Month: July 2022

The formal report is one of the most significant tasks to complete in the Technical Writing 301 class. This extensive report was laid out in small sections completed over the class term to the cumulation of the report in its entirety.

I feel that each component is an essential and buildable piece that paves the way to the next segment. The building blocks of a formal technical report include:

1. Proposal-includes topic and secondary data sources
2. Outline-headings and subheadings to guide report writing
3. Primary data creation and collection-surveys or questionnaires
4. Progress report-update on the progress of the formal report
5. Formal report draft-as close as possible to final
6. Final formal report-edited and perfected

The formal report writing process is similar in the amount of work to research and organize a research report. I am very accustomed to research reports and feel comfortable in the tasks of preparation and formatting. Assignment 3 included preparing a formal report draft, which initially seemed like an audacious task.

I was happy with selecting a topic to research that was of personal interest, and having small components introduced at a time made the formal report writing process manageable. Once I could draw similarities and vast differences between a formal report versus a research paper, I found the task of completing my draft easier.

I found through peer reviewing my classmate’s paper areas that I needed to change in my formal report and ended up referring to the textbook to ensure proper procedures were followed by us both. Reviewing my peer’s work, I realized key components I missed and wanted to provide text pages as references to my peer. In pursuing text references for my peer, I would pick up on things I didn’t see or didn’t place importance on previously.

Overall, I learned that any report is a sizable time commitment in preparation and completion. I am happy to have expanded my learning to include a formal report as this is a very technical document required in most workplace situations.

As a UBC student there is support offered through the centre for writing and scholarly communication with writing consultations and workshops. By clicking the UBC link to the left side you will be directed to their homepage.

Best of luck in your academic writing pursuits.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl30198a2022s12/2022/07/22/assignment-3-2-samantha/?preview_id=91945&preview_nonce=8dde8e7353&_thumbnail_id=-1&preview=true

LinkedIn Reflection

Job opportunities and career searching best practices have always included networking as an ideal way to explore new positions. In the past, networking on a larger scale would consist of events for job seekers to meet with workplaces or people from similar fields of work. On a smaller scale, networking encouraged chatting with people and having business meetings.

LinkedIn is a professional online digital e-networking platform that connects people in various fields to one another to engage, collaborate and expand options for work, volunteering and more. Click the logo for linkedIn to see thee memo I wrote on the 10 best practices for LinkedIn.

In our digital and global age, having the ability to connect with individuals in areas around the world ensures networking with the ideal people for the position, collaboration and community engagement. If you would like to join LinkedIn and start your online professional network click the LinkedIn banner on the right.

Researching LinkedIn and creating an online profile illuminated the benefits of a social media platform as a means of job recruitment and proliferation of opportunities as opposed to traditional means. This is not something I have ever considered being a dental hygienist where hiring practices are very straightforward; however, with the completion of my degree, a more extensive network could increase my opportunities outside of the clinical role.

Formal Report Process

Creating a formal report can be viewed in my previous post by clicking the report photo below, which discusses the elements of the report creation process and offers a link to a UBC writing help page for students.  

A writing proposal identifies:

• Investigation of research topic, establishing the purpose of the report
• Legitimacy and significance of the report based on available secondary data
• Selecting questions the report aims to answer
• Research potential solutions to the topic being researched
• Identify the audience of the report

A writing outline depicts:

1.) Introduction

I. Your main headings to introduce the purpose, audience and topics of the report.

2.) Body

I. Each heading on the main topics of the report.

a) Sub-headings included expanding on major report topics.

b) Qualitative analysis and unbiased presentation of data.

3.) Conclusion

I. Summery of collected data.

II. Recommendations based on data sources and feasibility.

Preparing my formal report proposal and outline seemed daunting despite excellent instruction. I was happy that everything was broken down into manageable segments, which made the overall process straightforward.

Brainstorming ideas for the report was the most challenging part and required me to think of everyday problems to address for necessary change. I feel more comfortable now with my progress report and enjoy the systematic approach to its creation.

I am now seeing how everything within the formal report, the outline and progress report, will come together with our created primary data sources to make a report. After reading my partner’s feedback for my progress report, I feel that if I paid closer attention to the directions, I wouldn’t forget to include individual headlines and think I incorporated things within the document.

Peer Review Process Reflection

Through completing and reviewing my team’s work, I have learned that my grammar skills are decent and that some of my wording could be more professional in tone. I am so impressed with my teammate’s writing and professional style that it pushes me to expand my writing style and aim for the same calibre of work they produce. I love that I have the opportunity to learn from amazing teammates!

Below you will find two links, link 1, my example of a formal report proposal and link 2, the peer review I completed of my classmates proposal.

1.) https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl30198a2022s12/2022/06/22/formal-report-proposal-samantha/?preview_id=90525&preview_nonce=8f9cc93231&_thumbnail_id=-1&preview=true

2.) https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl30198a2022s12/2022/06/29/peer-review-of-samanthas-formal-report-proposal/