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 Howdy or Hello? Technical and Professional Communication

Appendices Section of a Recommendation Report
Specific Guidelines on Headings
Bulleted and Numbered Lists
Use of Color

From LinkedIn Learning

Video: “How to prepare appendices” (5m 14s), from the Technical Writing: Reports course.

From Technical Communication

Sample Report, Figure 18.8

How You Do It

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, the specific name is “Appendix: Clinical-Staff Questionnaire.” See the Appendix in the Sample Recommendation Report.
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 in the example report).
Review the section and make any additions or changes, using the resources from the “Where You Can Find Help” (above) 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. For an example, see the reference to the Appendix at the bottom of page 5 of the Sample Recommendation Report.
Share your draft with your group and make additional revisions as necessary to connect with the other sections of your report.