Technical Reports: Determining Purpose

The purpose of a report goes a long way toward determining both the way you will approach your subject and the type of report you will end up producing. Many variations exist.

For example, an environmental group preparing a report about reclaiming a particular piece of land might recommend:

• The best product to grow on this reclaimed land,
• The best method for reclaiming the land,
• Whether the land should be reclaimed,
• The best way to avoid this sort of reclamation problem in the future,
• Some combination of those ideas, or
• Something altogether different.

A municipal group working on the idea of opening a new business in Blacksburg might recommend:

• The best type of business to start in the area based upon what’s needed,
• The best way to start a business of this sort,
• The best location for such a business,
• Some combination of those ideas, or
• Something altogether different.

A student services group working on the idea of providing stronger career services in Computer Science might recommend:

• The creation of a formal for-credit senior-level course that focuses on career-prep,
• The organization of an annual job fair for CS majors alone,
• The development of regular workshops on resumes, cover letters, and job interviews,
• Some combination of those ideas, or
• Something entirely different.

So the first order of business when you are given the task of writing a report is to ask yourself: What is my purpose? What do I hope to accomplish? What aspect of this subject will I be studying? Once you have determined the approach you will take, then you can begin thinking about organization.