BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani

Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

FIRST SEMESTER 2021-2022

COURSE HANDOUT
Date: 01 October 2021

In addition to part I (General Handout for all courses appended to the Timetable) this portion gives
specific details of the course.
Course No : BITS F112
Course Title : Technical Report Writing
Instructor-in-Charge : CHINTALAPALLI VIJAYAKUMAR
Instructor(s) : Sangeeta Sharma, Devika, Sanjiv K. Choudhary, Kumar S
Bhattacharya, Paul Mathew
1. Course Description
Overview of communication; elements of effective writing; formal reports, types of reports, and
preparatory steps for writing reports; methods and sources of data collection; data analysis and
interpretation; report writing; memo and letter reports and oral presentations

2. Scope and Objective of the Course

Technical reports are indispensable tools in professional communicative contexts. They help the
professionals organize and communicate their ideas in an ideal way. This course exposes the
learners to the strategies and techniques of writing different types of technical reports and prepare
them for effective communication.

3. Textbook

Mohan, R. C. & Krishna, S. (2016). Business correspondence and report writing: A practical
approach to business & technical communication (Fifth). New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education
(India) Private Limited.

4. Reference Books
1. Armer, T. (2011). Cambridge English for scientists (J. Day (ed.)). Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
2. Hewings, M. (2012). Cambridge academic English: An integrated skills course for EAP
(Upper Intermediate) (South Asia). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
3. Levrai, P., & Bolster, A. (2015). Academic presenting and presentations (Student’s Book).
A Linguabooks Publication.
4. Raman, M., & Sharma, S. (2015). Technical communication: Principles and practice
(Third). New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
5. Sharma, R. C., Mohan, K., & Nirban, V. S. (2020). Business correspondence and report
writing: A practical approach to business and technical communication (Sixth). New Delhi:
McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited.

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

5. Course Plan

Module Lecture Session Reference Learning outcomes

No.
1 Introduction to the Course
and Handout
2-3 Communication: Definition
and Process & Barriers
4 Elements of Effective Writing
: Choice of Words, Phrases
and Grammar
Course Relate process and types of general
Handout communication with business
communication
**TB Ch.1, 3 Identify different communication barriers and
&4 the strategies to overcome them across
settings, purposes and audiences
TB Ch. 20 Understand the difference between speech
Class notes and writing
Identify and eliminate stylistic discrepancies
such as circumlocution and redundancy

5 Elements of Effective Writing TB Ch. 20 Write coherent and meaningful

: Cohesion and paragraph Class notes paragraphs/texts
writing
6 Practice/ Revision
7 Technical Reports: Types TB Ch. 17 Learn the characteristic features of different
and Characteristics RB 4 Ch. 13 technical reports
8-9 Structure of Reports TB Ch. 18 Understand and analyze the structural
RB 4 Ch. 13 elements of a technical report
10 -11 Preparatory Steps TB Ch.19 Determine the purpose(s), audience and
RB 4 Ch. 13 scope of the report
Identify the primary and secondary data
Make an outline and organize the materials
(such as subordination and coordination) for
the report
12-13 Questionnaire Preparation TB Ch. 19 Implement the nuances involved in designing
RB 4 Ch. 13 the questionnaires
Design the tool(s): collaboratively identify
and write the items to be included in the tool
14 Writing with Data: Using TB Ch. 21 & Identify types of illustrations and their usage
Illustrations Class notes
15-16 Writing with Data: Reporting Class notes Understand data visualization practices
the Data RB 1 & 2 Represent data in verifiable and credible
forms
17 Analyzing Data: Writing the Class notes Present the results in a coherent and credible
Results RB 1 & 2 manner using visualizations
(graph/diagram/table)
18 Practice/ Revision
19 -20 Writing the Discussion, Class notes Draw effective conclusions and
Conclusions and recommendations based on the discussion
Recommendations
21 Writing the Introduction of Class notes Analyze and critique different introduction
the Report samples (anonymized reports submitted by the

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

students of previous batches)

22 Report Writing TB Ch.23 & Write complete technical reports
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23-24 Oral Presentation of Reports TB Ch. 6 Understand and apply the strategies of making
RB 4 Ch.7 effective technical presentations
RB 3
25 Practice/ Revision
26 Memo Report Ch. 24, 26; Understand the elements of a memo report
RB 4: Ch.15
27 Letter Report Ch. 24, 26; Understand the elements of a letter report

28 Practice / Revision -- Summing up the course

** Chapter numbers mentioned for the TB are as per the Fifth edition.

6. Evaluation Scheme:
Component Duration Weighta Date & Time Nature of
(Minutes) ge (%) component
Mid Sem Test 90 30 TBA Close Book
Assignment(s) Take Home 30 TBA Open Book
Report Assignment

Comprehensiv 2 Hrs. 40 TBA Open Book

e Examination

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: To be announced in the class by the concerned instructor

8. Notices: Notices concerning the course will be displayed on Nalanda.
9. Make-up Policy: Makeup will be granted only in genuine cases. Contact the individual instructors
for details.
10. Note: Self Learning: Textbook Ch.1 & 4 Ref. (iii). Ch.3, 5, 11, 12, 13
Instructor-in-charge
Course No.
BITS F112

Note: The textbook can be accessed online from the Link which will be updated in Nalanda during
the course.