[Saice] TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING - Course

Thu Dec 11 09:36:06 SAST 2008

SAICE Presents: 

 TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING 

2 CPD Credits:CPD Number: SAICEbus06/00014/08

Course Programme: 07H30 for 08H00 to 16H30

Cape Town              3-4 March                              Durban                      5-6 May

Johannesburg        2-3 July                                 Polokwane               1-2 September

Nelspruit                   3-4 November                      

WHO should attend 

Staff involved directly with the production of technical reports.

COURSE OUTLINE

INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS

      Considerations of statistical significance in advance of the report.

     Reader profile considerations in advance of the report.

     Appropriate lengths.

     Avoiding pitfalls in statistical support, including replication and bias.

DEVELOPMENT OF FOCUS FOR THE TITLE

     Questions or hypotheses.

     Expressing ideas in testable form. 

     Formulating a title and subtitle.

     Action verbs to use for an effective title.

DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURE 

     Brainstorming and categorizing.

     Establishing premises, sections and flow of the argument.

     Sequencing of premises based on Cartesian and De Bono models.

     Mind mapping.

DEVELOPMENT OF A POWERFUL INTRODUCTION

     Background and context.

     The critical difference between purpose and need.

     Method.

     Specifying origins and analysis of information.

     Scope and limits.

     Definition of key terms.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES AND ABSTRACTS

     Best practices for executive summaries, including position, formats and structure.

     Listing and bullet technique.

     How to word an abstract.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

     Clarity in reference to premises.

     Basing conclusions on evidence.

     Best formats for the conclusion.

ESSENTIALS FOR A GOOD BODY

     Some effective models for construction of a body:

	*	Cause and Effect
	*	Problem, Cause, Solution
	*	Negatives and Positives
	*	Chronology
	*	Advantages and Disadvantages
	*	General and Specific
	*	Priority

     Discussion of results.

     Where and how to embed the tables, graphs or matrices and other tools.

     Working out which data is essential and which data is peripheral.

     Best practices. Correct syntax, punctuation and styles to use.

     Ensuring authenticity with careful attention to precision, bias and accuracy.

APPENDICES

     Correct referencing techniques.

     Glossaries.

     Bibliography.

     Raw data.

THE REVIEWING PROCESS

     Editing  - best practices.

     Proofreading.

     Choice of reviewers.

PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR

     Essential elements of punctuation - comma, semi-colon, colon, dash, apostrophe

     Concordance- how to make sentences balance and agree.

     Tense - ideal tenses for reports. What to avoid.

FINAL TOUCHES - MAKING IT GILT-EDGED

     Best fonts, sizes.

     Use of white space.

     Justification.

     Graphical representation in the body.

     Creative use of punctuation and sentence construction.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

     Teaches both the generic format and specific formats for reports, including the six main sections of any report.

     Teaches how to create an effective introduction.

     Provides the best practices for compiling technical reports.

     Teaches delegates to think creatively (out the box), independently and critically when preparing or writing reports.

     Provides critical skills and confidence for non-English speakers

     Shows the critical difference between scope, need and purpose in the introduction.

     Teaches ways of brainstorming and categorizing to achieve the best structure.

     Details the different sections of the introduction, body and executive summary.

     Teaches the newest formats and styles.

     Provides models for constructing the body of the report.

     Teaches how to justify the conclusions of the report through use of example, statistics, facts and information.

     Shows the correct and most appropriate use of tense and grammar in a report.

     Teaches how construct an effective title for a technical report.

     Shows how to avoid the pitfalls of poor punctuation.

     Corrects all existing errors in punctuation.

     Shows effective and acceptable ways of using bullets and numbers in reports.

     Teaches effective use of white space in a report.

     Teaches when and where to include graphics, tables and figures if necessary.

     Shows the most effective ways to conclude a report

COST

The cost of the course is R4000, 00 per delegate for SAICE Members and R5000, 00 per delegate for Non-SAICE Members. 

PAYMENT

Payment must accompany the registration form and can be made, as follows: 

*	Payment directly into the Standard Bank Account Number 200853058, Park Town Branch, Branch Code: 000355, Account Name: SAICE
*	Please fax proof of payment to 011 805 5971 for attention Sharon Mugeri <mailto:cpd.sharon at saice.org.za?subject=TECHNICAL%20REPORT%20WRITING> . 

Terms and Conditions

ADMISSION CONDITIONS: Pre-payment is required. No booking will be confirmed without proof of payment. The registration form must be sent together with the proof of payment. Please note: No delegates will be allowed to the event without proof of payment. 

CANCELLATION POLICY: The full fee is payable if cancelled less than five (5) working days prior to the event. Delegates registering after the cancellation date is also liable for the full fee should they cancel. Please ensure that you receive a cancellation fax. Delegates booking and not attending will be liable for the full fee. Substitute delegates are welcome but names must be advised on a company/department letterhead. An administration fee of 10% is charged in the event of cancellation. SAICE reserves the right to cancel the course in the event of unforeseen circumstances. 

REGISTRATION FORM

Course: Technical Report Writing 

Please tick the course you would like to attend from the list below.

□ Cape Town       3-4 March             □Durban               5-6 May                 □Johannesburg  2-3 July

□ Polokwane       1-2 September    □Nelspruit            3-4 November     

Details of venues will be advised on confirmation of registration

YOUR DETAILS

Title 

First Name 

Surname

Company

Division/Dept

VAT Number

Company Postal Address

Code

Telephone No.

Cell No.

Fax No.

E-mail

Special Dietary Requirements

FEES

SAICE Members: R4 000.00 (VAT included)  Non-Members: R5 000.00 (VAT included)

PAYMENT

I have deposited the amount of R___________ into SAICE’s Account (details below)

Deposit slips confirming payment must be faxed with your Registration Form to SAICE: (011) 805 5971. Please indicate clearly on the deposit slip for whom the booking/s is as well as the invoice number. 

Deposit: STANDARD BANK, Parktown    Account Name: SAICE  Account Number: 200 853 058  Branch code: 00 03 55

SPECIAL CONDITIONS: PRE-PAYMENT is required

CANCELLATION POLICY: The full fee is payable if cancelled less than 5 working days prior to the event. Delegates registering after the cancellation date are also liable for the full fee should they cancel. Please ensure that you receive a cancellation fax. Delegates booking and not attending will be liable for the full fee. Substitute delegates are welcome but names must be advised on a company/department letterhead. 

An administration fee of 10% is charged in the event of a cancellation. 

ADMISSION CONDITIONS: No booking will be confirmed without proof of payment. The registration form must be sent together with the proof of payment.

Please note: No delegates will be allowed to the event without proof of payment. 

SAICE reserves the right to cancel the course in the event of unforeseen circumstances

Name and Surname of person responsible for payment of Account:

Signature of person responsible for account:

Date: 

Signature of delegate:

Date: 

I am personally responsible for full payment of these fees in the event that my company/department does not pay them.

Enquiries can be made on Tel 011 805 5947/8 Fax 011 805 5971

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