How to Write a Final Year Project Effectively

Transcription

1 How to Write a Final Year Project Effectively Adnan Hassan Dept. of Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 28 September, 2005 N24 Dewan Kuliah 7

2 Outline of Presentation Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Organizing & writing draft Part 3:Other related matters

3 Part 1: Introduction

4 Introduction (2) Writing Thinking

5 UTM GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES 1. COMMUNICATION SKILLS 2. TEAMWORKING 3. PROBLEM SOLVING 4. ADAPTABIITY 5. LIFE-LONG LONG LEARNING 6. SELF-ESTEEM ESTEEM 7. ETHICS Back

6 COMMUNICATION SKILLS Communication skills incorporate the ability to communicate effectively in Bahasa Melayu and English across a range of contexts and audiences. CS1 Ability to present information and express ideas clearly, effectively and confidently through written and oral modes CS2 CS3 CS4 CS6 Ability to actively listen and respond to ideas of other people. Ability to negotiate and reach agreement Ability to make clear and confident presentation appropriate to audience Ability to use technology in presentation Back

7 PSM Outcome of PSM: -Skill to conduct task independently -Analytical and synthesis skills -Writing skill -Presentation skill

8 Typical activities in PSM Literature Problem identification / Formulation Methodology Select Case Study / Develop Experimental Rig / Modeling Data collection and analysis Interpretation of results Discussion and conclusion Suggestion for further work

9 PSM 1: draft 1 (marks: 20%) Introduction Literature review Methodology

10 PSM 2: Final Draft (40%) Introduction Literature review Methodology Results and Analysis Discussion Conclusion

11 Tips Get the first draft out as soon as possible Don t kill your self trying to reach perfection first time Make sure you and your supervisor know what is going on Write as you go along not the last minute

12 Tips: Think graphically Make graphics works not as decoration Make graphics parts of flow of argument Get as much data or ideas on a graph as possible Use color sparingly for emphasis Final collation always takes longer than you think

13 5 Steps to successful writing 1. preparation Know how to structure you ideas objective (what do you want the reader to know) Identify potential reader (what the reader needs in relation to your subject, what already know) Determine scope of coverage 2. research 3. organization Literature Methods Results Discussion 4. Writing draft 5. Revision

14 5 Steps to successful writing 1. preparation 2. research 3. organization 4. Writing draft Methods of development: Chronologically Sequentially Increasing/decreasing Division / classification Generic specific Cause effect 5. Revision

15 Writing the draft Outline Topic sentences Paragraph Concentrate on ideas (don t concern about grammatical rules/spelling) Don t burden the reader with unnecessary information (get side tracked into loosely related subjects)

16 Preparing Draft Contents Outlines Coherence of ideas Place diagrams, table, figures in relevant section. Then explain / write Put aside review again improve writing

17 Part 2: Organizing & writing draft

18 Organizing your report: 5 Chapter Style Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Literature Review Chapter 3: Methodology Chapter 4: Results Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusion The actual writing can have more than 5 chapters but following the same style / flow

19 Five Chapter Style Abstract Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 References Appendices

20 Abstract Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discussion & Flow of ideas coherent paragraph with one main idea A clear thread of idea. Run continuously from one section to the next. Conclusion

21 Abstract Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discussion & Conclusion Unity, coherent & transition All sentences in each paragraph contribute to the development of that paragraph All paragraphs contribute to development of main topic Central idea expressed in the topic sentence

22 Example 1: Chapter I Introduction Chapter II Literature Review Chapter III Research Methodology 5-chapter style Actual writing 8 chapters Chapter IV Input Representation and Recogniser Design Chapter V Basic Scheme for On- Line Recognition Chapter VI Enhanced Scheme Using Multiple Recognisers Chapter VII Discussion Chapter VIII Conclusions

23 A paragraph A paragraph Topic Sentence Topic sentences: Controlling ideas of a paragraph The rest of the paragraph supports and develops that statement with related details May appear anywhere in the paragraph often in the first sentence

24 Linking the Chapters Intro to chapter Intro to chapter Intro to chapter Summary / conclusion Summary / conclusion Summary / conclusion Introduction of each chapter Link the chapter to the main idea of the previous chapter Outline the aim & organization of the chapter (describe argument / point to be made) Conclusion / summary of each chapter A brief overview what the chapter has covered Established what has been achieved (w/o introducing new material) Summary of chapter s findings

25 Chapter 1: Introduction The opening Should capture reader s attention Should serve as a frame into which your reader can fit the information that follows Move from general to specific (background of the problem) Describe the problem investigated

26 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Background of the Problem 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1.3 Objectives 1.4 Scope and Key Assumptions 1.5 Importance of the Project 1.6 Definition of Terms 1.7 Organisation of the Report 1.8 Summary

27 Chapter 2: Literature Review

28 Literature review (1) 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Background - Broad Area 2.3 Background Focus Area 2.4 Background Related tools and Techniques 2.5 Review on Previous Studies (PSM) 2.6 Summary

