Guide for Writing Professional Reports (PFE/SFE)
A professional report (PFE/SFE) serves to demonstrate the acquisition of in-depth knowledge, professional skills, and project management abilities gained during an internship or study period. A high-quality report must be concise, linguistically correct, and feature intelligent critical analysis. Success depends on adhering to strict structural guidelines, maintaining professional presentation standards, and rigorously avoiding plagiarism.
Key Takeaways
Reports must demonstrate deep professional knowledge, mastery of mission stakes, and problem-solving skills.
Ensure linguistic quality, conciseness, and intelligent critical analysis in all sections of the document.
Structure the report with clear introductions, balanced chapters, and a strong, reflective conclusion.
Adhere strictly to formatting rules, including A4 paper, specific fonts, margins, and consistent pagination.
Always cite sources correctly using established styles; plagiarism results in severe academic sanctions.
Why are professional reports (PFE/SFE) required, and what defines their quality?
Professional reports like PFE/SFE are required to validate the practical application of academic knowledge, demonstrating that the student has acquired in-depth sector knowledge and a global vision of the company. The report must showcase the ability to solve complex situations and master mission stakes, while also developing essential skills like rigor and project management. A high-quality report is defined by its concise, informative nature, coupled with an intelligent critical analysis that justifies every written word, ensuring linguistic primacy and readability.
- Acquire in-depth knowledge regarding the specific sector and gain a global vision of the host company.
- Deepen professional knowledge related to the trade and internalize practical knowledge gained during the mission.
- Master mission stakes and demonstrate the ability to solve blockages or complex situations encountered.
- Develop essential professional skills, including rigor, creativity, and effective project management.
- Ensure the report is concise, informative, and motivating and pleasant for the reader to review.
- Include in-depth and intelligent critical analysis that goes beyond mere description.
- Maintain the primacy of linguistic quality (correction) and justify every single word written in the document.
What is the required structure and content for a professional report?
The required structure for a professional report mandates a clear progression from a General Introduction (1-3 pages, written last) to balanced Chapters, culminating in a General Conclusion (max 1 page). The introduction must present the context, company, objectives, and problematic, while the conclusion summarizes the body, recalls objectives, and provides professional and personal assessments. Chapters must include partial introductions and conclusions, systematically citing bibliographic sources and justifying technical choices made throughout the project, ensuring balance in page count across sections.
- General Introduction: Must include context presentation, a brief company overview, description of objectives and the problematic, and an announcement of the plan (written in the future tense, not a list).
- Chapters (Body): Each chapter requires a partial introduction (common announcement) and a partial conclusion (synthesis, announcing the next chapter), maintaining balance in page count and justifying technical choices and tools used.
- General Conclusion: Should provide a rapid summary of the body text, recall the initial objectives (answering the Introduction), offer a professional assessment (objectives met/unmet), a personal assessment (lessons learned), and discuss limits and future perspectives.
- Specific Elements: Ensure tables have legends above and left (e.g., Table 2.4), figures have legends below and centered (e.g., Figure 3.1), use sequential numbering by chapter, cite sources without an author, and include a Bibliography (ordered by appearance, using APA/CHICAGO/ISO-690 styles) and numbered/paginated Appendices.
How should the physical format and writing style of the report be managed?
Managing the report's presentation and style involves strict adherence to physical formatting and linguistic rules to ensure professionalism and readability. The report must be printed single-sided on A4 paper, bound with hot glue, and meet a minimum page count of 60. Style guidelines require using Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, and justified text for the body. Crucially, meticulous proofreading is necessary to avoid common errors like overly long sentences, familiar formulas, or value judgments, and to ensure correct punctuation spacing, while strictly avoiding all forms of plagiarism.
- Physical Format & Material: Use A4 white paper, print single-sided only, utilize hot glue binding, and ensure a minimum page count of 60 pages for project consistency, including preliminary pages like the Cover Page, Signatures Page, and optional Dedication/Acknowledgements Pages.
- Font & Styles: Body text should be Times New Roman, 12pt, with 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment; titles should use Arial (Level 1: Size 14; Level 2: Size 13; Level 3: Size 12), while avoiding underlining or excessive bolding/italics.
- Margins & Pagination: Set margins at 2 cm on all sides, adding +0.5 cm or 1 cm on the left for the binding side; headers/footers should be 1.5 cm from the edge; pagination uses Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) positioned at the bottom right corner, starting from the General Introduction (Page 1).
- Punctuation & Proofreading: Use one space after simple signs (like periods), and one space before and after double signs (like colons, exclamation points, and parentheses); avoid overly long sentences (over 10 lines), familiar formulas, value judgments, and spelling mistakes; strictly avoid plagiarism, which includes using uncredited borrowed text, copying without quotation marks, or inserting images/data without provenance.
Which digital tools are recommended for efficient report writing and collaboration?
Utilizing appropriate digital tools significantly enhances the efficiency and quality of report writing, particularly for managing complex elements like bibliography and layout, and for structuring ideas. For individual use, tools like Zotero manage citations effectively, while LaTeX offers professional layout capabilities, and Reverso/DeepL assist with translation and reformulation. For collaborative efforts, mind mapping tools such as XMind or MindMeister help structure ideas and organize complex information visually, and platforms like Miro facilitate visual collaboration, ensuring a streamlined and professional production process.
- Simple / Student Use: Zotero is recommended for efficient bibliography management; LaTeX provides professional layout capabilities; and Reverso or DeepL are useful for translation and reformulation checks.
- Teamwork Tools: Mind Map tools like XMind (application with varied models), Coggle (online, simple and fast), GitMind (online, numerous models), and MindMeister (online, collaboration, clear design) are essential for structuring thoughts and planning the report.
- Professional / Advanced Use: MindManager offers advanced features for complex project mapping (paid); Ayoa supports creative processes and task management; and Freeplane is a powerful, free option suitable for advanced users requiring extensive customization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum required length for the report?
The report must meet a minimum page count of 60 pages. This requirement ensures project consistency and demonstrates comprehensive coverage and depth in the analysis of the subject matter and mission stakes.
Where should pagination begin in the report and what format should be used?
Pagination should use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) and must start on the General Introduction page, which is designated as Page 1. The numbers should be positioned consistently at the bottom right corner.
What are the key rules for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism?
Systematically cite all bibliographic sources in the body text using sequential numbering and reference styles (APA/CHICAGO/ISO-690). Plagiarism, including using uncredited text or images, is strictly prohibited and results in severe sanctions.
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