大学英语（第六册）复习（原文及全文翻译）——Unit 1 - Research Reports For Business And Technical Writing（商务、技术研究报告的写作）

Unit 1 - Research Reports For Business And Technical Writing

Writing research reports for college or work is often found far more difficult than it need to be. The following article offers some excellent advice on how to make the task easier and the report more impressive and effective. Whether you write a research report for a college professor or for a demanding boss in your profession, the author's advice will put you well on your way to becoming a skillful report writer.

RESEARCH REPORTS FOR BUSINESS AND THECNICAL WRITING

Wayne Losano

A surprising amount of one's time as a student and professional is spent reporting the results of one's research projects for presentation to teachers, managers, and clients. Indeed, without basic research skills and the ability to present research results clearly and completely, an individual will encounter many obstacles in school and on the job. The need for some research-writing ability is felt nearly equally by college students in all fields, engineering and science as well as business and the humanities. Graduate study often makes great demands on the student's research-writing skills, and most professions continue the demand; education, advertising and marketing, economics and accounting, science and engineering, psychology, anthropology, the arts, and agriculture may all require regular reporting of research data.

ELEMENTS OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

The standard research report, regardless of the field or the intended reader, contains four major sections. These sections may be broken down into a variety of subsections, and they may be arranged in a variety of ways, but they regularly make up the core of the report.

Problem Section. The first required section of a research report is the statement of the problem with which the research project is concerned. This section requires a precise statement of the underlying question which the researcher has set out to answer. In this same section there should be an explanation of the significance -- social, economic, medical, psychological, educational, etc. -- of the question; in other words, why the investigation was worth conducting. Thus, if we set out, for example, to answer the question "What is the effect of regular consumption of fast foods on the health of the American teenager?" we must explain that the question is thought to have significant relevance to the health of this segment of the population and might lead to some sort of regulations on such foods.

A frequent subsection of this problem section is a review of past research on the topic being investigated. This would consist of summaries of the contributions of previous researcher to the question under consideration with some assessment of the value of these contributions. This subsection has rhetorical usefulness in that it enhances the credibility of the researcher by indicating that the data presented is based on a thorough knowledge of what has been done in the field and, possibly, grows out of some investigative tradition.

Procedures Section. The second major section of the research report details, with as much data as possible, exactly how the study was carried out. This section includes description of any necessary equipment, how the subjects were selected if subjects were used, what statistical technique was used to evaluate the significance of the findings, how many observations were made and when, etc. An investigation of the relative effectiveness of various swim-strokes would have to detail the number of swimmers tested, the nature of the tests conducted, the experience of the swimmers, the weather conditions at the time of the test, and any other factors that contributed to the overall experiment. The goal of the procedures section is to allow the reader to duplicate the experiment if such were desired to confirm, or refute, your findings.

Results Section. The third, and perhaps most important, section of the research report is the presentation of the results obtained from the investigation. The basic rule in this section is to give all data relevant to the research question initially asked. Although, of course, one's natural tendency might be to suppress any findings which do not in some way support one's hypothesis, such dishonesty is antithetical to good research reporting in any field. If the experiments undertaken fail to prove anything, if the data was inadequate or contrary to expectations, the report should be honestly written and as complete as possible, just as it would be if the hypothesis were totally proven by the research.

Discussion Section. The final required section of a research report is a discussion of the results obtained and a statement of any conclusions which may be drawn from those results. Of primary interest in business and technical research reports is the validity of the results as the bases for company decisions: Will our planned construction project meet federal environmental guidelines and be approved for building? Will this new program attract skilled personnel to our company? Will this new oil recovery technique be financially feasible? Thus, the discussion section of the research report must evaluate the research results fully: were they validly obtained, are they complete or limited, are they applicable over a wide range of circumstances? The discussion section should also point out what question remain unanswered and perhaps suggest directions for further research.

STYLE OF RESEARCH REPORTS

Research reports are considered formal professional communication. As such, there is little emphasis on a lively style, although, of course, there is no objection to writing that is pleasing and interesting. The primary goals of professional communication are accuracy, clarity, and completeness. The rough draft of any research report should be edited to ensure that all data is correctly presented, that all equipment is listed, that all results are properly detailed. As an aid to the reader, headings indicating at least the major section of the report should be used, and all data should be presented under the proper headings. In addition to their function of suggesting to the reader the contents of each section, headings enhance the formal appearance and professional quality of the report, increase to some degree the writer's credibility by reflecting a logical and methodical approach to the reporting process, and eliminate the need for wordy transitional devices between sections.

Research data should be presented in a way that places proper emphasis on major aspect of the project. For different readers different aspects will take on different degrees of importance, and some consideration should be given to structuring research reports differently for different audiences. Management, for example, will be most concerned with the results of a research project, and thus the results section should be emphasized, probably by presenting it immediately after the problem section and before the procedures section. Other researchers would be most interested in the procedures section, and this should be highlighted in writing up research projects for publication in professional journals or for presentation at professional conferences. For non-technical readers and federal agencies, the implications of the results might be the most important consideration, and emphasis should be placed on the discussion of the report for this readership.

