Technical reports follow a pattern of movement from general to specific. For example, the prefatory matter (i.e., objectives and summary) contains general information; the body of the report is the discussion or more specific information (i.e., theory, sample calculations, and recommendations); and the end matter of the report (i.e., the appendices and the documentation) is the most specific information.
Headings and Sub-headings—Headings and sub-headings should help your readers quickly find the information they need. Headings and sub-headings are also markers to show how you arrange the material. Thus, your headings and sub-headings should clearly denote the content of the sections they are announcing.
Additionally, each section of the report has a general-to-specific pattern of organization within its own context, and the heading and subsequent sub-headings illustrate this pattern of organization for your readers.
Example
(1st-level heading) Sample Calculations
(2nd-level or sub-headings) Calculation of Reynolds number — Trial I Data
Calculation of Prandtl number — Trial I Data
Well-Organized Paragraphs and Sentences—A good guideline to remember when composing paragraphs or even a single sentence is that a general-to-specific pattern of organization usually works well both in the whole report and in the individual report sections.
For example, begin a paragraph with a topic sentence; then support that topic sentence with your main points of development. Conclude the paragraph, and, if necessary, create a transition into the next paragraph or section of the report. When writing sentences, try to begin with a subject and a concrete verb. Writing this way helps your reader see your ideas clearly without having to hunt for your meaning.