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Self-Study Guide
Writing Reports in Engineering and Science: Understanding Expectations A gap exists between the writing knowledge that engineering and science students have learned in general writing courses and the specific expectations placed on engineers and scientists when writing professional reports. Reports and journal papers (not essays) serve as the main types of documents written by engineers and scientists to document their work. Sponsored by the College of Engineering at Penn State, this webpage presents a self-study guide on understanding the expectations placed on you when writing a report in engineering or science. |
Writing as an engineer or scientist requires skills beyond those taught in general writing courses. |
Analysis of Audience, Purpose, Occasion, and Process (about 20 minutes)
In contrast with essays that you wrote for first-year English, reports in engineering and science carry specific constraints for audience, purpose, and occasion. Before you begin writing or even outlining a report, you should think deeply about those constraints. For instance, in reports, you often encounter a variety of audiences who have decidedly different levels of familiarity with the content [1]. Understanding your constraints of audience, purpose, and occasion puts you in position to write a much more effective report. Equally important with the analysis and style of reports is the process by which you or your team create a report. Film 4 discusses how to make the process of writing in a team both efficient and effective.
In contrast with essays that you wrote for first-year English, reports in engineering and science carry specific constraints for audience, purpose, and occasion. Before you begin writing or even outlining a report, you should think deeply about those constraints. For instance, in reports, you often encounter a variety of audiences who have decidedly different levels of familiarity with the content [1]. Understanding your constraints of audience, purpose, and occasion puts you in position to write a much more effective report. Equally important with the analysis and style of reports is the process by which you or your team create a report. Film 4 discusses how to make the process of writing in a team both efficient and effective.
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Film 1. Analyzing Audience for Reports. Film 3. Analyzing Occasion: Length, Formality, Format. |
Film 2. Analyzing Purpose of Reports. Film 4. Process of Writing Reports as a Team |
Organization of Reports (about 12 minutes)
Engineering and scientific reports are organized quite differently from essays in College English. For instance, reports in engineering and science carry specific expectations for certain sections, such as the summary, introduction, and conclusion. Moreover, to reach secondary audiences or provide secondary information, reports often have appendices. The two films below discuss expectations for the organization of engineering and scientific reports.
Engineering and scientific reports are organized quite differently from essays in College English. For instance, reports in engineering and science carry specific expectations for certain sections, such as the summary, introduction, and conclusion. Moreover, to reach secondary audiences or provide secondary information, reports often have appendices. The two films below discuss expectations for the organization of engineering and scientific reports.
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Film 5. Organizing a Report. |
Film 6. Writing in Sections. |
Illustration and Language of Reports (about 12 minutes)
In an engineering or scientific report, the style refers to the way the authors communicate the content to the audience [1]. Engineering and scientific reports have three important perspectives on style: structure, illustration, and language. Presented above in films 5 and 6 were distinguishing aspects about structure, and presented in the four films below are distinguishing aspects of illustration and language. Given at the end of this guide are additional films that cover more aspects about language.
In an engineering or scientific report, the style refers to the way the authors communicate the content to the audience [1]. Engineering and scientific reports have three important perspectives on style: structure, illustration, and language. Presented above in films 5 and 6 were distinguishing aspects about structure, and presented in the four films below are distinguishing aspects of illustration and language. Given at the end of this guide are additional films that cover more aspects about language.
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Film 7. Incorporating Illustrations. Film 9. Avoiding Ambiguity |
Film 8. Writing Precise and Clear Sentences. Film 10. Incorporating Equations. |
Acknowledgments
This self-study guide is made possible by funds provided by the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing technical assistance on the films is the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing specific guidance and support for the guide and badge have been the following individuals: Stephanie Cutler, Casey Fenton, Andrea Gregg, Richelle Weiger, and Elaine Whitmer. Michael Alley, the author of The Craft of Scientific Writing [4], has overseen the creation of content for the guide and badge. Listed below are engineering students who have assisted in that creation.
This self-study guide is made possible by funds provided by the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing technical assistance on the films is the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College of Engineering at Penn State. Providing specific guidance and support for the guide and badge have been the following individuals: Stephanie Cutler, Casey Fenton, Andrea Gregg, Richelle Weiger, and Elaine Whitmer. Michael Alley, the author of The Craft of Scientific Writing [4], has overseen the creation of content for the guide and badge. Listed below are engineering students who have assisted in that creation.
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Conducting Interviews
Morgan Aloi Justin Bardy Dean Ellis Jake Grant Alexander How Belinda Mativenga Kaitlyn Pigeon Alison Wanamaker Mia Wanyo Developing Website Marissa Beighley Alexus Eicher Editing Films Mary Duncan Carrie McCartney Roman Pero Caroline Sinz Sophia Zitkus |
Mechanical Engineering, 2022 Mechanical Engineering, 2021 Aerospace Engineering, 2021 Mechanical Engineering, 2022 Mechanical Engineering, 2021 Chemical Engineering, 2022 Industrial Engineering, 2021 Industrial Engineering, 2021 Mechanical Engineering, 2022 Computer Science, 2022 Computer Science, 2020 Mechanical Engineering, 2021 Mechanical Engineering, 2020 Chemical Engineering, 2020 Mechanical Engineering, 2020 Mechanical Engineering, 2020 |
Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Virginia Tech Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State |
References
- Michael Alley, The Craft of Scientific Writing, 4th ed. (New York: Springer, 2018).
- "Report Templates," Writing as an Engineer or Scientist, ed. by Michael Alley (University Park, PA: College of Engineering, 1996).
- "Sample Report Format," Writing as an Engineer or Scientist, ed. by Michael Alley (University Park, PA: College of Engineering, 1996).
Additional Topics for Writing Reports in Engineering and Science
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Film 11. Connecting Ideas in Paragraphs. Film 13. Using "I" or "We" in Reports |
Film 12. Being Concise Film 14. Avoiding a Major Grammar Error in Reports: the Run-On |
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Film 15. Three Important Comma Rules for Reports |
Film 16. Verb Tense in Reports |
Please feel free to provide comments, questions, and suggestions for the films, text, and quizzes of this website. To help us understand your feedback, please let us know whether you are a student or faculty member (or other professional).
