing a technical report is very different from writing any other kind since it communicates technical research information in an unbiased, fact-based way. The format and instructions on how to write a technical report are provided in this article, which you will find useful when writing one.

Guidelines for writing a technical report.

  • The report should be printed on an A4 paper on one side. You should note that the hand-written report regarding the technical report is not accepted.
  • Page numbers: The title page and summary are an exception to the rule of numbering your pages. The pages that contain the text should be numbered.
  • Margins should be at least 2.54cm all round.
  • Times New Roman size 12 is the best choice for a regular report. Depending on your supervisor’s requirements, you should use a spacing of 1.5 or 2, but make 1.5 your default setting.

Structure of report writing.

Now, when writing this type of report, a structure is required. This is the structure to write a technical report:

  • Title page- A report’s title page is its first page. It is what conveys details about you, the writer. This is additionally known as the cover page. This page includes details such as the author’s name, the editor, the organization, and the date.
  • Abstract- A summarization of a body of knowledge is an abstract. According to their requirements, the corporate and scientific worlds define various abstracts. It should concisely describe the report’s topic, major research findings, and conclusions, summarizing it in one paragraph. When composing an abstract, adhere to a word count of no more than 500.
  • Table of contents- A table of contents shows the reader where the various sections of the report are located. It is written on a separate page. It includes the page numbers of each section within the report and any appendices attached to it. It does not include the title page, abstract, or executive summary. These sections are attached to the report before the table of contents page. 
  • Introduction- The goals of creating the report are stated in the opening, along with further details on how the issue is addressed. Terminologies should be explained in the explanation of research problems, if necessary. The introductory sentence, “This report focuses on…,” directly directs the reader to the report. The significance of the submitted research should be stated in the introduction. Avoid giving too much history, and be as clear as possible.
  • Body of the report- The body is divided into numbered and headed sections – methods, materials, analysis procedure, findings, discussion, and solutions. It makes it easier for the reader to understand what you discuss in your report. All these sections point out the main ideas in a logical order of a step-by-step analysis of any given problem/phenomenon.
  • Conclusions- The report’s objectives and additional information about handling the problem are given in the introduction. If necessary, terminologies should be defined in the research problem statement. The opening phrase, “This report focuses on…,” leads the reader immediately to the paper itself. The introduction should explain the importance of the proposed research. Try to be clear while avoiding providing too much background information.
  • References The list contains a complete description of all the research sources you cited in your paper. This list allows readers to learn more about your sources and use that knowledge to verify your findings.
  • Appendices (if needed)- This comes at the end (after the reference list) of a report, research project, or dissertation and contains any additional information, such as raw data or interview transcripts. The information in the appendices is relevant but too long or detailed to include in the main body of your work. It mostly consists of tables, diagrams, etc. This must directly relate to the research problem or the report’s aim.
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Conclusion

Reading through many samples of technical reports published by other authors is beneficial because it improves your presentational skills. Before you start to write a technical report, it’s a good idea to have a template on hand so that you can refer to it for guidance on organizing your work. You can always acquire academic support, though, to finish your report.

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