For additional clarity and emphasis, major results should be presented in a visual format -- tables, charts, graphs, diagrams -- as well as in a verbal one.

Beyond checking the report for clarity and accuracy in the presentation of technical data, the author of a research report should review for basic grammatical and mechanical accuracy. Short sentences are preferable to long in the presentation of complex information. Listings should be used to break up long passages of prose and to emphasize information. The research writer should try to use the simplest possible language without sacrificing the professional quality of the report. Although specialized terms can be used, pretentious jargon should be avoided. A finished research report should be readable and useful document prepared with the reader in mind.

CONCLUSION

Although we struggle with research reports in high school, dread them in college, and are often burdened by them in our professional live, learning to live comfortably with them is a relatively easy task. A positive attitude (i.e. one that seem the oral or written presentation of research results as of equal importance to the data-gathering process); an orderly approach which includes prewriting (i.e., before any actual research is done, the researcher should try to get down on paper as much about the subject under investigation as possible) and a formal research report structure as the framework for the investigation; and a reasonable approach to the actual writing process including editing for accuracy and clarity, will help one to produce effective research reports efficiently.

参考译文——商务、技术研究报告的写作

在大学或工作中编写研究报告往往比较困难，可能超出了实际需要。如何让编写报告更简单、更有效、更令人印象深刻，本文提供了一些很好的建议。无论你是为大学教授还是你要求较高的老板编研究报告，本文作者的建议都会助你成为一名熟练的报告作者。

商务、技术研究报告的写作

韦恩.洛桑诺

作为学生和专业人员，他们花了大量时间将自己的研究项目的结果报告给老师、经理和客户。的确，如果一个人欠缺从事研究工作的基本技能，不能清楚而完整地表达研究成果，他会在学习和工作中碰到许多障碍。科研写作能力对于各个领域的学生同样重要，无论是理工科学生还是商务、人文学科的学生。研究生阶段的学习对学生的科研写作提出了很高的要求，而且大多数职业也有相同的要求。教育、广告与市场营销、经济学与会计学、理工科、心理学、人类学、艺术以及农艺等专业都可能要求学生定期报告自己的研究成果。

1、研究报告的要素

标准研究报告，无论领域或目标读者类型，都包括四个主要部分。每部分又可分成许多小部分，不同部分的组织方式可以多种多样，但这四个主要部分是报告的核心内容。

（1）问题陈述部分

研究报告的第一部分是陈述研究项目所涉及的问题。这部分要求准确阐述研究者要问答的根本问题。应该从社会、经济、医学、心理、教育等方面来阐述问题的意义。换言之，要阐述为什么值得进行这项研究。举例来说，如果我们要就“经常食用快餐食品对美国青少年有什么影响？”这个问题展开讨论，我们就必须解释，此问题与美国青少年有着非常密切的关系，可能需要对此类食品制定一些监管要求。

问题陈述部分通常包含一个小部分，会对该课题过去的研究进展情况进行回顾，并对之前的研究者作出的贡献进行总结和评价。这一小部分表明研究者提供的资料是在对本领域现有研究成果透彻理解的基础上、经过调查研究而取得的，因此可提高研究者的可信度。

（2）过程部分

研究报告的第二大部分需列举尽可能多的资料准确阐述研究是如何进行的。这部分包括：对所用研究设备的说明，实验对象是怎样选择的，用什么统计方法来评价实验成果的意义，实验次数和时间等。如果要对不同泳姿的相应效果进行研究的话，就要详细说明参加测试的人数，测试的性质，游泳者的表现，测试时的天气条件，以及对整个实验有影响的其它因素。过程部分便于读者在证实或反对你的实验结果时重复你的实验。

（3）结果部分

研究报告的第三部分，也许是最重要的部分，是展示研究结果。这部分的基本原则是提供一切和最初提出的问题相关的资料。当研究者发现任何与自己的假设不符的结果时，他们有可能出于本能地进行隐瞒，但这种不诚实的做法和任何领域优秀的研究报告是相背的。即使所进行的实验不能证实什么，资料不充分甚至实验结果与期望相反，也应该如实、完整地编写研究报告。

（4）讨论部分

研究报告的最后一个必要部分就是讨论所获得的结果，阐述从那些结果中得出的任何结论。在商务和技术的研究报告中，人们主要关注结果的可靠性，这也是公司决策的依据；我们策划的项目符合联邦环境政策吗？会得到批准吗？这个新项目会吸引技术人才到我们公司来吗？从财务方面看，这项石油回收新技术可行吗？这样，研究报告的讨论必须全面评价研究成果：这些结论的获取过程是否有效？结论是否完整，是否存在局限性？结论适用范围有多广？讨论部分也应该指出哪些问题仍然没有找到答案，以及对今后研究的建议。

