1. Oral and Written Communication
Communicating your findings is key
Impact of work depends on report
Visibility to colleagues, competitors
Content AND Presentation
Industry feedback on importance of writing
Interviewers, Alumni, Visiting Committees
Rated above any technical topics

2. Planning for Your Audience
Different types of writing
Journal articles – academic colleagues, researchers
Business memos – co-workers, clients
News releases – general public
Newspaper articles – interested public
Feature articles – recreational readers
Site-specific expectations
Company style guidelines (1-3 page maximum)
Journal style rules (section headings, order)
Preferences of the Boss
Target colleagues, clients, bosses, …

3. Tables, Figures, and Graphs
Clear, informative, stand alone
Descriptive captions with sequential numbering
Tables – above table
Figures – below graph in text, above graph in talk
Place in report body where information is introduced or discussed
Use SI units and scientific notation (1.23 x 103, not 1.23E03)
Tables
Put units in headings (Pressure (kPa))
Use rulings or spaces only as useful for clarity
Scale to put powers of 10 into heading or axis labels
Use Scientific notation: 104, or Engineering notation: 10x103
Figures
Schematic diagrams with all significant parts and streams labelled
Photographs IF they augment diagrams
Graphs

4. Figures or Diagrams
Schematic diagrams with all major parts and streams labelled
Left-to-right convention
Major components, omit minor details
Photographs IF they augment diagrams
Mass flow controllers
Reactor
Air CO N2
Condenser
Syringe
Pump

5. Figure 2 – Variation of voltage with potentiometer setting
Graphs
Pattern on textbook examples
Read from bottom or right side
Points for DATA, lines for MODELS or FITS
Units, informative captions
Figure 1 – behavior of y vs. x
Figure 2 – Variation of voltage with potentiometer setting

6. Figure 4 – Relation between Fahrenheit and Celsius
More Graphs
Consider the intended use
Lookup and interpolation, or demonstrating trends
Publish in report, or use in oral presentation
Figure 3 – Conversion between
Fahrenheit and Celsius
Figure 4 – Relation between Fahrenheit and Celsius

7. Figure 6 – Hydrolysis rate with [E]o = 2.5 ng/L
More Graphs
Choose axes for clear presentation
Format numbers with suitable significant digits
Round values for tick marks (major, minor?)
Show models for direct comparison when possible
Figure 6 – Hydrolysis rate with [E]o = 2.5 ng/L
Figure 5 – enzyme reactivity

8. Figure 8 – Hydrolysis rate fit with Km=4.0 mM, vmax=0.051 min-1
… and More Graphs
Choose axes for clear presentation
Transform data to linear form for model test
[S]/r = [S]/vmax + Km/vmax for “Hanes plot”
Direct non-linear fit: r = vmax [S] / (Km + [S])
Figure 7 – Hanes plot of hydrolysis rate data
Figure 8 – Hydrolysis rate fit with Km=4.0 mM, vmax=0.051 min-1

9. Oral and Written Communication
Communicating your findings is key for impact
Industry feedback on importance of writing
Aim for your intended audience
Questions?