Writing Technical Reports

Assessing Feasibility

Before you can write up your technical report of your analysis, you will need use computation tools such as Excel spreadsheets, MATLAB, and PSpice. Once you have used these resources to analyze your data, you can begin your report.

Components of a Strong Technical Report

Reports will need to address the following areas:

• Problem Recognition ~ For some assignments, your problem has already been determined for you. In a research scenario, however, you would need to pose a problem of your own. Whether given or not, your report still needs to include a detailed description of the problem.
  
• Goal Definition ~ Your report should contain a section which outlines and describes the goals of the analysis.You may find that breaking this larger goal into sub-goals makes for a more manageable analysis.
  
• Identification and Description of Alternatives ~ Your assignment may offer alternatives that you will need to consider. In a research scenario, you would need to determine for yourself if any alternative conditions exist. Your accompanying report will need to discuss the feasibility of each of the potential options.
  
• Selection of Judging Criteria ~ Once you have conducted your analysis of each alternative present in this project, you will need to determine what criteria you will use to decide whether the project is feasible. Your report should identify and explain these criteria, and then apply them to each alternative.
  
• Prediction of Outcomes ~ Based on your feasibility analysis, determine the possible outcomes for each scenario. Use your report to explain the variations in feasibility for each alternative.
  
• Choice of Best Alternative ~ After you have predicted the possible outcomes for each scenario, determine which option is the most feasible. Use your report to explain and justify your decision.

Consider Your Audience

In addition to the formal aspects of the technical report, you should keep in mind that all writing works best when writers consider their audience.

• It might be useful to consider an audience of fellow engineers, or, perhaps, a supervisor.
  
• You might also imagine a potential client as your audience.

Citing Your Sources

If you use any outside source material in your analysis, you must include citations for that material in your report. In addition, you must attach a reference list to the end of your report.

• To learn how to properly cite your sources using APA, MLA, or Chicago Style documentation, try the Writing Center's Citation Guides.
  
  
• To learn how to properly cite your sources using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Style, try this page on the University of Toronto's website.