ENGR 2301 Biography of Leonardo da Vinci

ENGR 2301 Biography of Leonardo da VinciSemester Project
Research & Writing Assignment
Topic to be Chosen by Student / Approved by Instructor
Topic Must Relate to Engineering Mechanics
Project Due Dates: June 7th
, June 16th
, July 2nd
Overview
This research and writing based project is to be completed individually. The purpose of the
project is to gain experience in research and technical writing (that is, communicating a
fact-based or scientific topic), and to advance the student’s level of technical presentation.
Note that there are two parts to the project: Part A (first draft) and Part B (final draft).
Preliminary Phase: Choose a Topic (worth 10% of project grade)
Due Monday, June 7th
Send Email to Professor Rust ([email protected]).
Subject of Email: “ENGR 2301: Project Topic”
Body: State your desired topic (Professor will reply to you with feedback)
Topic must be one of the following: a person, structure, event, or scientific concept that is
within the realm of engineering mechanics – the study of forces, structures, and motion.
Example topics:
• The concept, design, and construction of an interesting structure, such as the Torre
Glòries (Barcelona), Burj Khalifa (Dubai), Falkirk Wheel (Scotland), etc.
• The background and details of a notable structural event, such as the collapse of the
I-35W bridge in Minneapolis (2006), or the design crisis of the CitiCorp building in
Manhattan (1978).
• A study and overview of vibration-damping systems in buildings.
• A brief, informative biography of one of the founding pioneers of mechanics.
• A comparative study into the varying mechanical and behavioral properties of metals,
wood, concrete, and other structural materials.
2 of 2
Part A: First Draft of Report (worth 30% of project grade)
Due Wednesday, June 16th
Electronic Submission of Report via eCampus
• Upon approval of your chosen topic, perform in-depth research into the topic and
consider how you will organize and communicate the information to your audience.
• It is recommended to develop a preliminary outline before beginning the actual
writing process.
• Type a report using Microsoft Word or similar program, summarizing your research
and findings on the topic and organizing your ideas thoughtfully.
• In-text citations and a clear list of references are required.
• Grading considerations include content and relevance of report, flow and
organization of writing, proper use of references and citations, and grammar/spelling.
• At least two references must be used; one of these references must be a peerreviewed journal (such as American Journal of Physics, Physics Today, Open Physics,
Communications in Mathematical Physics, etc.).
• At least one image (figure or table) must be used and properly cited.
• Submit first draft of the report electronically via eCampus in PDF format.
Detailed requirements of report and formatting:
o Report must be 2-3 pages in length with the following additional formats:
o Use a standard font type and size (Arial, Times New Roman, 10-12 pt)
o Use 1.5-line spacing; 0.75-inch to 1-inch margins; number all pages
o Proper heading and title of report must be included
o Proper in-text citations must be included
o List of references must be provided at end of report
o For citations and references, use a standard referencing format of your choice,
such as MLA, APA, etc.
Part B: Final Draft of Report (worth 60% of project grade)
Due Friday, July 2nd
Electronic Submission of Report via eCampus
• Upon receiving instructor feedback on the first draft of your report, begin editing,
modifying, and improving your report. [Note: If a student obtains a grade of 100 on
Part A, no further submission of Part B is required, and Part B grade will also be 100.]
• All detailed requirements as stated in Part A are expected to be satisfied.
• It must be clear that the student has made significant and comprehensive
improvements to the report, in response to instructor feedback.
• Grading considerations include primarily the student’s response to and implementation
of detailed feedback provided by instructor on the first draft of the report.
• Submit final draft of the report electronically via eCampus in PDF format.