Report Structure
1
Structure of diploma thesis and project report
Introduction
This note indicates the skeleton of any technical report, synthesized from earlier thesis and from
general principles of how to structure scientific papers and reports. This format is also a relevant guide
of how to plan your work from the start to the delivery of your thesis. At an early stage a work plan or
alternatively the structure and plan of the report, must be worked out, rough at first and gradually more
detailed.
In meetings with your tutor he/she will always start asking about the status of your work in relation to
your work plan and report format.
General suggestions
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Title should be short but adequately describe the content
Avoid strong words like very, extremely, highly etc.
Write short sentences. Avoid multiple statements in one sentence. One idea pr. sentence suffice
Use past tense when describing results of your own or others work. Present tense is used for
known facts and hypothesis
Use active voice instead of passive to shorten sentences: Passive: Polymers were added to the
fluid. Better: The fluid consumed polymers
Avoid it’s in scientific writing
Use abbreviations only for units or established scientific abbreviations, e.g. GOR
Minimize use of adverbs like; however, in addition, moreover
The figure text should explain its intention/significance, independent of thesis text. All figures
should be referred to its source. If redrawn to make it more readable, the reference becomes; free
after ref #. A figure (or table) should be pointed to from your report text before the figure is
presented. Figure (and table) text should preferably be in italic, bold and one font size less than
main text to make it more readable.
Figure legend should in general be approximately 1-3 font sizes smaller than the manuscript text
All figures must refer to its source. When re-drawing an original figure to make it more readable,
the reference should be; “free after ref # x”. Figure (or table) must be referred to in the report text
before the figure is being presented.
Figure / Table caption and legend must be detailed enough to make them self-explanatory
Practical applicability is important
Model must be convincingly or clearly explained
Report format
i. Acknowledgement: Briefly cite or acknowledge special help from advisors, financial support,
proofreaders, suppliers of material
ii. Summary: This should be a short, interesting advertisement of your work
 State briefly the background; the challenge and/or the importance of the work (summary of
introduction)
 What aspects were considered and what were the essential achievements.
 Main conclusion
iii Content (follows below):
1. Introduction: Outline the problem or the challenge and briefly explain how you will attack the
problem (1 -2 pages);
 Motivation
Why is it important?
 Any existing previous solutions? How has the problem been solved? Main limitations of
existing solutions? What is still the challenge?
 Goal: How can you meet the challenge? What do you hope to achieve? Formulate goals as
precisely and measurable as possible. State general and specific goals if applicable
Report Structure
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Focus of the thesis (this section you have to return to after you have investigated state-of-theart). Start by saying that in this work I want to develop something, on basis of state-of-the-art.
This is what we have and this is what we will stretch for. This will then be a guide for you
especially, but also for the reader, and will help you to focus on only what you need.
Approach: The approach is largely dictated by the focus in your work. In what way will you
reach the goals? Will the methodic approach be theoretical /analytical, model/simulation or
design of an experimental approach? The approach often dictates the content of your report
2. State-of-the-art / Previous published relevant knowledge.
If previous work is important in your report, and if much have been published, locally at your
department, nationally or internationally, then make a separate chapter on this topic (chapter 2).
Describe the work of others; however, it must be relevant for your thesis. It gives you and the
reader a better perspective and appreciation of your own work. Evaluate previous applied methods.
Refer to, rather than repeat; bring up previous relevant findings
3. Your own work
This is the main chapter where your research work is described. This is the answer to the
challenges. It could contain anything you feel is necessary to describe your own work. What
research method, scientific approach does your work rely on? It may contain one or several of these
approaches
 Physical description of model / process / equipment
 Mathematical description, limitations, assumptions, simplifications
 Experimental or simulation (data generation process). Design/ Test matrix/ Equipment set
up/test procedure
 Field data applied as input or verification purposes
Present only main data (goes also for result). Place supplementary material of secondary importance
in appendix
4. Result and evaluation of it.
Present results in the clearest possible form (text, graphs, and tables, statistical analysis). If in
doubt, make sure to specify your contribution to the obtained results. Highlight findings that differ
from those in previous publications. Evaluate and compare to other observations or similar results.
5. Self Assessment
This is probably one the most important section of the report. In this paragraph you have the chance
to evaluate your own work and exhibit maturity and creativity. It is always beneficial to be selfcritical in scientific matters. It should be structured like this:
1.
2.
3.
Applicability of my contribution, practically or theoretically
Quality and shortcomings of model, theory and the information you applied. Sources of
errors are especially important in experimental works.
Possible future improvements; how to handle the shortcomings.
6. Conclusion.
How does your work advance the field from present state of the art / justify your work in the
research field. State directly and briefly what was achieved (in relation to the goal), and what was
not achieved/limitations of results. Preferably you should use bullet points.
7. Nomenclature.
Define symbols + abbreviations alphabetically. Do not repeat symbols in the text at every equation
8. References: Use strictly SPE Style Guide
9. Appendix for detailed derivations and for supporting material of secondary importance