Tutorial: 45 minutes
Writing Reports in Engineering and Science
Engineers and scientists write reports to document projects, designs, and experiments. For reports in engineering and science, the expectations that readers have are much different from the expectations to be met for essays in first-year English. This website presents a 45-minute tutorial to help you learn the expectations to be met for reports that you will write as an engineer or scientist. If you do not have an hour to spend, consider doing the 15-minute version.
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Writing in engineering and science is important. |
1. View Films on Analysis of Constraints
In contrast with essays that you wrote for first-year English, reports in engineering and science carry specific constraints for audience, purpose, and occasion [1]. As shown in Films 1-3, understanding these constraints puts you in a much better position to write an effective report. |
Film 1. Analyzing Audience for Reports. Film 3. Analyzing Occasion of Reports: Length, Formality, and Format. |
Film 2. Analyzing Purpose of Reports. Key Questions That Films Address:
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2. View Films on Organization
Engineering and scientific reports are organized quite differently from essays. As shown in Film 4, those differences occur in the title, summary, the use of sections for the main text, and appendices. In addition, audiences have different expectations not only for sections of the main text (see Film 5) but also for the first sentences of those sections (see Film 6). |
Film 4. Organizing a Report. Film 6. Writing First Sentences of Sections in Reports. |
Film 5. Writing Sections in Reports. Key Questions That Films Address:
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3. View Films on Language and Illustration
Language refers to the writing at the sentence and paragraph levels. In engineering and science, the most important goals of language are to be precise and to be clear (see Films 7-8). Given in Film 9 (and its accompanying handout) is a strategy for connecting sentences. Still other important expectations at the paragraph and sentence levels reside in the incorporation of illustrations (see Film 10). |
Film 7. Writing Precise and Clear Sentences. Film 9. Connecting Ideas in Paragraphs. Key Questions That Films 7 and 8 Address:
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Film 8. Avoiding Ambiguity Film 10. Incorporating Illustrations and Equations into Reports. Key Questions That Films 9 and 10 Address:
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4. Play Comprehensive Kahoot
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Instructors: You are more than welcome to assign this tutorial to your students. Also, if you would like a Canvas quiz of the Kahoot to verify that your students have done the tutorial, please visit the Canvas quiz page.
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Appendix A: Additional Resources on Writing Reports
The following resources discuss two additional perspectives on writing reports in engineering and science. First, discussed in Film A-1 is a process that professional teams use to produce effective reports. Second, presented in Film A-2 is a discussion on the following the rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage. This film is an introduction to the Tutorial on Avoiding Grammar Errors in Engineering and Science. |
Film A-1. Process of Writing Reports as a Team |
Film A-2. Importance of following rules of grammar, punctuation, and usage. |
Acknowledgments
This tutorial, which was created in the College of Engineering at Penn State, is made possible by funding from the College's Leonhard Center for Engineering Education. Providing technical assistance on the films has been the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College.
This tutorial, which was created in the College of Engineering at Penn State, is made possible by funding from the College's Leonhard Center for Engineering Education. Providing technical assistance on the films has been the Office of Digital Learning, which is also in the College.
Faculty and Staff Editors
Michael Alley, Content Editor, Teaching Professor Casey Fenton, Film Editor, Office of Digital Learning Richelle Weiger, Film Editor, Office of Digital Learning Elaine Whitmer, Film Editor, Office of Digital Learning |
Former Student Editors
Morgan Aloi, ME, 2022 Olivia Brencovich, ME, 2022 Justin Bardy, ME, 2021 Alexus Eicher, Comp Sci., 2021 Dean Ellis, Aerospace Engr., 2021 Jake Grant, ME, 2022 Alexander How, ME, 2021 Belinda Mativenga, ChE, 2022 Kaitlyn Pigeon, IE, 2021 Alison Wanamaker, IE 2021 Mia Wanyo, ME, 2022 |
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).
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).