Lesson 3 Writing field and technical reports.pptx

School reference

1. Writing field and technical reports

2. Basic report writing principles Written Report- is a clear, objective, and orderly presentation of the details of a research investigation or an assigned activity.

3. The Value of reports Written reports have different purposes in the academe and professional worlds. In school, teachers use your reports as a gauge of your learning.

4. The Value of reports In the professional world, reports serve as very important records of decisions or as bases for decisions to be made. Knowing how to write a good report is an essential skill for academic and professional success.

5. Writing style for reports Regardless of type, your report should be written in a language that is concise, clear, objective, and nondiscriminatory.

6. Concise writing It means efficient writing. Your text should state an idea with the least number of words without affecting meaning.

7. From: All the participants in the study were male who were 30 years old. They were all residents of Brgy . 003, Ermita , Manila. They were interviewed. To: The interviewees were 30-year-old male residents of Brgy . 003, Ermita , Manila.

8. Clear writing It means writing that transmits to the reader the exact idea that you have in mind. Ideas are clear if they are expressed in CONCRETE terms.

9. From: Many of the participants reported being “very satisfied” with the Barangay Health Unit’s service. To: Fifty-five percent (55 out of 100) of the participants reported being “very satisfied” with the Barangay Health Unit’s maternal health service.

10. Objective writing It means writing that is free of emotionally loaded or biased words, so that the report appears neutral or factual.

11. From: Unfortunately, a huge majority of the respondents were “very dissatisfied” with the Barangay Health Unit’s maternal health service. To: Seventy percent of the respondents were “very dissatisfied” with the Barangay Health Unit’s maternal health service.

12. Being objective also includes removing any hint of personal judgment in your writing. Example: The residents of Barangay X hoarded basic goods just before the super typhoon struck. Objective: The residents of Barangay X bought more that the usual quantity of basic goods before the super typhoon struck.

13. Nondiscriminatory writing This refers to writing that treats all peoples all equally and with respect.

14. 1. gender Your language should reflect equal treatment of people of different genders. Avoid using words like man, mankind, or he to prefer to the people in general, as “people” includes various genders. Rather, use gender-neutral terms like people or humanity.

15. In addition, do not assume that the default gender is MASCULINE. Example: A student must have his parents sign the waiver. Revised: -Students must have their parents sign the waiver OR -Parents must sign the student’s/child’s waiver.

16. Take note: Be careful with the use of the affixes –man, -woman, - ess Use gender-neutral equivalents instead.

17. 2. Age Reports must state precisely the age of any human participants in a study. Example: -Instead of “elderly people”, use “respondents aged 60-65” Take note, as well, of the usage of the following terms: -Boys, Girls  for people less than 18 years old -Men, Women  for people 18 and above.

18. 3. Disability Never refer to people through their diseases or disabilities, as in “autistics.” Use instead “person/s or people with _________,” as in “ a person with autism.”

19. Parts of a report Prefatory elements- are report sections found before the actual report. Title page Abstract or Executive Summary

20. 2. Report proper  Is the actual report, which usually has the following elements: Introduction Procedures Results and Discussions Conclusion Appendix References

21. I. introduction The purpose of the introduction in general is to present the objectives of the report. The introduction that the readers need to see may vary depending on whether the report is a school or professional assignment.

22. The students are expected to: -demonstrate thinking skills. What should be written in the introduction of an academic report? -A brief discussion of relevant theories -The purpose of the study.

23. In the professional world, however, readers of your report may be from other departments, whose backgrounds totally differ from yours. In professional fields, the introduction gives important background information needed for a fuller appreciation of the problem taken up and the results to be presented.

24. Such information will include: The reason for writing the report (for example, business problems like low sales of a particular product) Authorization details (e.g. identification of the officials who told you to write the report) Relevant definitions of terms. The objectives of the report.

25. II. Procedures This section details the actions done, and as applicable, the materials used or the participants involved in order to fulfill the purpose of the report. In academic reports, the procedures section serves as an important means of evaluating the validity of the study.

26. In the professional world, the procedure are important as well. The procedures should contain enough details so as “to allow your reader/s to judge” the work you did and “to convince them that your work was done competently.” Take note: The procedures section is usually written in the PAST TENSE.

27. III. Results and discussion This presents the findings that resulted from the procedures performed.

28. IV. conclusion Depending on the report assigned, the conclusion may contain any one or all of the following: A recap of key findings in the body. A final answer to the main question raised in the introduction.

29. Prefatory elements Title Page Formal reports usually require a title page as some sort of cover to “dress up” the report.

30. ELEMENTS OF A TITLE PAGE A. The report title- a phrase that captures the essence of the report . Example: Report Purpose: “This short report, prepared for 41 countries… presents the major findings from the survey of key informants’ opinions on health system responsiveness in their country.” (World Health Organization, 2003, p.1) Report Title: “Health system responsiveness survey results: Equitable, humane, patient-centered treatment by health systems or not?” (World Health Organization, 2003)

31. Elements of a title page B. The name(s) of the person(s) who conducted the experiment Example: “A laboratory report submitted by:” C. Name of the person(s) to whom the report is submitted Example: “Submitted to:”

32. 2. Abstract This section summarizes your report by reducing it to the most essential ideas, namely: The purpose/ objective of the report The procedures done The results The Conclusion