In Unit Three, we were encouraged to begin our job research for the Application Package major assignment. Also, we practiced writing strategies and conducted research that would be used in our Formal Report. We created our Formal Report draft and submitted it for peer review.
From my previous academic experience, I realized the importance of good data when preparing a research report. So, during interviews of my fellow BC Cancer Agency volunteers, I made a strong effect to collect as much information as possible. As a result, by the time I finished conducting all the interviews, my thoughts on how to improve the patient experience at the Vancouver Cancer Centre changed quite a bit. In fact, I had to include extra questions in my later interviews so I could gauge volunteers’ thoughts on new ideas that were brought up earlier. After all the data collection, I believe I have come to some very important conclusions. I will therefore be able to make simple and effective recommendations in my report. In general, I know that simple recommendations are most likely to be accepted and implemented. As a result, I believe I will make a real, positive change for the patient experience at the Cancer Centre.
I did face some challenges when writing the formal report draft since I did not complete all my interviews before the assignment was due. However, I tried my best to create a logically organized document so that when I do have all the data, I will be able to easily insert information into the report. In order to create a well-organized draft, I started by making an outline for the report with the major ideas I wanted to include in each section. Although my written content seemed to flow naturally, I was unable to naturally integrate my figures into the document. As my peer reviewer, Colby, suggested, I should place these figures with the suggestions I have written in the body of the report. Colby provided a good example of figure integration in his formal draft report, which was very well organized with the use of effective headers throughout.
Before reading Colby’s formal report draft for the first time, I carefully read through the Checklist for Peer Review of a Report Draft posted on the ENGL 301 course website. By keeping these questions in mind while reading his report, I felt I was able to provide useful feedback for my technical writing teammate. One of my main focuses was to give Colby some questions to consider that his intended audience may ask while reading his report. Also, I was carefully analyzing his use of the you-attitude throughout his report and provided some specific suggestions for him to consider when he writes the final draft.
I found the assignments in Unit Three to require significantly more creative thinking than other assignments in previous Units. This shows that technical writing is more than just following a formula or set of rules. In fact, technical writing, just like most other writing, requires a lot of creative thinking, especially when you want to write with the you-attitude. I look forward to the final Unit of ENGL 301 and the opportunity to bring everything I learned so far together.