Qualities of a Good Report and

Types of Technical Articles

TTOPIC

Week 2

Objectives
At the end of the session the students should be able to:

1. explain the qualities of a good report and types of technical articles;

2. appreciate more the role of report writers and technical articles; and
3. exhibit the qualities of a good report via technical articles.

What are the qualities of a good report ?

For reports to help your team in any situation, they have to be clear, concise,
complete, consistent, and courteous. Well-written reports are worth their weight in gold.
What are the characteristics of a good report? The report provides factual
information depending on which decisions are made. Therefore, everyone should take
conscious steps to ensure that a report has all the essential qualities which turn it into a
good report. A report is a written document showing organized information using a
specific format and presentation. The audience and objective are specific for a report.

Characteristics Of A Good Report

A well-written report “tells a story.” A report must answer the following questions:
who, what, when, where, why, how, and how much. Writing a qualitative report may be a
hard nut to crack. However, it is the opposite for those who know the essential
characteristics of a good report because it helps to judge what qualities are present in
their report.
Several characteristics of a good report include:
Precision
In a good report, the report writer is very clear about the exact and definite
purpose of writing the report. This central purpose directs the investigation, analysis,
recommendations, and others. The precision of a report provides unity to the report and
makes it a valuable document for best usage.
Accuracy of Facts
Information contained in a report must be based on accurate facts. Since
decisions are based on report information, inaccurate information or statistics will lead to
a wrong decision. It will hamper ensuring the achievement of the organizational goal.
Relevancy
The facts presented in a report should be accurate and relevant. Irrelevant facts
make a report confusing and likely to be misleading.
Simple Language
Simplicity is the best for anything. It is just another essential feature of a good
report. A good report is written in simple language, avoiding vague and unclear words.
The writer’s emotion or goal should not influence the report’s language. The message of
a good report should be self-explanatory. A good reporter should use simple sentences
instead of complex sentences in the narration of facts.
Conciseness
A good report should be concise, but it does not mean that a report can never
belong. Rather it means that a report transmits maximum information with minimum
words. It avoids unnecessary detail and includes everything significant and necessary to
present proper information.
Grammatical
A good report is free from errors. Any faulty construction of a sentence may
change its meaning in the reader’s mind and potentially make it confusing or ambiguous.
Unbiased Recommendation
Recommendations usually affect the reader’s mind. Therefore, if
recommendations are made at the end of a report, they should be impartial and objective
and come to a logical conclusion for investigation and analysis.
Clarity
Clarity depends on the proper arrangement of facts. A good report is absolutely
clear. The reporter should clarify their purpose, define their sources, state their findings,
and make a necessary recommendation A report must be clear to understand to ensure
effective communication throughout.
Presentation
The presentation of a report is also a factor that should be considered for a good
report. The structure, content, language, typing, and presentation style of a good report
should be attractive to make a clear impression in the mind of its reader.
Complete Information
A good report shows important information. Most of this information is analyzed as
the basis of importance. The report should not contain useless or vague information.

Hence, a good report should have a summary by which the reader of the report
can take a decision or stand on a particular decision. A summary can reflect the whole
picture at a glance. Therefore, it has a large impact. The inclusion of the above factor
features or characteristics makes a good report effective and fruitful. It also helps to
achieve the report goal.

What are the types of technical articles?

A technical article is an editorial report for a magazine or an internet benefit that is
about a specialized point, and regularly the article drills down into a few low-level of
detail.
Good examples of articles include user manuals, employee handbooks, standard
operating procedures (SOP), software user documentation (help files), troubleshooting
guides, and legal disclaimers.
Technical articles are mostly about process, progress, and results/findings. The
researchers gather information, solve the research problems and make contributions in
the existing knowledge under the concerned subject area.
Technical reports can be of many forms like feasibility reports, primary research
reports, business plans and prospectuses, short-form proposals, and press releases.
Technical writers organize and edit them for clarity and brevity.
 From detail-oriented technical reports to extensively researched white papers,
examples of technical writing span dozens of industries and operations.

Additionally, this genre of content is so commonplace that we all come across

several types of technical documents at every step of our life and career.

