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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
Outline of PresentationPart 1: Introduction
Part 2: Organizing & writing draft
Part 3:Other related matters
Part 1: Introduction
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
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PSM
Outcome of PSM:-Skill to conduct task independently-Analytical and synthesis skills-Writing skill-Presentation skill
Typical activities in PSMLiterature Problem identification / FormulationMethodologySelect Case Study / Develop Experimental Rig / ModelingData collection and analysisInterpretation of resultsDiscussion and conclusionSuggestion for further work
PSM 2: Final Draft (40%)IntroductionLiterature reviewMethodologyResults and AnalysisDiscussionConclusion
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
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
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
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
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)
Preparing DraftContents OutlinesCoherence of ideasPlace diagrams, table, figures in relevant section. Then explain / writePut aside review again improve writing
Part 2: Organizing & writing draft
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
Five Chapter StyleAbstract
Chapter 1Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
References
Appendices
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Interneton-line journalswww resources
Include only relevant materials in the project reportAvoid being a catalogue of text book materials (be selective)
Literature Review (6)Agreement, confirmation, disagreement, contradictionWriting Style:
Information prominent or Author ProminentInformation prominent:
General Statement Author ProminentTenses:
Simple Present + Present PerfectSimple Past
Literature Review (7)Citation and References
Format (Harvard System)Refer to UTM Guidelines
Avoid plagiarism
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
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
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)“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
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
Chapter 5: Discussion & Conclusions
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”
Discussion (2)Compare with other works – agreement, contradict, confirmation, better understanding, etcHow the findings relate to the theory or current understanding
Conclusion
ConclusionSummary of main findings (clearly numbered)Brief recommendation for further study
Part 3: Other related matters
Coherence and LinksAbstract
Chapter 1Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
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
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
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)
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’
Tenses – general guidelines“ Choose proper tenses” Introduction – present tenseLiterature – past tenseRest of report/thesis – past tenseFindings – present tense
Summary of PresentationImportance of WritingWriting Style -- Five Chapter FormatImportance of unity, coherent & transitionTips for writing each chapterVariations in style existPractice make “perfect”
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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