Example Progress Report:
Quartz Etch Rate Project
Annotations

Memo format. This progress report uses the standard memo format with the to, from, subject, data header. Headings, lists, and tables are all used in the body of the memo as in any other type of report.

Introduction. In this introduction, the writer announces and the topic and purpose of the memo and provides an overview of what the rest of the memo contains.

Project description. In this section, the writer briefly explains the nature of the project. As outsiders, we'd probably like to know a bit more about the purpose of the project and the benefits that will ensue from it. And, in a hard-charging high-tech environment such as a fab, a bit of refresher on the project might not be a bad idea even for the insiders.

Progress discussion. In this section, we get to the details of what has been completed, what's happening right now, and what's planned for the rest of the project. Notice how the progress discussion is broken out into three phases, and that each of these phases (called objectives) are discussed in terms of work completed and work remaining.

Outline. The writer includes an outline of the final report he will create for this project. Inthe actual work place, this might not be necessary, but in a technical writing course—where the progress report serves as a way for the instructor to review the project—it is very useful.