How to Write a Final Year Project Effectivelypmaya.fkm.utm.my/psm/psm.pdfHow to Write a Final Year...

How to Write a Final Year Project Effectively

Adnan HassanDept. of Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering

Faculty of Mechanical EngineeringUniversiti Teknologi Malaysia

28 September, 2005N24 –Dewan Kuliah 7

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Outline of PresentationPart 1: Introduction

Part 2: Organizing & writing draft

Part 3:Other related matters

Part 1: Introduction

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Introduction (2)Writing Thinking

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1. 1. COMMUNICATION SKILLSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS2. TEAMWORKING2. TEAMWORKING3. PROBLEM SOLVING3. PROBLEM SOLVING4. ADAPTABIITY4. ADAPTABIITY5. LIFE5. LIFE--LONG LEARNING LONG LEARNING 6. SELF6. SELF--ESTEEMESTEEM7. ETHICS7. ETHICS

UTM GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES

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COMMUNICATION SKILLSCOMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication skills incorporate the ability to communicate effeCommunication skills incorporate the ability to communicate effectively ctively in in BahasaBahasa MelayuMelayu and English across a range of contexts and audiences.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 Ability to actively listen and respond to ideas of other people.

CS3 Ability to negotiate and reach agreement

CS4 Ability to make clear and confident presentation appropriate to audience

CS6 Ability to use technology in presentation

Back

PSM

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

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Typical activities in PSMLiterature Problem identification / FormulationMethodologySelect Case Study / Develop Experimental Rig / ModelingData collection and analysisInterpretation of resultsDiscussion and conclusionSuggestion for further work

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PSM 1: draft 1 (marks: 20%)IntroductionLiterature reviewMethodology

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PSM 2: Final Draft (40%)IntroductionLiterature reviewMethodologyResults and AnalysisDiscussionConclusion

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TipsGet the first draft out as soon as possibleDon’t ‘kill’ your self trying to reach perfection first timeMake sure you and your supervisor know what is going onWrite as you go along … not the last minute

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Tips:Think graphicallyMake graphics works not as decorationMake graphics parts of flow of argumentGet as much data or ideas on a graph as possibleUse color sparingly for emphasisFinal collation – always takes longer than you think

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5 Steps to successful writing“Know how to structure you ideas”1. preparation

2. research

3. organization•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

4. Writing draft

5. Revision

•Literature•Methods•Results•Discussion

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5 Steps to successful writing1. preparation

2. research

3. organization

4. Writing draft

5. RevisionMethods of development:•Chronologically•Sequentially•Increasing/decreasing•Division / classification•Generic specific•Cause effect

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Writing the draftOutline 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)

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Preparing DraftContents OutlinesCoherence of ideasPlace diagrams, table, figures in relevant section. Then explain / writePut aside review again improve writing

Part 2: Organizing & writing draft

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Organizing your report: “5 Chapter Style”

Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Literature ReviewChapter 3: MethodologyChapter 4: ResultsChapter 5: Discussion & Conclusion

The actual writing can have more than 5 chapters but following the same style / flow

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Five Chapter StyleAbstract

Chapter 1Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Chapter 4

References

Appendices

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Flow of ideas … coherent paragraph with one main ideaA clear thread of idea. Run continuously from one section to the next.

Abstract

Introduction

Methodology

Literature Review

Results

Discussion &

Conclusion

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Unity, coherent & transition

All sentences in each paragraph contribute to the development of that paragraphAll paragraphs contribute to development of main topicCentral idea – expressed in the topic sentence

Abstract

Introduction

Methodology

Literature Review

Results

Discussion &

Conclusion

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Example 1: “5-chapter style”Actual writing – 8 chapters

Chapter I

Introduction

Chapter VI

Enhanced Scheme UsingMultiple Recognisers

Chapter II

Literature Review

Chapter IIIResearch

Methodology

Chapter V

Basic Scheme for On-Line Recognition

Chapter IV

Input Representation andRecogniser Design

Chapter VII

Discussion

Chapter VIII

Conclusions

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A paragraphTopic sentences:

Controlling ideas of a paragraphThe rest of the paragraph supports and develops that statement with related detailsMay appear anywhere in the paragraph often in the first sentence

Topic Sentence

A paragraph

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Linking the Chapters

Intro to chapter

Summary / conclusion

Intro to chapter

Summary / conclusion

Intro to chapter

Summary / conclusion

Introduction of each chapterLink the chapter to the main idea of the previous chapterOutline the aim & organization of the chapter (describe argument / point to be made)

