TCOM 2010 – Technical Writing Progress Report Exercise
This purpose of the assignment is to give you practice in designing and delivering a brief, informal, written report.
Scenario
You and your group members have been working away on the Formal Report Assignment, but I, as your supervisor for the course, need to know what you're doing and how well the work is coming along. Therefore, I need you to write a brief report that fills me in on your group's progress.
Deliverable (1)
Your progress report should be 1.5–4 pages long (not counting appendices) and in memo format. List all group members' names in the "From:" line of the memo.
Audience
The report's audience is me, your instructor.
Contents
In the report, you will:
- use a standard informal report structure;
- explain, in sufficient detail, what has happened on the project thus far;
- forecast the next stages of the project;
- account for both the good and bad news—report your progress honestly;
- organize the contents using either a time pattern or a task pattern;
- use appropriate language and tone;
- include a Gantt chart;
- include any other appropriate graphics;
- use appropriate style, including memo formatting, headings, page numbers, and running headers; and
- include appendices if necessary.
In your conclusion, evaluate how the project is proceeding. If the news is good, convey your optimism but avoid overstatement. If the news is bad, don't panic. Just do your best to explain what's causing problems, what you will do to catch up to schedule, and the status of the project.
Works of fiction will receive a zero.
Submission Requirements
One member of your group will bring the memo to class for submission.