You should think of your report as both a formal academic assignment and as a personal opportunity to use and enhance your skills as a communicator.

A less than professional, grammatically-incorrect report can be rejected. Ensure you have included all content necessary, and revise and edit to ensure clarity and correct style of the audience.

Another point to keep in mind relates to the audience for different kinds of reports.

Reports are usually read in a hurry. People want to get to the information they need—key facts, conclusions, and other essentials—as quickly as possible.

Provide research on your topic. Your sources should be current, within the last two (2) or three (3) years if possible.

State the main point of the document. The main point is often to convince your reader (usually a supervisor or client) that the proposed project is deserving of approval. Be clear and concise about why you wrote the proposal and what action you want the reader to take.

Most proposals include the following sections: Introduction; Description of the problem, opportunity, or situation; Background of the problem; Method and procedure; a Schedule; Cost and required resources; Benefits and feasibility; Conclusion; and References.

With an external proposal, you will need to not only persuade the reader that you have a solid plan, but establish your credibility with the reader.

With internal proposals, you may not have to include certain sections (such as qualifications) or as much information in them.

In all but the shortest reports (two pages or less), use headings—titles and subtitles—to mark off the different topics covered. Headings are an important feature of professional technical writing: they alert readers to upcoming topics and subtopics, help them find their way around in long reports, and break up long stretches of straight text. They are also useful for keeping writers organized and focused on the topic.

A graphic and its caption should be clear and understandable without requiring readers to search for clarifying information in the text:

Captions for graphics should be placed immediately under the graphic;

Make sure the information within the graphic is clear and easy to understand.

how to capture readers’ attention and hold it.

Before you raise questions about your company’s unethical practices, make sure you use evidence instead of accusations.

it is always a good idea to have a peer or coworker proofread your documents to make sure you have not included anything that may point to discriminatory assumptions.

Using a variety of sources helps the writer avoid potential bias that can occur from relying on only a few experts.

Is it your responsibility to tell the truth (and potentially save children’s lives) or to cherry pick information that supports the parent group’s initial intentions?

Identifying what type of reader may be interested in your document will help you create an improved, more effective document.

Background—knowledge, experience, and training

Make decisions on what readers want to read about as well as what they do not want to read about.

Strengthen transitions and key words.

Change the organization of your information.

Treat each skill as if it is the most important.

Proofread your résumé several times, use spell check, and ask an exceptional proofreader to review it. Always assume that an error lurks somewhere in your résumé and review it until you find that error!

you do not have to create a new résumé and cover letter for every job opening. Instead, you can create modular materials with moving parts that can be adapted and reorganized for each job.

Employers know it takes a certain level of maturity to talk about your weaknesses. They want to ensure you have achieved that level of maturity before extending an offer.

Being self-aware is the only way to improve.

Establishing group roles Writing a proposal in which you lay out your research strategy Performing primary and secondary research Analyzing research Writing the report

And plan to write about it in such a way that your audience will understand.

Many students of technical writing courses are not necessarily planning for a career as a technical writer or instructor.

provides a reader with clear and easy access to information so they understand both the document’s and the author’s purpose and respond accordingly

Technical writing courses introduce you to the skills, genres, and other important aspects of writing in the worlds of science, technology, and business