Conclusion / summary of each chapterA brief overview what the chapter has coveredEstablished what has been achieved (w/o introducing new material)Summary of chapter’s findings

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Chapter 1: IntroductionThe 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

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Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Background of the Problem1.2 Statement of the Problem1.3 Objectives1.4 Scope and Key Assumptions1.5 Importance of the Project1.6 Definition of Terms1.7 Organisation of the Report1.8 Summary

Chapter 2:Literature Review

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Literature review (1)2.1 Introduction2.2 Background - Broad Area2.3 Background – Focus Area2.4 Background – Related tools and Techniques

2.5 Review on Previous Studies (PSM)2.6 Summary

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Literature Review (2)Background knowledge (Broad)

Books, internet, lecture notes etcPrevious Studies (Focus)

Previous PSM, thesis, journal papers etcResults of literature review are:

Evidence of familiarity with the broad and focus areas of the studyClassification of areas in field of study Identify trend, direction, and research issuesEvidence of not repeating what others have doneTo guide in formulating the statement of problemTo guide in selection of tools, techniques, methodology

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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?

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Literature Review (5)Resources

PSZ (Books, journals, thesis, project reports etc)Pusat Sumber FKM, other faculties

Interneton-line journalswww resources

Include only relevant materials in the project reportAvoid being a catalogue of text book materials (be selective)

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Literature Review (6)Agreement, confirmation, disagreement, contradictionWriting Style:

Information prominent or Author ProminentInformation prominent:

General Statement Author ProminentTenses:

Simple Present + Present PerfectSimple Past

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Literature Review (7)Citation and References

Format (Harvard System)Refer to UTM Guidelines

Avoid plagiarism

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Chapter 3: Methodology

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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 didOrder procedures chronologically or by type of proceduresDon’t include details of common statistical proceduresDo not mix results with procedures

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Methodology (2) Source of Data (dependent of field of studies) :

Lab experimentsComputer SimulationCase study – companySurvey/questionnairesetc

Steps, procedures, materials, samples, apparatus/ instruments/equipment/software used, method for data analysis, performance measures, treatment of errorsJustification for choosing

Chapter 4: Results

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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

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Results (2)“What did you

observed?”Illustrate results: tables, figures, graphs

Most important findings (past tense) Comments

(present tense)

“Ensure adequate analysis”

Presenting Findings:-comparison among groups-fluctuation of variable over time-relationship between 2Variables or more

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Results (3)Summarize results/data in table or chartsCaptions and numbering of tables and figuresAnalyze results –

Observe trend, patterns, relationshipUse statistical tests to know the significant of results

Interpretation of results

Compare resultsAmong the alternative designs (design 1, design 2 etc)Compare with other methods, other previous study, published work

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Results: Example - Table

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Results: ExamplesFigures

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Results: Example - Graph

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Results: ExamplesChart

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Results: sensitivity analysis & validation tests

Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusions

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Discussion (1)“What do your observations mean?”

Referring to purpose / objectives/ hypothesis Restating

findingsLimitation of

findings

Compare findings

Implication: theoretical &

practical

Interpret data in relation to problem stated in Chapter 1

Recommendation & application

“Discuss findings within the context of literature”

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

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Discussion (3) Comparison with previous studies

Conclusion

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ConclusionSummary of main findings (clearly numbered)Brief recommendation for further study

Part 3: Other related matters

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Coherence and LinksAbstract

Chapter 1Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

Chapter 4

References

Appendices

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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

AbstractThe 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

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Number of Pages: Maximum Limits

The limits include:appendices, tables, figures and other illustrations.

Bachelor Degree Project Report

(100 pages)

Master’s Report, Dissertation,Thesis

(250 pages)

Doctorate Thesis (Ph.D)

(350 pages)

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

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Tenses – general guidelines“ Choose proper tenses” Introduction – present tenseLiterature – past tenseRest of report/thesis – past tenseFindings – present tense

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Summary of PresentationImportance of WritingWriting Style -- Five Chapter FormatImportance of unity, coherent & transitionTips for writing each chapterVariations in style existPractice make “perfect”

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SummaryAbstract: the whole report in miniatureIntroduction: serve as a frame for rest of the report/thesisLiterature 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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Thank You

Please forward comment/suggestion to adnan@fkm.utm.my