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HOW TO WRITE A GOOD FINAL

YEAR PROJECT (FYP) THESIS

By

Prof. Dr. Mani Maran Ratnam

School of Mechanical Engineering

(19 April 2019)

Know where you are now:

Start writing!

Definition of a ‘thesis’:

“a dissertation embodying results of

original research and especially

substantiating a specific view; especially :

one written by a candidate for an

academic degree”

… Merriam-Webster

Contents of a good FYP thesis:

Abstract

1.Introduction

2.Literature Review

3.Methodology

4.Results and Discussion

5.Conclusion and Future

Work

Appendix

References

Summary of your work

Overview of your work

(importance, aim etc.)

Other people’s work

How did you do your work?

What are your findings

and what do they imply?

Have you achieved your

objective?

1.0 Writing the ‘Introduction’

• A good Introduction has the following

sections:

Research background

Problem statement

Objective(s)

Scope of research

Thesis organization

Why is your work important?

What is the problem you are trying to solve?

What is/are your objectives?

What does your research cover and what it doesn’t?

How is your thesis organized?

Writing the ‘Research background’

1) Start by describing the background of the problem

you are investigating, e.g.

“1.1 Research BackgroundOptical devices have been widely used in cameras, mobile

phones, binoculars, medical devices, machine vision systems andother imaging systems. Since there are many different applications,there are various types of lenses being created to fulfill thedifferent requirement for specific applications. In general, thereare two types of lenses being used, such as fixed focal length andvariable focal length lenses. Fixed focal length lens is a prime lensthat has only one focal length with the simpler structure andhigher image quality. However, such lens is only suitable for theapplications that require unchanged focal length. When a dynamicand changing focal length is needed, this lens is precluded andreplaced by variable focal length lens.”

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2) Guide the reader to understand the problem with

existing methods

“In the past, a number of studies about the lens design andactuation mechanisms in development of using the LFD lens havebeen carried out. Recently, researchers discovered that thefocusing criteria play an important role in determining the goodquality of images (Abdullah et al. 2009, 2010). By using thefocusing criteria, liquid-filled lens system can focus imageautomatically. In a recently published work, the focus measurecriterion for automatically focusing the image formed by adiaphragm-type fluid lens was verified and tested experimentally(Abdullah et al. 2010). However, the previous work can only focuson a binary image, but have not been tested on three-dimensionalobjects of printed characteristics.”

- Cite references indirectly (within brackets)

Writing the ‘Problem statement’

• What is a ‘Problem statement’?

- A statement that clearly spells out the unsolved

problem, e.g.

“Previous researchers have used the edge slopewidth (ESW) of the pixel intensity profile as the focusmeasure parameter. However, this focus measure isonly viable for binary target in auto-focusing theimage.”

- Don’t cite reference here!

- Limit to one paragraph (or two)

Writing the ‘Objectives’

Objectives should lead to measurable outcome

Examples of good objectives:

• To determine the best focus measure parameter in liquid-filled diaphragm (LFD) lens.

• To develop a new auto-focus measure algorithm in to focus the printed characters automatically by using image feedback

Examples of bad objectives:

1. To understand the effect of lubricant viscosity on the wear rate

2. To develop a C-code3. To study the effect of fiber content4. To fabricate a lens holder5. To apply Monte Carlo method in optimization

- Don’t put two objectives in one

More examples of good objectives:

• To study the effectiveness of a CCD flatbed scanner as the image capturing device in 2-D DIC method

• To develop an algorithm for the measurement of in-plane displacement of high strain rate material (rubber).

Writing the ‘Scope of research’

• The scope of research is a general outline of

what the study will cover and what is doesn’t

cover, e.g.

“This study is limited to metal surfaces that are machined using the milling process. These surfaces are produced on a conventional milling in dry cutting. The speckle pattern is produced using a low-power He-Ne laser available in the laboratory.”

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2.0 Writing the ‘Literature Review’

• Purpose of literature review To prove that your

work is original (not been done by anyone before)

• Search the databases for related work discuss

with your supervisor

• Review at least the past 5 year’s work

• Provide a critical review of the existing methods

instead of just reporting what others have done

• You may use figures taken from elsewhere in your

literature review, but cite them properly

Figure 2. Rear view of the overall system setup (Abdullah et al., 2009)

“OverviewNowadays, advanced optical technology has emerged with

some newly types of variable focal length lenses, which can vary thefocal length using only a single element lens. For instances, liquidcrystal lens, electro-wetting lens, and liquid filled lens have beendeveloped and still being improved. In this chapter, the past researchesand implementation strategies in using these different types of variablefocal length lens are reviewed. From the reviews of limitations andadvantages of each lens, the liquid filled diaphragm (LFD) lens isselected as the appropriate lens to be used in this work. Besides thelens types, the actuating mechanism in varying focal length is alsoanother subject of interest in the field of optic. In this review, theactuating mechanisms used by previous researchers are investigatedand suitable actuating mechanism is selected. This chapter alsointroduces and reviews the focus measure parameters that were usedby previous researchers in determining the correctly focused state.”

