A a technical document is usually divided into sections and often does not include page numbers in the table of contents. ( Page numbers may be added after the document has been completed and ready for publishing.) This is done so that sections can be revised without affecting the table of contents. The sections of a technical document are further divided into sub sections.
The sections and sub sections are listed in a numerical hierarchical scheme which will be evident in the example below. In addition the titles for the sections and subsections are indented. The same title and indenting scheme should be evident throughout the report. It may assist the planning of your project to anticipate the sub sections that you will need, then revise the table of contents as the document becomes more complete.
Below is a sample of a typical Table of Contents. Yours may not include all the subsections and will likely have some subsections which are not shown here. Your Table of Contents should contain the same overall titles (shown in capitals) in the order shown. The order and inclusion of the subsections are up to your discretion provided you meet the requirements of the project.
In general the body of the document will include text only. Usually if the text of a section is too long then only a summary or the important information is included. The rest of the text can be appended. All graphics, charts, drawings etc. are included at the end of the report and referred to in the text.
1.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 TABLE OF CONTENTS
2.0 REVISION RECORD
3.0 RESEARCH AND PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
3.1 Category Chosen3.2 Clear Statement of Problem(s) To Be Solved
3.3 Research of Existing Designs
3.3.1 Results of Survey3.3.2 Results from Periodical Search
3.3.3 Measurements of Existing Design
3.3.4 Ergonomic Data
3.3.5 Internet Search Results
3.4 Design Challenges and Constraints
3.4.1 Power Supply3.4.2 Cost
3.4.3 Recycling of Product
3.5 Possibilities
3.5.1 Emerging New Technologies3.5.1.1 New Power Supplies3.5.1.2 Different Materials
3.5.2 Problems with Existing Designs
3.5.3 Integration of Features Of Existing Designs
3.6.1 Design Requirements
3.6.1.1 Physical Requirements3.6.1.2 Human/Social Requirements
3.6.1.3 Environmental Requirements
4.0 PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS AND IDEAS , DECISION
4.1 Brainstorm Ideas4.1.1 Idea #14.1.2 Idea #2
4.1.3 Idea #3
4.2 Materials Selection
4.2 Final Concept
5.0 TESTING AND EVALUATION
5.1 Test Plan5.2 Results of Testing
6.0 FINAL DESIGN
6.1 Description of the Final Design6.2 How the Actual Design Would Differ From The Model
7.0 REFLECTION
7.1 Pro's of The Final Design7.2 Suggestions For Improvement in the Final Design
8.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Attachment #1 - Fig 1 - Drawing Head Sizes - Ergonomic Data
Attachment #2 - Brainstorm Sketches of Design Solutions
Attachment #3 - Fig 2 - Assessment of Concept Ideas - Chart
Attachment #4 - Fig 3 - Final Design Concept Sketch
Attachment #5 - Fig 4 - Virtual Model Of Final Design
Attachment #6 - Fig 5 - Photographs of Physical Model
Attachment #7 - Sketches of Improvement Ideas
Appendix A - Detail Survey Data
Appendix B - Existing Design Data - Print out from the Internet
Appendix C - Detail Test Results