Introduction
With this course, you gain the essential skills of producing technical reports of which you can be proud.
Technical reports often present complex information to non-specialists. Their effectiveness depends as much on the quality of the writer’s ideas as on the accuracy of their information. An effective technical report displays complicated information in ways that make it easy to understand, and – above all – relevant to the reader.
You will learn how to construct coherent arguments and explanations, and how to present information to support them. We shall look at how to offer complex material to support managerial and strategic decision-making. We shall work on how to make language work for us, and how to make reports look as good as they read.
Throughout the course, we shall work directly with participants’ own reports. Working in English as a second or further language will be a reference theme throughout.
Course Objectives of Technical Report Writing
You will learn how to:
- write more efficiently;
- understand the functions of different kinds of technical reports, especially evaluations and proposals;
- adapt and focus the writing on the needs of the target audience;
- organise material effectively to support explanations and arguments;
- create effective summaries and introductions – and clearly understand the difference between the two;
- improve your style on three levels: paragraph, sentence, word; and
- make your reports easier to navigate.
Method and Approach
This programme is intensely interactive. Participants will apply the skills explored on the course directly and immediately to their own reports. Where possible, participants will submit examples of their reports to the trainer prior to the event, for review during the course. The course is supported by a comprehensive manual covering all aspects of the writing process and offering a list of resources for further work, including links to web resources.
The use of flip-charts, syndicate workshops and feedback sessions will encourage a fully participative and enjoyable event.
Course Outlines of Technical Report Writing
What makes reports work?
- Functions of reports
- What makes a report effective?
- Overt messages and hidden messages
- Key principles of functional writing
- Three key factors: objectives, audience, structure
- Time management: a structural approach to writing
Practical work: critique of a range of examples of text
Reports as functional documents
- Planning your material
- Making sense of complexity
- Getting to the point: summarising and grouping
- Chunking and sequencing: core planning techniques
- SPQR: a technique for introductions
Explain or persuade?
- Six modes of explanation
- Persuasion in three dimensions
- Logic: deductive and inductive
Creating an outline
- Key features of an effective outline
- Checking for coherence and sense
- Producing the outline
Practical work: participants plan, write, critique and rewrite an outline.
From outline to draft
- Essential apparatus of reports
- Summaries, introductions, appendices
- Navigation aids
- Presenting information graphically: tables, charts algorithms…
Practical work: short exercises on key techniques.
Editing on three levels
Constructing effective paragraphs
- Four characteristics of effective paragraphs
- Paragraph structure and sequences
Bringing sentences under control
- Sentence length and structure
- Sentence sequences
- Bringing your sentences to life
Words that work
- Finding and placing key words
- Developing your style
- Managing vocabulary, jargon and specialist terminology
- Attention to detail: typos, spelling, punctuation
The elements of good style
- Composition and the writer’s position
- Bringing your writing to life
- Formal or informal: judging what’s appropriate
Practical work on existing pieces of writing, applying the tools and techniques covered.
About Dubai
Dubai, located on the Persian Gulf, is one of the seven United Arab Emirates and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The discovery of oil in the region has made Dubai extremely wealthy, allowing it to build the glittering skyscrapers that it is now famous for. That wealth is strongly in evidence in Dubai and visitors will see luxurious buildings and supercars aplenty. Perfect beaches and endless shopping opportunities are to key to Dubai's attractions. Flights to Dubai open up the city's cultural attractions to tourists, with beautiful mosques, museums and art galleries scattered throughout this ultra-modern metropolis.
Things to do and places to visit in Dubai
Dubai's wealth has made it famous for building ever taller buildings and creating artificial islands off its shores. The city's hotels are luxurious and shoppers will love its extensive shopping malls which showcase all the world's top brands. Dubai's attractions don't end there. Dubai also caters to adventure lovers, who can jump in a 4x4 or on a board to speed over dunes outside the city. Local culture mustn't be forgotten either, and visitors have wonderful mosques to visit and old districts to explore. All that combined means that a flight to Dubai is sure to lead to an unforgettable holiday.
When visiting Dubai, be sure to:
- Go to the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
- Admire the intricately beautiful Grand Mosque, which has the tallest minaret in the city.
- Understand the local history and culture with a visit to the Dubai Museum.
- Discover objects from the 6th century at Jumeirah Archaeological Site.
- Go skiing – That's not a joke, the Mall of the Emirates houses a snowdome.
- Go shopping at the Mall of the Emirates or the Dubai Mall.
- Explore the desert surrounding the city – either by 4x4 or atop a camel.
- Eat fantastic seafood at Dubai Marina.
- Cool off at the Wild Wadi Waterpark.
- Marvel at gorgeous Arabic calligraphy at Jumeirah Mosque, the biggest in the city.
- Take a yacht tour around the artificial islands of Palm Jumeirah.
- Haggle for souvenirs in one of the city's souks.
- Wander around the traditional building in Bastakiya District.