Junior Computer and Electrical Engineering Project Report Guidelines

Junior Computer and Electrical Engineering Project Report Guidelines

PREPARED BY:
Duane L. Marcy, Ph.D. and Michael J. Frasciello

Fall 2008

Support of the Professional Writing Component

The Junior project report contributes to the program’s ability to meet the professional writing component in Engineering Science.

All Junior project reports are based on a modified IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion) format. For pre-professional engineers, the IMRAD format is a more appropriate version of the IBC (Introduction, Body, and Conclusion) used for most types of academic writing. IMRAD structured reports are common and widely accepted in a range of industries in which engineers are employed.

The Junior project report is designed to directly meet the following ABET Engineering Program Educational Outcomes[1]:

·  Outcome b: an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data

·  Outcome e: an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems

·  Outcome g: an ability to communicate effectively

·  Outcome k: an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Report Structure

The project report will include the following document sections:

• Title

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

Title

A single page at the beginning of the report will contain the title. An appropriate title should describe the contents of the report clearly and precisely.

Do not include unnecessary prepositional phrases such as studies on or an investigation of in the title. Also, avoid using abbreviations, jargon, and colloquial language.

Example of a good report title:

“Analytical Analysis of the Inverted Pendulum Real-Time Control Systems”

Example of a poor report title:

“Rocker Arms Revisited: An Investigation of the ABC’s of Inverted
Pendulum Real-Time Control Systems”

Introduction

The report introduction addresses the following questions:

·  What is the problem? Describe the problem investigated. Summarize your research to provide context, key terms, and concepts so your reader can understand the experiment.

·  Why is it important? What conflict or unanswered question or untried method in existing research does your experiment address? What findings or notions are you challenging or extending?

·  What solution (or step toward a solution) do you propose? Briefly describe your experiment: hypothesis(es), research question(s); general experimental design or method; justification of method if alternatives exist.

Methods

The methods section of the report addresses the following questions:

·  How did you study the problem? Briefly explain the general type of engineering, scientific, or research procedure you used.

·  What did you use? This may be a subhead labeled Materials in which you describe what materials, subjects, and equipment (chemicals, experimental, apparatus, etc.) you used.

·  How did you proceed? Explain the steps you took in your experiment.

Be sure to provide enough detail for replication—to allow your instructor or your peers to reproduce the experiment or analysis. Order all procedures chronologically or by type of procedure. Quantify all statements when possible, but be cautious of mixing results with procedures.

Results

The results section of the report addresses the following single question:

·  What did you observe? For each experiment or procedure, briefly describe (in one or two sentences) the experiment without the detail you provided in the Methods section.

Report the main result(s), supported by representative (the most common results) or best case (best example of ideal or exception) results. Order multiple results logically and use past-tense to describe what happened.

IMPORTANT: Do not interpret results. Be as objective and descriptive as possible.

Discussion

The discussion section of the report addresses the following questions:

·  What do your observations mean? Summarize the most important findings at the beginning.

·  What conclusions can you draw? Describe and explain the patterns, principles, and relationships among your results. Describe what additional research might resolve contradictions or explain exceptions.

·  How do your results fit into a broader context? Suggest the theoretical implications of your results. Suggest practical applications of your results and extend your findings to other situations.

Be sure to avoid over-generalizing or ignoring deviations in your data. And avoid speculations that cannot be tested in the foreseeable future.

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[1] ABET 2008-2009 outcomes as of September 2008.