TECHNICAL RESEARCH & REPORT WRITING

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Principles and procedure of technical research and report writing; attention to analyzing audience and purpose,
organizing information, designing graphic aids, and writing such specialized forms as abstracts, instructions, and
proposals.

OBJECTIVES
 demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with the nature of technical writing and the qualities of technical style;
 apply the principles of letter writing to various types of technical communications

 demonstrate a knowledge of writing various types of short reports;

 gather, analyze, and organize needed data for writing a formal research report;

 use graphics effectively in required technical documents;

 analyze writing situations to understand your audiences and your purposes for writing

 create documents that fulfill your purposes and your audiences’ needs

 develop skills with technologies like email, computer graphics, and the web

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Overview of Technical Research and Report Writing

A. Definition and Nature of Technical Writing

B. Properties of Technical Writing

C. Basic Principles of Technical Writing

D. The Role of Technical Writing

II. Techniques in Technical Writing

A. Parts of a Letter
B. Formats/ Styles of a Letter
C. Types of Business Letters
D. Types of Personal Letters

III. Types of Technical Report

A. Report Layout
B. Formal Report Format
C. Memorandum Report
D. Letter Report
E. Bulletins
F. Abstract
G. Proposal
H. Research Report
I. Feasibility Study

IV. Business Letter

A. Definition and Purpose
B. Elements and Characteristics
 C. Format and Styles
D. Types of Business Letters
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
E. Resume and Cover Letters

V. Process and Guidelines in Technical Writing

A. Writing process: from audience to rough draft
B. Audience analysis
C. Task analysis
D. Power-revision techniques
E. Libraries, documentation, cross-referencing
F. Basic patterns and elements of the sentence
G. Common grammar, usage, punctuation problems
H. Common spelling problems

VI. Graphic Aids

A. Bar Chart
B. Line Chart
C. Tables
D. Circle or Pie Chart
E. Surface or Strata Chart
F. Map Charts
G. Flow Charts
H. Flow Sheets
I. Diagrams
J. Figures
K. Photographs
L. Drawings
M. Important Points in Handling Graphics

VII. Contemporary Communication

A. E-mail
B. Internet
C. Desktop Publishing
D. Hypertext

REFERENCES:

 Manalo, E. & Fermin, V. (2007). Technical and Report Writing. ECC Graphics. Quezon City
 Vicente, C. et. Al. (2004). Technical Writing. Popular Bookstore. Quezon City, Philippines.
 Writing in English: A Practical Handbook for Scientific and Technical Writers.
© 2000.
 Lawrence, H. (2007). Technical Report Writing Workshop. Available Online:
http://www.eng.uwi.tt/engdocs/TechnicalReportWriting_2007.pdf