Technical Report Writing Course

Available for groups as a self-paced online course, instructor-led virtual or instructor-led onsite training, and for individuals as a self-paced online course.

Download the Outline

Learn how this course will help your team or you quickly become an advanced business report writer.

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Reports are the lifeblood of decision-making and monitoring in business. Ideally, they provide relevant, vetted information that allows a reader to easily understand both context and implications and make an informed decision. However, too often, important information is buried and organization is muddled. And, writing a technical document can often feel like a time-draining burden.

This practicum course teaches the optimal planning and writing process to convey technical and complex information effectively. And, how to write reports more efficiently, saving you time and reducing frustration.

The course also includes a live one-on-one coaching session to review a final report to ensure technical writing is strong.

INDIVIDUALS

$895

Online self-paced course available for individuals. 

GROUPS

Online self-paced course and instructor-led training can be customized to match your needs. Group discounts apply.

Skills gained in this course:


  • Reduce report time writing by at least 25%, and become a better technical writer.
  • Synthesize complex, technical information and present it understandably to readers.
  • Ensure report content conveys information for business decisions, within a readily absorbed format.
  • Eliminate bloat and highlight only the information that matters.
  • Write an executive summary that tightly summarizes the report content.
  • Use correct grammar, English vocabulary, and punctuation to create polished and professional documents.

 

Individual written feedback for every student

Personal feedback from an expert instructor takes any communication skills to the next level. To truly improve writing habits and create strong writing skills, both course instruction and feedback on actual writing are needed.

Our feedback includes both subjective and objective feedback, in addition to a personal grammar diagnosis and additional helpful resources.

Objective feedback:

  • Is the report based fully on reader's needs and perspective?
  • Is the report logically organized?
  • Does the reader have all the information needed (and none that is not needed) to achieve the objective of the report?

Subjective feedback:

  • Is the proper use of active voice or passive voice being used?
  • Is word choice clear and strong?
  • Can you cut any unnecessary words?
  • Are there any grammar errors?

Flexible training to meet your needs.

Online course for individuals or groups

Online, self-paced training allows individuals and teams to train on their own schedule with 24/7 access to the course. This online training method has flexible deadlines for busy professionals and groups across different time zones to all receive the same training.

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Virtual instructor-led course for groups

Virtual training allows for highly engaging instruction, exercises, and discussion in a professional setting. Learners complete activities in breakout rooms with fellow students, break down documents individually and are encouraged to participate in conversations and ask questions about these essential skills.

Onsite instructor-led course for groups

In-person training is highly interactive, with many individual and shared activities. Groups work together at your location to deconstruct documents, deep dive into individual writing concerns, plan an upcoming document, and more.

Schedule a call to find out more about group training options
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Certificate of Completion

Participants will earn a personalized digital certificate after finishing this practicum technical writing course. This can be displayed on a LinkedIn profile, downloaded to print and hang, or mentioned in a résumé.

What is included in this course?

This practicum technical writing course is split into several detailed lessons including video lessons and online resources.

Getting Started

An Introduction and Self-Assessment

Review the objectives and breakdown of the course content. Share specific course goals, and tell us about the typical business reports and technical documentation you write.

Lesson 1

6-Steps to Effective Report Writing

Learn a practical framework for effective business report writing. This six-step process helps you understand the strategies needed to write a clear report. This process will allow you to spend 30% less time on every report you write. This applies to all reports, including those that convey technical information.

Lesson 2

Report Planning

Analyzing your audience frames everything about a report and conveys technical information, including content and organization.

We address the tools and best methodologies to generate information and plan reports to ensure the substantive information in the report is accurate and well organized and to help you write most efficiently.

Lesson 3

Report Structure

Learn to organize a report logically, whether it is a business or technical report. Better technical communication can lead to fewer meetings, higher productivity, and better decisions.

This lesson focuses on how to organize and sequence information appropriately.

 

Lesson 4

The Executive Summary

Reports get a bad rap for being long and painful to both read and write. The executive summary is the most important section that conveys the core findings and implications of your report. It allows a busy executive to absorb lots of information easily and make an informed decision.

Lesson 5

Report Examples with Various Tools

Reports can feel overwhelming because there are so many variations and writing styles. Review examples of types of reports using the most common format and vital tools to ensure writing proficiency. 

This lesson also looks at important considerations when writing a report from a template.

Lesson 6

Persuasion

Learn to weave in at-a-glance hooks to persuade and engage your reader. Titles, sub-titles, data presentation, and other areas can become much more compelling with skilled persuasive techniques applied.

Persuasion, done well, will highlight reader engagement and your credibility. Your technical knowledge will look strong.