• Begin the chapter with an Overview

“2.1 Liquid Crystal (LC) LensLiquid crystal (LC) lens possesses a birefringent property,

which can demonstrate double refraction when a ray of light passesthrough it. The applications of LC lens are mostly used in displaydevices and tunable optical components (Kawamura and Ito 2011).The lens is compatible to these applications because of itsadvantages of small size, lightweight, low control voltage and lowpower consumption. Besides that, the LC lens is able to vary focallength by just changing its index of refraction. In order to vary theindex of refraction, the polarization state of the LC lens is re-oriented by employing voltage variation across the cell. However,there are also limitations and challenges faced by the LC lens. Forinstance, its response time increases with square of thickness of thecell, and hence it is hard to maintain its crystal structure with thethicker cells.”

• Sub-divide into various topics/areas

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3.0 Writing the ‘Methodology’

• Explain how you carried out your research

• Begin with an Introduction/Overview of the chapter

• Include photographs and (better) a schematic

diagram of the experimental setup

• Sub-divide into sections explaining different

aspects, e.g. material preparation, experimental

setup, algorithms etc.

• Be as detailed as possible , e.g. (1)

“The target translational stage used is a type of guiderail (Caged Ball, Guide Actuator, SKR46, THK, Co. Ltd.). Theguide rail is used to move the target or object which is on theplatform to different locations ranging from 165 mm to 965mm (Abdullah et al. 2009). A stepper motor (AS66AAET10with gears detached, Oriental Motor. Co. Ltd., Japan) is usedto actuate the guide rail. The resolution of the stepper motoris 1000 pulses per shaft revolution (360º) and it is controlledby the computer digital signals. The guide rail has a pitch of20 mm and a travel distance of 800 mm.”

“In order to verify distortion in the image a multi-frequency grid distortion target (supplied by EdmundOptics Ltd., Singapore) as shown in Fig. 2(a) was capturedusing the webcam. The grid distortion test target wasplaced on a horizontal flat surface at the same level as theaxis of the workpiece clamped onto the chuck of thelathe. A bar type holder was clamped onto the chuck anda spirit level was used to verify that the holder was in thehorizontal position….”

• Explain all the figures shown

• Use proper captions for your figures

• Use proper tenses, e.g.

• Explain all the figures shown

• Use proper captions for your figures

• Use proper tenses

“Therefore, one revolution of stepper motor causes the guide rail to travel 20 mm of distance. Figure 3.2 shows the minimum distance between the target position and the fluid lens, and the maximum range of travel distance of the guide rail.”

• Use proper flowcharts to explain algorithms: • Use proper figure captions:

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REMEMBER! Never begin a section with a figure 4.0 Writing the ‘Results and Discussion’

• Present your results using tables or graphs or

both

- use graphs when you want to show trends

- use tables when you want to show values

• Put repetitive data in the Appendix (and refer

them in the text!)

• Discuss the results – don’t just present them!

• Compare with existing results, if available or

possible, to show in what way(s) your findings are

better

• Label the axes clearly and use proper font size:

• Tables should have proper headings:

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5.0 Writing the ‘Conclusion and Future Work’

• Review the objective(s) before writing the

conclusion – have you achieved the objectives?

• Write the main conclusion that answers the

objective,

Example 1:“A new method for measuring the roughness of

reflective machine surfaces using laser speckle has been developed. The black-to-white ratio of the pixels in the binary images were found to have a linear negative correlation with the roughness data.”

“In this research, a new focus measure parameterfor determining the focus quality of image produced byLFD lens has been developed. Three focus measureparameters had been proposed and testedexperimentally. The parameters proposed are black-to-white pixel ratio, average gray value of pixels andgrayscale intensity profile of image. After comparisonsbetween the performances of these parameters, theblack-to-white ratio was selected as the best focusmeasure parameter.”

