Technical%20Report%20Writing

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Technical Report Writing

• Dr. Shelley Thomas

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Overview

• Selecting effective report topics
• Using worksheets to plan projects
• Developing and proposing project plans
• Developing effective report drafts
• Revising drafts

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3-Parts of Report Writing

• Part 1 Proposal
• plan and propose project to instructor
• Part 2 First draft of report
• conduct research and interpret findings
• develop and design visual and textual content
• Part 3 Revise and add formal elements
• revise draft (style, cohesion, and usage) for
  situation and audiences
• develop front and back matter

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Report Topics

• Students must identify
• a real client who
• has a problem, need, or opportunity
• has decision-making authority
• is available to meet face to face (at least twice)

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Report Topics

• An investigative focus on determining whether a
  solution is feasible.
• Investigates whether X is a feasible solution to
  the clients problem. Makes a recommendation to
  implement or not implement X.
• Investigates whether Y or Z is a more feasible
  solution to the clients problem. Makes a
  recommendation to implement Y, Z, or neither.

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Report Topics

• An investigative focus on understanding a problem
  and identifying a plan of action for solving it.
• Investigates why X occurred (or is occurring).
  Recommends a plan of action for resolving X.

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Report Topics

• An investigative focus on convincing a client to
  implement a particular solution to solve a
  problem (or realize an opportunity).
• Proposes that the client authorize the writer to
  implement solution X, which will solve the
  clients problem.
• Proposes that the client consider an alternate
  method, procedure, or product for meeting an
  existing need.

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Questions?

• Suggested Topics

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Purpose to help students
• create a realistic plan for researching and
  developing their report
• test the suitability of the topic
• create a framework or research plan that will
  guide
• their investigative efforts
• their interpretive acts

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Worksheet 1 Problem and Solution Analysis
• Analyzing problem
• Identifying goals and criteria for effective
  solutions
• Forecasting possible solutions

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Problem Analysis
• Problem statement
• Workplace context
• Systems context
• Negative consequences
• Potential causes
• Remedies in progress

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Criteria for Effective Solution(s)
• Goals solution(s) should achieve
• Criteria for evaluating solution(s)
• Conditions constraining solution(s)

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Solution Analysis
• How the solution solves the problem
• Negative consequences eliminated
• Positive consequences added
• How the solution compares to other solutions
  (possibly, how the solution compares to doing
  nothing)

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Worksheet 2 Audience Analysis
• Identifying audience groups
• Analyzing audience characteristics

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Identifying audience groups
• primary, secondary, tertiary
• tangential or chance

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Analyzing audience characteristics
• level of knowledge, experience
• point of view (purpose, concerns)
• attitude and motivation
• learning needs and learning styles
• expectations and assumptions

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Worksheet 3 Research Plan
• Have identified
• problem and solution(s) to be analyzed
• context for the problem
• audience groups for report
• goals and criteria for evaluating the solution(s)
• Need a rigorous method or research plan

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Project Planning Worksheets

• Worksheet 3 Research Plan
• For each criterion identified,
• identify required information (background
  information about criterion and information about
  solution in light of the criterion)
• select methods for collecting information
  (observation, interviews, interaction w/system,
  review of literature or artifacts, questionnaires
  and surveys)
• list resources available

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Project Plan Proposals

• Students propose their project plan to the
  instructor.
• Students must convince the instructor that they
• understand the clients problem
• have identified appropriate criteria or goals for
  a successful solution
• have developed a feasible schedule of activities
• are qualified to perform this investigation and
  analysis

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Drafts

• Students draft their work and conference with the
  instructor before the final version is due.