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
Outline of Presentation Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Organizing & writing draft Part 3:Other related matters
Part 1: Introduction
Introduction (2) Writing Thinking
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
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
PSM Outcome of PSM: -Skill to conduct task independently -Analytical and synthesis skills -Writing skill -Presentation skill
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
PSM 1: draft 1 (marks: 20%) Introduction Literature review Methodology
PSM 2: Final Draft (40%) Introduction Literature review Methodology Results and Analysis Discussion Conclusion
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
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
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
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
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)
Preparing Draft Contents Outlines Coherence of ideas Place diagrams, table, figures in relevant section. Then explain / write Put aside review again improve writing
Part 2: Organizing & writing draft
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
Five Chapter Style Abstract Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 References Appendices
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Chapter 2: Literature Review
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
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
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)
Literature Review (4) What to find in the literature? How to summarize literature?
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)
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
Literature Review (7) Citation and References Format (Harvard System) Refer to UTM Guidelines Avoid plagiarism
Chapter 3: Methodology
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
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
Chapter 4: Results
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
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
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
Results: Example - Table
Results: Examples Figures
Results: Example - Graph
Results: Examples Chart
Results: sensitivity analysis & validation tests
Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusions
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
Discussion (2) Compare with other works agreement, contradict, confirmation, better understanding, etc How the findings relate to the theory or current understanding
Discussion (3) Comparison with previous studies
Conclusion
Conclusion Summary of main findings (clearly numbered) Brief recommendation for further study
Part 3: Other related matters
Coherence and Links Abstract Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 References Appendices
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
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
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)
Formatting and Type Setting UTM Guidelines
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.
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
Tenses general guidelines Choose proper tenses Introduction present tense Literature past tense Rest of report/thesis past tense Findings present tense
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
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
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