Documentation Timeline: A Practical Template
TL;DR
Start documenting now, even if you're not sure you'll report. Contemporaneous notes are far more credible than reconstructed memories.
A clean timeline improves clarity and reduces mistakes. Use this structure before you disclose.
Timeline fields
- Date and time (as precise as possible)
- What happened (facts only)
- Where it happened
- Who was involved
- How you know (directly observed, told by, document reference)
- Supporting evidence (file name, email subject, location)
- Immediate impact (if any)
- What you did next (if anything)
Rules
- Separate facts from conclusions
- Do not exaggerate
- If you are unsure, label uncertainty
- Keep it consistent and chronological
Related resources
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