Technical Report Writing Training

Course Outline

Report writing is often viewed as a tedious and difficult task. This leads to badly written documents that fail to communicate – result, confusion, mistakes, wasted time and additional costs. This course approaches report writing in a more effective and efficient way. By using examples from actual reports and undertaking proven learning exercises, participants will understand key elements of a good report. They will learn how to produce clear, unambiguous and concise reports that will increase the value and professionalism of their reports.

Course Objectives, Aims and Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, participants have a greater understanding of how to:

• communicate effectively to the reader
• structure specific technical reports
• write to enhance the professionalism of the writer
• write technically in plain simple English
• use software aids for more effective writing

Course Outline

• Communications Considering your reader Costs of poorly written documents
• Plain English – Software Help Understanding spelling and grammar checkers Using readability to help with grammar problems Using short words and sentences where possible
• Reports in General – Formal Reports The general structure, logical and other structures Writing abstracts or summaries Conclusions and Recommendations Compiling bibliographies, best approach
• Specific Reports for: Short (internal) reports Project Progress (taking minutes) and Close Out BS4811, investigative reports Reports to achieve chartered status
• Instructions and Procedures Giving instructions,  Warnings Avoiding idioms, conflict and ambiguity Presenting information, using diagrams BS/EN 82079 – writing instructions
• Letters, e-mails and social media Specific dangers with emails – and possible solutions Protecting your confidential information Getting your e-mails read, Netiquette Problems with social media
• Writing for Effect Using effective, unambiguous words Readable and simple sentences Persuasive and clear paragraphs Grammar, spelling and punctuation

Mode of Delivery

The course is an effective and proven mix of presentation, discussion, exercises and case studies. The training day is flexible driven by what the participants want as we go along. Further, the comprehensive Course Manual that each participant takes away with them is packed with reference material that is usable for a long time after the course.

 Benefits Perceived by Participants

This course will provide participants with real opportunities to enhance their career, giving them not only confidence in their written skills but also their abilities to express themselves. They will gain the confidence to write effectively, avoiding boredom and distractions that lead to writing badly.

Intended for

The course will benefit personnel from undergraduate level right through to an experienced engineer or technician. It is suitable for practically all of the disciplines within the engineering and associated industries.

Pre-Course Requirements

None

Tutor:

Stanley Daniels has been presenting courses for the engineering industry for over 30 years.  As a Chartered Engineer he understands some of the particular problems engineers and technologists face and, by listening carefully to participants comments, he has developed some unique segments. He has also consistently emphasised the use of plain simple English as the best way of persuading your reader.

He has travelled extensively in the UK delivering training courses and also in the Middle East and Far East.  He presents specialised engineering knowledge in a thoroughly understandable and lively presentation style.  Delegates often comment on how they have gained a lot from his courses.

Stanley concentrates on communications within the technical field.  To do this he emphasises the importance of considering your reader whenever you are writing.  What problems does the reader have, does the reader have any special difficulties in reading, how is the reader going to react to your document – all of these questions ought to be uppermost in your mind when you write. Communicating clearly and accurately are essential characteristics for technical writing.

He started his career at the nuclear research establishment at Harwell in the UK and gained an honours degree in Electronic Engineering at (what is now the) London South Bank University.  He moved to Ferranti where he designed computers for naval weapons systems to be placed on board frigates for the Royal Navy and followed this by joining the Concorde project in its early stages at Bristol.  In the development team, he organised and optimised the main 3000 channel Flight Test Recording System.  For this superb aircraft (sadly no longer flying) he designed the Master Warning System, specifying a unique customised integrated circuit for removing electrical noise from the critical signals.

Work on spacecraft systems included a spell with Rockwell during the tendering and proposal writing phase of the Space Shuttle programme.  In Chicago, he put into production a commercial vending game machine; novel techniques, new technology and low site maintenance were key features of this exciting venture.

He set up two automotive design and prototyping factories in the Midlands, one being specifically to implement CAD and CAM techniques for vehicle design and development.  Using his proposals, these companies secured strategic new customers in the UK and Europe.

For over 25 years, he has been running training and consultancy activities to organisations in a variety of industries, ranging from electricity supply, oil and gas, railways, automobile to local government.  Many of his training modules contain original thoughts and fresh insights into complicated issues.

He is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (until recently this was the Institution of Electrical Engineers) and the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK.

Course Duration: 1 Day

Cost: £275 + VAT

Technical Report Writing Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Peterborough, London, Birmingham, Newcastle and other sites throughout the UK including onsite closed company courses are available.