From: seove@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (ERIC OVERTON)
Subject:   Organizing Documents
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 25 Aug 1992 17:15 EDT  

                             ORGANIZING  DOCUMENTS


            FIVE QUESTIONS

            1.  What is the problem that initialized the report?
            2.  What was done to meet the problem?
            3.  What was learned from what was done?
            4.  What was the significance from what was learned?
            5.  What does this suggest we do or guard against in
the future?


                  LINE OF REASONING

                  1.  Brief the readers.
                  2.  Take a stand.
                  3.  Support the stand.
                  4.  Wrap it up.



CHECKLIST 1.  INTRODUCTION 

      Primary Question - What is the problem that initialized the
report?

            I.  Background.  Where, when, how did it begin?

                  a. Who was involved?
                  b. Who requested the research?
                                                          (Brief
the readers)
            II.  Justification.  Why was it done?                 


                  a.  Why was it necessary?                       

                  b.  What special needs did it meet?             

            c.  What does it mean to others?
                  d.  Why should the readers know?

            III.  Relevance.  How does the report relate to--

                  a.  Some broader project?
                  b.  Earlier stages?
                  c.  Work done by others?

            IV.  Present Intent.  What questions does it answer?

                  a.  What was to be observed?
                  b.  What hypothesis tested?


PRIMARY STRATEGY - Introduction should resemble a funnel.         

CHECKLIST 2.  METHODS OR PROCEDURES

      Primary Question - What was done to meet the problem?

            Experimental Approach                      (Take a
stand)  

            1.  Definitions of terms measured?
            2.  What are the independent, dependent variables?
            3.  What was the control or control group?
            4.  What was the step by step procedure?
            5.  Why was the procedure used?
            6.  Tools, instruments used?
            7.  Type of  data used?
            8.  Data analyzed?


BOTTOM LINE TEST:  REPRODUCIBILITY


CHECKLIST 3.  RESULTS OF FINDINGS

      Primary question - What was learned from what was done?

            Things to include in this section.            

                  -diagrams, tables, graphs               (Su-
pport the stand)

                  1.  Summarize data and present graphs along
with prose.


BOTTOM-LINE TEST:  Include all information necessary for the
readers to       
       understand results.


CHECKLIST 4.  CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS


      Primary question - What is the significance of what was
learned?

            or-                                            
                                                       (Wrap it
up)
            1.  Was hypothesis proved?
            2.  Did item meet, fail to meet, exceed,
specifications?
            3.  What old facts or information did the research
confirm?
            4.  What new concepts were established?
            5.  What existing concepts were verified?

CHECKLIST 5:  RECOMMENDATIONS

      Primary question - what does this suggest we do or guard
against in the  
                         future?

            eg.

            1.  Further research on a specific aspect be under-
taken.
            2.  Further testing.
            3.  Another experiment, different aspect.
            4.  Different procedure.
            5.  Present policy should remain unchanged, should
change.
            6.  Based upon... procedure should be developed.
            7.  Equipment should be replaced.
            8.  _______ is suitable, not suitable.
            9.  Schedule should be established.