Example 2:

Writing the ‘Future work’

• Explain what more can be done in this project

• State what contribution can be expected from

the extended work

Writing the ‘Abstract’

• Keep this till the end

• Should consist of the following FIVE element:

Brief problem statement

Aim of research

Main approach used

Major findings (results)

Conclusion and contribution

(

((

((

(

(

(

(

“ABSTRACT

Digital image correlation (DIC) has proven to be a useful method

for non-contact measurement. The purpose of this research is to utilize a

CCD flatbed scanner instead of CCD camera in DIC method for measuring

full-field displacements of high strain rubber by comparing the digital

images of processed specimen captured before and after deformation. The

main advantage of the CCD flatbed scanner over the conventional DIC

setup is that external lighting is not required and the setup is simpler. For

this purpose, a fixture was designed as specimen clamp and tensile load

applicator. The images were processed using Matlab to obtain the

displacements and strains in the specimen. The displacements are

computed by mathematically correlating the images before and after

deformation where the maximum correlation values are obtained. The

results obtained using flatbed scanner DIC method were checked against

those obtained using tensile test machine. The comparison of results

shows some small deviations which maybe contributed by errors in the

computation or measurement. Some potential improvements are

suggested in this report which can be made to achieve more accurate

results for strain measurement of high strain rubber.”

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Writing the ‘References’

BING, P., HUI-MIN, X., TAO, H. & ASUNDI, A. 2009. Measurement of coefficient of thermal expansion of films using digital image correlation method. Polymer Testing, 28, 75-83.

CHEN, K. S., CHEN, T. Y., YAN, H. Y., HUANG, I. T. & CHEN, J. K. Year. Mechanical properties characteristics or rubber O-rings by digitalimage correlation and nanoindentation. In, 2007. 286-293.

CHEN, S. K. & HOLLENDER, L. 1995. Digitizing of radiographs with a flatbed scanner. Journal of Dentistry, 23, 205-208.

CHEVALIER, L., CALLOCH, S., HILD, F. & MARCO, Y. 2001. Digital image correlation used to analyze the multiaxial behavior of rubber-like materials. European Journal of Mechanics, A/Solids, 20, 169-187.

HADDADI, H. & BELHABIB, S. 2008. Use of rigid-body motion for the investigation and estimation of the measurement errors related to digital image correlation technique. Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 46, 185-196.

Ensure that all your references are cited in the

thesis!

Preparing presentation slides

• Don’t put too much text on the slides – limit to

about four to five lines

• Don’t use fancy background or animation

• Use suitable font size, e.g. minimum font 28

• Use more pictures and diagrams to explain

(remember your examiner will not visit your lab!)

• Choose colors that give good contrast to your text

• Limit the number of videos

• Fill up the slide!

http://www.ezslides.com/goodandbad.htm

• Examples of good and bad slides

http://quickbase.intuit.com/blog/2010/04/14/how-to-give-a-great-presentation/

http://tutorialblog.org/4-tips-for-great-presentations-slide-composition/

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Introduction

• Moiré patterns generated by circular gratings:

x

φ

ε

Grating 2

Grating 1

y

Line of symmetry of

moiré pattern

Figure 1: (a) Circular gratings moiré pattern and (b) Eccentricity ε and angular offset φ of circular gratings.

(a) (b)

Presentation guideline and viva

• DON’T read from your slides!

• DON’T read from your notes!

• DON’T hide behind the computer!

• Don’t spend too much time on research

background and literature review

• Focus on your own work – how it was carried out,

what are your findings, what is your contribution

• If you have develop a new device, machine, setup

etc. show pictures from several angles (include

videos only if necessary)

• Rehearse your presentation before coming!

How to prepare for you presentation:

Write what you want to say about each slide here

LIMIT YOUR PRESENTATION TO ONLY 15 MINUTES!

savvyeteens.wikispaces.com

Plagiarism and ethical issues

Declaration page

What is Plagiarism?

“According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to

‘plagiarize’ means:

- to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as

one's own

- to use (another's production) without crediting the source

- to commit literary theft to present as new and original an

idea or product derived from an existing source.

…plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing

someone else's work and lying about it afterward.”

(http://www.plagiarism.org/)

Plagiarism issues

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“All of the following are considered plagiarism:

- turning in someone else's work as your own

- copying words or ideas from someone else without

giving credit

- failing to put a quotation in quotation marks

- giving incorrect information about the source of a

quotation

- changing words but copying the sentence structure of

a source without giving credit

- copying so many words or ideas from a source that it

makes up the majority of your work, whether you give

credit or not (see our section on ‘fair use’ rules)”

(http://www.plagiarism.org/)

…from student’s thesis

… from the Internet

From student’s thesis

From Internet

…the easiest way to detect plagiarism

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Ethical issues

• Fabricating data without doing the experiments

• Falsifying data or misrepresenting data

• Hiding negative or unfavorable results

• Asking someone else to do part of your work

• Getting someone else to write the thesis for

you:

REMEMBER: THE FYP THESIS IS THE PRODUCT OF YOUR OWN EFFORT

BE PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT!