Can someone please show a template or sample of a technical report?

Answer 1

Let me start by stating that each industry has its own flavor of technical documentation and I can only offer you some very generic options. Many universities offer samples and guidelines for specific industries and applications on their websites. For example: Colorado State University has a comprehensive web site for writers at writing.colostate.edu.

Microsoft Word is another recommendation. In version 2010, go to the File tab and click New to display the Office.com Templates. Click Reports > Project and status reports to view the various Business Report formats. Each template contains instructions on what content should be added to each section. If you do not have Word installed on your computer, there is an online version at office.com.

The basic structure of a technical report contains the following sections:

• Title Page Abstract - This is a description of the report contents in as few words as possible.
• Executive Summary - I often save this for last as this section is a highly condensed version of the report. One approach is to take the first sentence of each paragraph as an outline for this section.
• Table of Contents List of Figures/Illustrations (if applicable)
• List of Tables (if applicable) Report Body - This is where things get industry-specific, but usually contain an Introduction and Conclusion. For example, in software development, you may want a section on System Requirements or Coding Language. An engineering report may have a section on Site Location or Materials.
• References - List any sources of information, drawings, etc.
• Appendices (if applicable) - This is were you put content that a reader might get lost in if it were in the main body of the report. For example, you may have paragraphs or pages describing a single aspect of the report, such as the pros and cons of each paint color considered for the project.