Unit 8: Final Technical Report—Notes & Checklist

This page provides a checklist to use to ensure your report meets all the requirements, access to the report template and notes on how to use it, report evaluation list, and notes on how to zip your report if it includes multiple files.

Report Checklist

Check your report draft for the following:

• Starts with transmittal letter (colon on salutation, enclosure indicated)
• Title page (next) includes description abstract at bottom
• Table of contents (TOC), leader dots, page numbers right-aligned
• List of figures, tables (next), leader dots, page numbers right-aligned
• Page 1 Introduction, report title at top, provides overview list of report contents
• Each new section starts new page
• Borrowed information indicated with citations (IEEE, MLA, APA all okay)
• Tables, title at top, source indicated, explanatory cross-reference in preceding text
• Figures (graphics), title at bottom, source indicated, explanatory cross-reference in preceding text
  
• Information sources list (end)

Report Template

Unless you have a format you prefer, use this template:

1. Please use this template for your report, handbook, guide—whatever you call it.
2. See how to use the template in this video.
3. Recent changes in Microsoft Word have ruined my original technique for creating beautiful tables of contents (TOC): use Microsoft's method: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/insert-a-table-of-contents-882e8564-0edb-435e-84b5-1d8552ccf0c0

Evaluation Criteria for the Report

• Remember that your report must (except for minor variations) match the one you describe in your planning notes and in your proposal. Discuss report-project changes with your instructor.
• Substantial, technical topic (main text a minimum of 8 pages)
• Effective handling of the report type you've chosen
• Specific detailed researched information in the report
• Realistic audience for the report
• Accomplishment of the report's purpose
• Realistic situation, need for the report
• Clear, readable, understandable discussion; no grammar, spelling, usage, punctuation problems
• Accommodation of readers' interests, needs, background
• Effective, useful graphic aids that are neatly incorporated
• Well-designed, effective headings and lists (and special-format notices if needed)
• Effective use of library and nonlibrary sources of information
• Overall neat, professional-looking final packaging of the report

Zipping Your Report

If your report consists of more than one file, compress those files into a single file. If you've not used compression software to "zip" file, see compressing files. To work effectively as a professional, you must be comfortable with this technique. If you use Windows, select files, right-click on them, click Send to then Compressed (zipped) folder. For Macs, see How to Zip and Unzip Files and Folders on a Mac.

If you send your report as a single file, name the file with some identifiable part of your name followed by _finalreport.doc (or whatever file name extension your software uses): for example, davidmc_finalreport.doc (or docx)

If you send your report as a zipped file, name the file with some identifiable part of your name followed by _finalreport.zip (or whatever file name extension your archiving software uses: for example, davidmc_finalreport.zip

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