2、研究报告的文体

人们认为研究报告是属于正规的专业交流，并不强调采用活泼文体，当然也不反对将报告写得生动有趣。专业交流的首要目的是准确、明晰和完整。校订任何研究报告初稿时，都应保证正确提供所有资料，列出所有设备，准确、详细地描述所有结果。为方便读者，应该使用标题，至少标明报告的主要部分，而所有资料都应当在恰当的标题下陈述。标题除了提示读者每部分内容外，还可提高报告的规范性和学术质量；同时，可显得报告是有逻辑、有条理地编写出来的，某种程度上增加了作者的可信度；标题也可以消除报告各部分之间冗长的承上启下的词语。

应该用一种恰当强调项目主要方面的方式陈述研究资料。对于不同的读者而言，不同方面具有不同的重要性。可根据目标读者的不同而调整报告结构。例如：管理层对研究项目的结果最为关心，所以应该强调结果部分，可以将这部分安排在问题部分和过程部分之间。其他的研究人员对过程部分尤为感兴趣，所以在专业刊物发表或在专业会议上讲述研究报告时，应该着重突出这一部分。非专业读者和联邦机构对研究结果的含意更感兴趣，这时应强调讨论部分。

另外，为了让研究报告内容明晰、重点突出，除了文字描述外还应该采用表格、图表等直观方式呈现研究结果。

除了检查研究报告是否在技术资料方面表达清楚、准确外，还应检查基本语法和打印方面有无问题。在陈述复杂信息时最好使用短句。应该使用列举方法来突出重点，避免长篇大论。应该在不影响报告的专业质量的前提下尽量使用最简单的语言。可以使用专业术语，但应当避免使用虚张声势的行话。一篇好的研究报告应该是一份把读者放在心上，可读而又有用的文献。

3、结论

对于编写研究报告，虽然我们从中学就开始学习，在大学时还可能有点惧怕，而在职业生涯中常感到它是一种负担，然而学会与之泰然相处也不是多难的事。为了帮助人们高效地写出有效的报告，人们应该做到：树立积极的态度，将口头和书面陈述研究成果与资料收集过程看作同等重要；写作步骤井然有序，包括写作前的准备工作（即在进行实际研究工作之前，研究者应当尽可能多地把与研究课题有的关资料写下来），有一个正式研究报告的构思作为调查的框架；有一个合理的写作方法，使得报告准确而明晰。

注：博主基于网络翻译校译而成。

参考资料：

1. 大学英语精读第六册 Unit 01_大学教材听力 - 可可英语

2. http://cache.baiducontent.com/c?m=GqAsC2osi7NNgoZplNlTeb6pWoJEeyf7I8Nz0lB261xuEd4t91Vzh_yFlOqUprarr6JomM4SbPv0wP9PUhkrS6imx5vLPRHvm_NBBL_3rKn2EBLxxWQB3eUcGEC-A9cQxGBImW5Kf9-2de97YH6ySyULpXIlt-3JT59Ru_F6ek_Ljxergkr5Bt7QEIvJsFWzuXKrfUYdrHrwpFWw49DsLmslPt2mDwSSWdYU4RCSwvFIPRp2PGcOK5e4Gjo667XB3vfEmgE9tbCh8Y6XRGwuO9ygWTRoUfHBqQOCXdl6manWz46oYK-lSnmjmico33iHLfaptMeMAH2oS-PBnSF1ULVRS7gJi90eviTypgFSIAjUumQRdWhMD9OoS7t7qdrXAJ7DR6N4Qfzui6x-B40YCaKo1-e40HaxnftY9skAMpIL5APZKXUxwKSSyoJecZQKitFtuhWPDaww73PL1nPMqL8_oxmU4C3OQKBDz8C8Z-m&p=c3769a479e8609ff57efc32f61&newp=867fc64ad48914bc08e296261653d8304a02c70e3ec3864e1290c408d23f061d4862e8be22251a05d8c37e6003a5435aecf2377323454df6cc8a871d81edd87d3c&s=1ce927f875864094&user=baidu&fm=sc&query=%C9%CC%CE%F1%A1%A2%BC%BC%CA%F5%D1%D0%BE%BF%B1%A8%B8%E6%B5%C4%D0%B4%D7%F7+%D7%F7%CE%AA%D1%A7%C9%FA%BA%CD%D7%A8%D2%B5%C8%CB%D4%B1%2C%CB%FB%C3%C7%BB%A8%C1%CB%B4%F3%C1%BF%CA%B1%BC%E4%BD%AB%D7%D4%BC%BA%B5%C4%D1%D0%BE%BF%CF%EE%C4%BF%B5%C4%BD%E1%B9%FB%B1%A8%B8%&qid=d686355f000551a5&p1=1