Tutorial: 45 minutes
Writing Reports in Engineering and Science
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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 45 minutes to spend on tutorial, focus on Films 4, 7, and 10.
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Instructors: You can verify that your students have taken this tutorial by having them send you a screenshot of their quiz scores from the quiz's last page. |
1. View Films on Analysis of Constraints
In contrast with essays that are often assigned in English courses, 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.
In contrast with essays that are often assigned in English courses, 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.
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Film 1. Analyzing Audience for Reports. |
Film 2. Analyzing Purpose of Reports. |
Film 3. Analyzing Occasion of Reports: Length, Formality, and Format.
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).
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).
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Film 4. Organizing a Report. Film 6. Writing First Sentences of Sections in Reports. |
Film 5. Writing Sections in Reports. |
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).
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).
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Film 7. Writing Precise and Clear Sentences. Film 9. Connecting Ideas in Paragraphs. |
Film 8. Avoiding Ambiguity Film 10. Incorporating Illustrations and Equations into Reports. |
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4. Play Comprehensive Kahoot
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