Technical Report Types and Writing Guide PDF

Technical report A Technical report is a well-organized, detailed formal document produced by corporations, academic institutions, and government agencies. A Technical report conveys technical information in a clear and accessible way. It can include results, progress, or process of scientific or te...

Technical report A Technical report is a well-organized, detailed formal document produced by corporations, academic institutions, and government agencies. A Technical report conveys technical information in a clear and accessible way. It can include results, progress, or process of scientific or technical research, or the state of a research problem. Technical reports may also include recommendations and conclusions. Written for a specific audience, Technical reports are produced in an appropriate writing style. Technical reports are important: Communicate clear solution to a problem. Helpful in decision making. Provide technical information Exchange information White paper A white paper is an authoritative technical report or guide that conveys technical information concisely and clearly. It presents a complex issue in simpler terms. It explains how a technology works. It may include information on how that particular technology was developed as well. Types of technical reports Feasibility report: This report is prepared during the initial stage of the project to determine whether the proposed project will be successful. Business report: Business report is an amalgamation of essential business data, encompassing facts, analyses, statistics, and other relevant information. The primary aim is to organize and present this data in a manner that aids in critical decision-making processes and future planning. They offer a lens through which the business's health and progress can be assessed. Technical specification report: A technical specification report specifically addresses a technical problem and building a solution for it. It stipulates the technical designs, methodology, procedures, workflows, and tests in the use of the system. Research report: A research report is a well-crafted document prepared by the researcher, analyst or strategist that outlines the processes, data, and findings of a systematic investigation. It is an important document and typically considered an accurate source of information. A research report can be considered as a summary of the research process that clearly highlights findings, recommendations, and other important details. Recommendation report: A Recommendation report addresses a real and important problem. The Problem Statement is perhaps the most important part of the report because it articulates the problem clearly, providing a strong sense of need for the options. These reports are written to propose or recommend the options available to solve a problem or fill a need. The goal of the report is to compare options, recommend one option, and support that recommendation. Writing a Technical Report Title Page Abstract: An abstract is a concise summary of a longer work, such as a dissertation or research paper, and allows readers to decide whether to read the full paper. Abstracts should be written after the full paper is written, and are usually about 150-250 words and one to two paragraphs long Introduction Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion References Appendices (if necessary) Properties of technical writing  Clarity Accuracy Comprehensiveness Accessibility Conciseness and Correctness Limitations Gathering information from credible sources Coordinating with the sources Improper review of write-ups Unclear expectations Multi-tasking (handling several different projects at the same time) Lack of clarity SYNOPSIS A synopsis is a brief summary which gives readers an overview of the main points. In an academic context, this is usually a summary of a text (a journal article, book, report etc) but in some instances you might be writing a synopsis of a talk, film or other form of presentation. A synopsis is a neutral summary, objectively capturing the main points, rather than individual perspective or critique, and it focuses directly on the text rather than being a wider discussion. Points to remember: develop the skill Separate main points from the minor detail understand what to leave out as well as what to include present a sense of the overall narrative as well as listing the key points Cover the whole text within a small word limit Rephrase things concisely without losing the meaning or misrepresenting it Do not leave anything crucial to understand the whole overall message Methodology What is the main purpose of the text? Why the research is to be done? How the research will be conducted? What kind of research is it? What are the main things I should be aware of from this paper? What is the line of argument? What is the overall conclusion, recommendation, finding? Why is that important? Writing a synopsis begin synopsis with a brief context Follow the structure of the original text, to give a sense of its narrative flow as well as the key points within it. Manage the word count Jot down only key words as a summary of each point rather than whole sentences