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Writing Engineering Technical Reports

  • 14-01-2010 07:32PM
    #1
    con1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 515 ✭✭✭


    Hey All,

    Has anyone been on the IEI technical report writing course? I have heard mixed reviews. Also, can anyone recommend a technical report writing book tailored to engineers? I'm particularly interested in info on writing reports for the technical reader and the non-technical reader. Choice of language, length of report, aesthetic layout,structure, etc

    I have been writing technical reports for the past 3 years and I have 6 years design office experience.

    CG


Comments

  • #2
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,266 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I wouldnt say you need to d it it then


  • #3
    con1982
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 515 ✭✭✭con1982


    Have you done the course at IEI godtabh?


  • #4
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,266 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    No I havent but I would hope that at my level of experince I wouldnt need to.

    I think the course is aimed towards grads


  • #5
    paraicr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 149 ✭✭paraicr


    I did it a few years back. Not a bad course, the guy presenting was quite good and kept it as interesting as possible given the subject matter. However didn't really get a whole lot from it. Unless you're totally oblivious to the requirements of a technical report then I would imagine there are more productive uses of money and time.


  • #6
    foreman1916
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭foreman1916


    Trevor Young. 2005. Technical Writing A-Z: A commonsense Guide to Engineering Report and Theses.


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  • #7
    aquascrotum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 466 ✭✭aquascrotum


    I attended the IEI course last year and tbh I found it quite useful.

    I've been writing tech reports for about 6 years and had always been thought of as one of the stronger bullsh*tters technical writers wherever I've worked, but have since been able to noticeably up my game.

    It's interesting having what you would have regarded to be a decent tech report metaphorically ripped to shreds in front of you.

    The typical standard of technical reporting, certain in Civil circles, in my experience isn't that great - but gets away with it because a lot of civil reports are largely technical for a non- or limited-technical reader (and therefore rarely get properly picked over).

    The course emphasises the need to make your reporting lawyer-proof, and really forces you to rethink what you're putting on paper.

    A few others inc. my gf (who would admit she is shocking at report writing) have also attended and also gained quite a lot.


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