Types of technical articles/reports

From detail-oriented technical reports to extensively researched white papers,
examples of technical writing span dozens of industries and operations.
Additionally, this genre of content is so commonplace that we all come across
several types of technical documents at every step of our life and career.
It is an expansive field filled with countless niches of its own. However, for the
sake of clarity, here are the five most prevalent forms of technical writing that you can
adopt as a career.
1. Medical and Scientific Papers
Technical writing within the medical and science realm comes under the traditional
technical writing umbrella.
This was the first example of taking technical information and modifying it to make
it understandable for a specific audience.
Researchers use this academic to interpret their findings, organize and condense
them into engaging content, and publish it in various journals, newsletters, and online
platforms.
The skill requirements for medico-scientific papers include:
 Exceptional attention to detail, especially when breaking down high-value
experiments and findings
 A high level of accuracy when inserting names, dates, citations, etc.
 Effective organizational skills, especially when taking all the raw data and
organizing it into a user-friendly content form
 A flair for authority and credibility that lends itself very well to academics in
general
2. User Manual and Assistance Guide
 User guides are a common form of technical writing that even non-technical
professionals encounter.
This type looks to answer specific usage-related questions for consumer
products and improve the end-user experience for everyone.
User help guides mean breaking down the product into its constituent parts,
explaining how each part functions, and answering questions about each piece’s
solutions. Furthermore, it involves answering queries as consumers use the product for
an extended period.
Common skill requirements for the technical writing of user guides include:
 Thorough knowledge of how to organize instruction manuals into stages and
sections based on how the product works
 A knack for creating solution-oriented content that perfectly explains how to
solve a specific problem
 Complete understanding of each product
 A direct and no-frills style with clear and concise points and minimal use of fluff
or filler content
Product manual or repair manual writers can find jobs with a wide range of
employers, from copy-writing firms to production companies. However, it’s a somewhat
limited field of technical writing, so look for an employer that offers progressive growth
when applying for a job in this genre.
3. Books and Guides by Technical Writers
Writing technical books and long-form guides is different from the previous genre
due to the length of the content, its conceptual nature, and the amount of detail they go
into.
This type of writing extends a simple user guide. It talks about the intentions and
purpose behind the product (usually software products).
Interestingly, even though they are more detailed, technical books have to be
written so that any user can comprehend them.
The skill requirements for writing this form of technical documentation include:
 The ability to transform complex, jargon-heavy information into simplified and
informative content
  Complete understanding of the formatting, structure, pacing, and length that’s
ideal for these technical documents
 Knowledge of when and how to insert visual aids such as graphs, images, and
tables to make the content more engaging
 Some experience in writing long-form content on a variety of subjects
These books can also take the form of troubleshooting guides for software
programs. In this role, they have to account for all the possible problems the program
could run into and explain solutions for each one.
4. Assembly Manuals
Probably the most common form of technical writing in a company’s mechanical
maintenance department, assembly and repair manuals are another niche form of
technical writing.
This is due to the technical skills required to understand the disassembly and re-
assembly process of a specific machine or piece of equipment. Most general repair
guides contain a variety of assembly manuals for various types of machinery.
Assembly guides are different from any other form of technical communication
because most (if not all) companies require you to have the ability to perform
disassembly.
The skill requirements for assembly manuals and guides include:
 A theoretical and practical understanding of the equipment and repair
processes involved
 Experience working with and repairing machinery of a similar type or function
 Ability to research (to find better, more efficient disassembly and repair
processes)
 Extensive knowledge of how production lines work and how to keep the
machinery operating optimally
While it’s true that most companies are looking for a technician with writing skills,
some accept career writers when they’re willing to learn about processes.
5. Technical Documents, Review and Reports
Corporate content development contains reviews and reports for stakeholder
meetings, proposals, and business pitches.
 It’s another versatile form that mixes academic reporting and technical research-
based guides. Reports are technical documents that explain the process and outcome of
any research, be it scientific or business-centric.
Technical reports come in several forms, such as feasibility reports, primary
research reports, business plans and prospectuses, short-form proposals, press
releases, case studies, etc.
The skill requirements for assembly manuals and guides include:
 High-level understanding of the process that’s under focus, as well as how
similar processes progress over time
 Complete knowledge of the product, as well as past, current, and (proposed)
future operations
 The ability to communicate in a business-savvy manner while also maintaining
an adequate amount of technical know-how in the content
 Excellent English language skills with an emphasis on conveying a business
message
Technical reports are essential parts of corporate operations. This makes the job
quite well-paying in most cases.

When it comes to academic skills such as writing and linguistics, there is no

substitute for an education that supports the skills.
The same is mostly true for technical writing, with the only caveat being that you
also need to be knowledgeable in the actual technical processes.
But simply education and technical knowledge won’t bring you career success as
a technical writer in 2023. You need a few more skill pointers to become a great
technical writer in this day and age.
Here they are:
Research Skills: The ability to perform highly detailed research is the cornerstone
of a successful career. Most technical writing involves some form of research and study
before the actual bit. Ensure to develop the ability to research extensively and be highly
observant throughout the research to find the most valuable points for your content.
 Efficient Planning: Unless you have a complete timeline to develop your technical
content, you will need to learn how to manage your research, outlines, content writing,
and distribution efficiency. Planning for the content ahead of time or developing a system
to wrap up high-level content quickly will help you stick to deadlines without
compromising quality.
Observation Skills: Most technical content is long-form and involves many
complex data points. Make sure to develop a keen sense of observation which will help
you pick valuable data from a sea of random information.
Being Tech-Savvy: Digital ages require knowledge of content development
software systems in 2023, especially to develop more high-quality content in a short
time. If you’re not already, be sure to take online courses in content writing software
systems before applying for a job.
These technical writing skills will help you succeed in your career. Additionally,
make sure that this type of content appeals to you as a technical writer and that you’re
willing to explore the various sides of it throughout your career.

According to the BLS, most technical writers make over six figures a year. When
technical writers take home these figures, it makes it one of the best-paying jobs in the
professional field of writing and media. Technical writers are desperately needed to make
communications clear, and technical writers can involve themselves in many demands to
create a technical document or technical documentation.
To ensure that you go above and beyond in your career, find out where your
technical marketing communication strengths lie, what technical documentation skills
companies value, and apply for jobs accordingly.