Communication Skills and Report Writing for Building Scientists

Communication Skills and Report Writing for Building Scientists addresses the primary questions of inexperienced technical writers: “How should my report be written?” and “How do I present my work in style, format, data presentation and illustration program?” An undergraduate research report is given as an example of good report writing and key elements of the report are highlighted for student learning. This concise handbook also covers writing to land a job or applying to graduate school, and a step-by-step guide is provided on how to successfully navigate the job search or graduate school application process. Several sample resumes are provided as well as effective means to communicate with prospective employers or graduate programs of interest. The last section of this guide covers writing on the job and speaks to the kinds of tasks students face when they make the transition from classroom reporting to workplace communication, where problems are often open-ended and audiences cannot be assumed to be building science professionals. Instruction is also given to students on how to use the library as a research tool and how to master various virtual communication platforms: Zoom, Microsoft Teams and LinkedIn.