29 Literature Review (2) Background knowledge (Broad) Books, internet, lecture notes etc Previous Studies (Focus) Previous PSM, thesis, journal papers etc Results of literature review are: Evidence of familiarity with the broad and focus areas of the study Classification of areas in field of study Identify trend, direction, and research issues Evidence of not repeating what others have done To guide in formulating the statement of problem To guide in selection of tools, techniques, methodology

30 Literature review (3) Summarize relevant research / projects to provide rationale, context, key terms, and concepts (background knowledge) so your reader can understand your report. Be selective in choosing previous studies to cite and amount of details to include (consult your supervisor)

31 Literature Review (4) What to find in the literature? How to summarize literature?

32 Literature Review (5) Resources PSZ (Books, journals, thesis, project reports etc) Pusat Sumber FKM, other faculties Internet on-line journals www resources Include only relevant materials in the project report Avoid being a catalogue of text book materials (be selective)

33 Literature Review (6) Agreement, confirmation, disagreement, contradiction Writing Style: Information prominent or Author Prominent Information prominent: General Statement Author Prominent Tenses: Simple Present + Present Perfect Simple Past

34 Literature Review (7) Citation and References Format (Harvard System) Refer to UTM Guidelines Avoid plagiarism

35 Chapter 3: Methodology

36 Methodology (1) How did you study the problem? What did you use? materials, subjects, and equipment/ apparatus What steps did you take (methods or procedures) Provide enough detail for replication Use past tense to describe what you did Order procedures chronologically or by type of procedures Don t include details of common statistical procedures Do not mix results with procedures

37 Methodology (2) Source of Data (dependent of field of studies) : Lab experiments Computer Simulation Case study company Survey/questionnaires etc Steps, procedures, materials, samples, apparatus/ instruments/equipment/software used, method for data analysis, performance measures, treatment of errors Justification for choosing

38 Chapter 4: Results

39 Results (1) What did you observed? For each experiment or procedure: Briefly describe experiment (w/o details of methodology section (1 or two sentence)) Report main results supported by selected data Used past tense to described what happened

40 Results (2) Illustrate results: tables, figures, graphs Most important findings (past tense) What did you observed? Comments (present tense) Ensure adequate analysis Presenting Findings: -comparison among groups -fluctuation of variable over time -relationship between 2 Variables or more

41 Results (3) Summarize results/data in table or charts Captions and numbering of tables and figures Analyze results Observe trend, patterns, relationship Use statistical tests to know the significant of results Interpretation of results Compare results Among the alternative designs (design 1, design 2 etc) Compare with other methods, other previous study, published work

42 Results: Example - Table

43 Results: Examples Figures

44 Results: Example - Graph

45 Results: Examples Chart

46 Results: sensitivity analysis & validation tests

47 Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusions

48 Discussion (1) Referring to purpose / objectives/ hypothesis Restating findings Limitation of findings What do your observations mean? Compare findings Interpret data in relation to problem stated in Chapter 1 Implication: theoretical & practical Discuss findings within the context of literature Recommendation & application

49 Discussion (2) Compare with other works agreement, contradict, confirmation, better understanding, etc How the findings relate to the theory or current understanding

50 Discussion (3) Comparison with previous studies

51 Conclusion

52 Conclusion Summary of main findings (clearly numbered) Brief recommendation for further study

53 Part 3: Other related matters

54 Coherence and Links Abstract Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 References Appendices

55 Coherence and Links Between Chapters and Sections Describe argument / point to be made at the beginning of section End with a summary to establish what has been achieved

56 Abstract The whole report in miniature (minus specific details) Briefly highlight about the study covering: State main objectives (what did you investigate?, why?) Describe methods (what did you do?) Summarize the most important results (what did you find out?) State major conclusions and significance (what do your results mean? So what?) Do NOT: Do include references to figures, tables, or sources. Do not include information not in report

57 Title -Avoid wasted words: studies on, investigation of -Avoid abbreviations and Jargon -Should reflect contents of the report clearly and precisely -May need to fine tune the original topic (working title) -Should reflect??? - The problem addressed / Solution to the problem/key findings - The techniques/tools used - Key activity in the study (Discuss with your supervisor)

58 Formatting and Type Setting UTM Guidelines

59 Number of Pages: Maximum Limits Bachelor Degree Project Report (100 pages) Master s Report, Dissertation, Thesis (250 pages) Doctorate Thesis (Ph.D) (350 pages) The limits include: appendices, tables, figures and other illustrations.

60 Hints: Writing is an art + (science?) It is not possible to provide a definite cookbook menu for applicable to all cases. Practice with your supervisor Understand his/her preferred writing style Don t follow my style blindly

61 Tenses general guidelines Choose proper tenses Introduction present tense Literature past tense Rest of report/thesis past tense Findings present tense

62 Summary of Presentation Importance of Writing Writing Style -- Five Chapter Format Importance of unity, coherent & transition Tips for writing each chapter Variations in style exist Practice make perfect

63 Summary Abstract: the whole report in miniature Introduction: serve as a frame for rest of the report/thesis Literature Review: what are background, related theories, previous study. Methodology: How did you study the problem? Results: What did you observed? Discussion: what do your observation means? Conclusion: what conclusion can you draw

64 Thank You Please forward comment/suggestion to