Writing Your Appendixes

Overview

Flowchart showing this is the second section of the back matter: 1. References. List all of the sources for your report, using the style preferred by your field. 2. Appendixes. Provide any supplemental information that is too bulky to include in the body of the report. — The Sections of the Back Matter of the Recommendation Report

The Appendixes give readers more information about your topic and usually focuses on resources that are useful but that do not fit into the flow of the report itself. Here are some examples of information that belong in Appendixes:

Interview questions and the full transcript of the interview
Survey questions and the related data that was collected
Complete recipes for items that were tested
Specifications for objects or material
Technical diagrams or other illustrations
Additional photos or videos (e.g., all site photos, video of someone performing a task)

Where You Can Find Help

From Markel & Selber, Chapter 18:
- The details on Appendixes, from p. 503:
  “An appendix is any section that follows the body of the report (and the glossary, list of symbols, or reference list). Appendixes (or appendices) convey information that is too bulky for the body of the report or that will interest only a few readers. Appendixes might include maps, large technical diagrams or charts, computations, computer printouts, test data, and texts of supporting documents.”
- Example Appendix, on pp. 527 (part of the sample recommendation report in Figure 18.8).
LinkedIn Learning video, “How to prepare appendices” (5m 14s), from the Technical Writing: Reports course.

How You Do It

Scroll through your document to the location for your Appendixes.
For each appendix, do the following:
1. Begin the page heading by typing the word “Appendix” and the relevant letter at the top of the page
  - When there are several Appendixes, label each with a letter, not a number (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B).
  - If you include only one Appendix, omit the letter.
2. Follow the label with a colon, and add the specific name of the appendix. For the example in the sample report in the textbook, the specific name is “Appendix: Clinical-Staff Questionnaire.”
3. Center the page heading on the page.
4. Skip a blank line.
5. Add the content of the appendix (e.g., the questionnaire and its results).
Review the section and make any additions or changes, using the information from the textbook and LinkedIn Learning video as needed.
Go through the body of your report and ensure that all references to your Appendixes are labeled correctly with the letter and specific title.
Move on to the next part of your report that you want to work on.