Lesson 7

Format Considerations

Technical information is dense. Learn formatting techniques to create a visually appealing, easy-to-scan report that helps your reader easily understand complex, technical information. The format is even helpful when writing for other technical professionals or when writing technical manuals.

Headings, white space, typography, visual structure, and the best graphical representation of data are addressed.

Lesson 8

Clarity and Word Choice

Ensure your report is a pleasure to read with clear and concise language that presents your information competently and confidently. This module ensures that your sentences are accurate, easy to reach, and engaging, a critical part of effective report writing skills.

Lesson 9

Grammar and Syntax

Learn proofreading tactics to avoid embarrassing grammar and spelling mistakes. These go beyond simple tips and tricks. These are proven grammar and syntax strategies that will make all your writing more professional.

Lesson 10

Live Coaching Session

The course concludes with a live one-on-one coaching session with your instructor.

During this time you can ask any questions and review feedback about your report. The live coaching call acts to solidify the information learned during the course so you can apply your new knowledge to future reports and to provide detailed feedback on the report you wrote in the course.

View the full course outline and list of resources

What will writing look like after this training?

clarity-icon
Complex information is conveyed clearly.
time-icon
Writing time is significantly reduced.
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Well-organized, relevant content is included.
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Designed and formatted to be easy to read.
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Information is tiered appropriately.
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Writer’s block is avoided through planning.
readability-icon
The executive summary is tightly summarized.
persuasion-icon
Persuasion is clear and effective.
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Competent, clear, and professional.
grammar-icon
Grammar errors are identified and corrected.

This course’s expert instructors

Kara Latz headshot
Kara Latz

As a multilingual American, Kara has a unique perspective of the English language. She is an instructor and specializes in business writing, technical content, and generalized marketing.

Four years ago, backed by an Emory B.A. degree, Mercer University MBA, and a 20-year career in corporate America, Kara endeavored to engage in her true passion to help companies and people bolster their company and personal brand image through writing.

Kara resides at Lake Oconee, GA with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She is an active volunteer with the local Boys and Girls Club and high school Career Coaching.

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Elisabeth O'Quinn

Elisabeth has a unique combination of business and business writing acumen, with an extensive background in writing, editing, and content marketing management.

She has supported a wide range of businesses, writing blog articles, white papers, presentations, and editing business documents. She has supported many of our clients with rave reviews of her writing feedback, helping countless participants with their technical report writing skills.

Elisabeth lives in Georgia with her cat and rescue pup. In addition to writing, she loves traveling with her twin sister, learning German, and creating watercolor prints.

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Grace Cuddy

Grace has extensive experience in Instructional Solutions' online English courses and also works with individuals and groups from several international companies across Europe as a business writing coach. She is an expert in business English writing and loves to help students improve their technical writing skills.

She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has a keen sensitivity to global writing. She has a strong background in corporate communication and management and successfully developed cross-functional writing and communication processes in a large corporate team. She has also helped professional engineers and firms develop professional training programs.

She enjoys yoga, travel, and dance. She splits her time between New York City and Madrid.

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Katie Almeida Spencer headshot
Katie Almeida Spencer

Katie is an experienced Business Writing and English as a Second Language instructor, business English writing coach, and teacher trainer. She taught Business Skills and Academic Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She is very skilled at evaluating both the substance and language of business documents. Her writing critiques, instruction, and coaching have received stellar evaluations from our clients at Chartis Consulting, DuPont, Shell, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, and the World Wildlife Fund.

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her areas of expertise include business writing and technical report writing, proposal writing, English courses, and syntax and non-native writing.

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Course feedback and testimonials

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This course will minimize the time I spend when writing emails, reports, and letters. I spend hours each day reading and writing email, so you’ve given me back the most valuable commodity – my time! Thank you.

Claims Representative
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group
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This training will help in both my written and verbal communications because I learned to organize my thoughts. I now see the actual methodology to improve my technical reports.

Project Manager
Bombardier Aerospace, Northern Ireland
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I learned very valuable tips such as what to avoid when writing and how to follow a process. I will surely apply what I've learned when I write emails and risk assessment reports in the future.

Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager
Novo Nordisk
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This was a fantastic class, and the discussion of user requirement documents and project status reports was illuminating. I can see already how much time I will save using these techniques.

Business Analyst
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group

Become a better report writer.

Sign up today or schedule a discussion to become a stronger report writer.

INDIVIDUALS

$895

Sign up today and start learning how to become a better technical and business report writer.

GROUPS

We offer customized and flexible online, virtual, and onsite courses, workshops, and classes that match your company’s needs.