TOPIC 2: Writing a Report
| Site: | MUPIC - Moodle |
| Course: | MUPIC COURSE |
| Book: | TOPIC 2: Writing a Report |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Friday, 4 April 2025, 7:55 PM |
1. Introduction
In technical professions, you will be asked to write reports on, for example, project results, research results, experiment results, etc. In this topic, you will find some basic information about report writing, instructions for writing a collaborative MUPIC report and some useful resources that can help you to improve your reports.
2. What is the Main Difference Between a Report and an Essay?
The TOPIC of a report is based on reading and/or practical work. It could be a problem, a case study pro an experiment.
The TOPIC of an essay is focused on reading and critical thinking. It could be a question or a proposition.
The PURPOSE of a report is to investigate, present and/or analyse information and make recommendations.
The PURPOSE of an essay is to articulate a well-argued response. It should persuade.
3. Report
TOPIC: based on readings and/or practical work.
PURPOSE: to investigate, present, analyse and make recommendations.
OUTCOME: to present findings, recommend actions or changes.
READERS: teachers/tutors, clients, managers.
FORMAT: sections with numbered headings.
CONTENT: introduction, the body of the report, conclusions and references.
The choice of other sections of a report depends on its purpose.
STYLE: impersonal and objective
ASSESSMENT: based on demonstration of good research skills, objective presentation, and analysis of relevant information and findings.
A typical structure of a report:
- Title page
- Abstract
- Content
- Introductions
- Body of the report
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendices
Why do you have to write a report for the MUPIC project?
It is a way to convey findings of your work, a way to make recommendations based on your results. Reports are used in business, science, engineering and other fields. Writing a report is a simulation of a real-life situation. Reports are aimed toward a practical purpose.
Here you can find some more information on technical report writing guidelines:
https://www.theiet.org/media/5182/technical-report-writing.pdf
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/ei/internal/forstudents/engineeringdesign/studyguides/techreportwriting
4. Team Reports
Team Submissions
By each checkpoint, each team should submit only one report (document).
There is no specific format for the report but some basic requirements. Each team report document (only one per team) should have:
- a front page,
- a table of contents,
- respective chapters (sections) divided according to the field-specific requirements described in the Requested Outputs document.
After receiving the feedback and before submitting your report document for the next checkpoint, please, pay attention to the following:
- for the next checkpoint, update the current document and add all materials to be submitted, i.e. submit one updated report (cumulative report).
- In the report document, highlight all changes based on the feedback from the previous checkpoint.
- In the report document, highlight all new parts of the report documents.