The Letter Report

1
The Letter Report

• When is it appropriate?
• Who is the audience?

2
Characteristics

• 3-5 pages
• 0-3 tables or figures
• emphasize important points
• avoid details
• choose words carefully
• avoid repetition
• Concise Writing!

3
No Title Page

• no title
• authors sign letter
• date is in letter format
• affiliation is in letterhead
• position is with signature

4
No Headings or Numbered Sections

• no table of contents
• no list of figures
• no list of tables
• no list of references
• Use footnotes

5
Summary and Introduction

• no separate sections
• must present purpose and state important results
  early in the paper (first paragraph)
• lacks repetition of a formal report

6
References

• treated as footnotes
• only a few references
• no list of references

7
Tables and Figures

• same format as in other reports
• Few in number!
• Only the important ones
• should be self-contained documents
• place
• at end of letter
• or within letter

8
No Nomenclature Section

• all symbols must be defined as they are
  introduced
• use only important equations

9
Backup Information

• raw data
• calculations
• error analysis
• experimental equipment
• experimental procedures

10
Outline

• recipient and address
• salutation
• project objective
• important results
• description of experimental procedures - very
  brief, innovative techniques, problems encountered

11
Outline continued

• results - analysis - discussion
• recommendations
• signature

12
205 East 2nd South Apt 6 SLC, Utah
84103 February 6, 1992 Professor Noel de
Nevers Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah
84112 Dear Dr. de Nevers During the period
from January 6 to January 27, 1992, the members
of Group F calibrated and evaluated the
performance of an Omega Model HX93V
relative-humidity and temperature transmitter
(Omega Engineer., Stamford Connecticut). The
transmitter was calibrated with an Omega
HX92-CAL relative-humidity calibration kit, and
its accuracy was tested with various solutions
of ethylene glycol and water ranging from 10 to
100 relative humidity (RH). The transmitter was
accurate to within 5
13
RH at higher relative humidities (gt50) but was
not accurate to within 5 RH at humidities lower
than 50. The transmitter's performance in a
moving airstream at temperatures greater than
room temperature was also investigated. A
cardboard tube and an air blower containing a
heating element supplied a suitable stream of
heated air. A brief summary of the calibration
and the results of our performance evaluation
follow .