Formal Technical Report

Proposal Format

Front Matter
Title Page
Summary
Table of Contents
List of Figures and Tables
Glossary

Title Page
Title of Report
By: Student Names
Submitted to Alanna Box,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for ENL1818
Algonquin College,
Program

Full Date

Title Page
Starts a third to half of the way
down the page
Font: Nothing fancy!

Summary

Spoiler
Everyone reads it
Length: 10% of whole
Content stands alone

Summary
Strategy
Summarize each section of your body,
one by one in a sentence or two.
Use terms like:
is described; are examined; is analysed; are
compared; is presented; are classified; is
explained; is evaluated

Include these points:

Topic (what); Purpose (why); Method
(how)

Summary
Use present tense
three parameters were examined
three parameters are examined
Dont use the term this report
this report compares three millimetres
three millimetres are compared
Dont use the term I
I used standard methods
Standard methods are used

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Figures and Tables ............................................ iv
Glossary ....................................................................... v
Section
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................
2. SECTION A ................................................................
2.1 Sub-section a .............................................
2.2 Sub-section b .............................................
3. SECTION B ................................................................
3.1 Sub-section a .............................................
3.2 Sub-section b .............................................
3.3 Sub-section c .............................................
4. SECTION C ................................................................
4.1 Sub-section a .............................................
4.1.1 ......................................................
4.1.2 .......................................................
4.2 Sub-section b ............................................
5. CONCLUSION ...........................................................
6. RECOMMENDATION ...............................................
REFERENCES ................................................................
APPENDIX A .................................................................

Page
1
2
4
5
7
9
11
13
14
17
20
23
24
26
27
29
31

List of Figures and Tables

Tables are tables.
Figures are anything else!
Graph
Sketch
Photo
Blueprint
Diagram

List of Figures and Tables

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure
1.
2.
3.
4.

Page
Schematic of 8080 Chip ....................................................... 4
Schematic of 6800 Chip ....................................................... 5
Schematic of 68000 Chip ...................................................... 7
Graph comparing Processing Speeds for Three Tasks .......... 18

Table
I.
II.

Page
Specifications of 8080, 6800, and 68000 Microchips ......... 11
Comparison of Prices from Various Suppliers .................... 17

Glossary
Technical terms.
If unsure, ask.
Still explain in the text; a glossary is
just for reference.
Formal definitions, but make clear.
Alphabetical order.

Body of the Report

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusions and Recommendations

Introduction

Introductory Statement (connect)

Problem (motivation)
Solution (purpose; main benefits)
Background (baseline)
Scope (limitations)

Introduction
Avoid clichs and overused phrases (Time and
again..., In this day and age..., Imagine...).
Avoid stating the obvious (Computers are an
increasingly important part of society today).

Discussion
Methods/Materials/Schedule/Cost
Include Lab Content
Include Technical and Process
Description
Include research that supports your
ideas

Discussion

Organize with headings.

Number sections 1, 2, 3, ...
Number sub-sections 1.1, 1.2., 1.3, ...
Number sub-sub-sections 1.1.1, 1.1.2,
1.1.3, ...
Use meaningful headings

Conclusions
What you pull away from your
research or analysis.

Recommendations
What should be done as a result of
the conclusions.
Summarize the main benefits.
Request reader to authorize proposal.

Conclusions and
Recommendations
Same order as they appear in the
report.
No new information should be
introduced.
Combined into one section if needed.

End Matter
References
Appendices (optional)

References
Follow IEEE citation format.
Include sources used to support your
report (minimum 3) and the software
used in lab.

Appendices
Each on a new page
Titled Appendix A, Appendix B, ...
Refer to the appendix in the text.

References
Barclay, B. (1991). The Technical Report (Edited and Web Enabled by
Galway, D). Ottawa, ON: Algonquin College.
Lannon, J. M., Klepp, D. (2012). Technical Communication (5th Canadian

Edidition). Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada Inc.

Perelman, L.C., Barrett, E., & Paradis, J. (2001). The Mayfield Handbook

of Technical & Scientific Writing. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield

Publishing Company, Inc.