technical papers handout fall 2014

8/11/2019 Technical Papers Handout Fall 2014

1/191CIV 432 2013-07-25

Faculty of

Engineering

Course Outline

CIVE 432

Course Title: Technical Paper

Credits: 1

Contact Hours: (0-0-3)

Course Prerequisite(s): CCOM 206 or EDEC 206

Course Corequisite(s): N/A

Course Description: A technical paper, on a suitable topic, is to be prepared in accordance with detaile

instructions which are provided by the Department. This paper will normally be written

the U3 year and may be submitted in September or January.

Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) Curriculum Content

CEAB curriculum

category contentNumber of AU's Description

Math 0Mathematics include appropriate elements of linear algebra, differential and integral calculu

differential equations, probability, statistics, numerical analysis, and discrete mathematics.

Natural science 0Natural science includes elements of physics and chemistry, as well as life sciences a

earth sciences. The subjects are intended to impart an understanding of natural phenome

and relationships through the use of analytical and/or experimental techniques.

Complementary

studies16.1

Complementary studies include the following areas of study to complement the technic

content of the curriculum: engineering economics; the impact of technology on socie

subject matter that deals with central issues, methodologies, and thought processes of t

arts, humanities and social sciences; management; oral and written communications; healtand safety; professional ethics, equity and law; and sustainable development a

environmental stewardship.

Engineering

science0

Engineering science involves the application of mathematics and natural science to practi

problems. They may involve the development of mathematical or numerical technique

modeling, simulation, and experimental procedures. Such subjects include, among othe

applied aspects of strength of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical a

electronic circuits, soil mechanics, automatic control, aerodynamics, transport phenomen

elements of materials science, geoscience, computer science, and environmental science.

Engineering

design 0

Engineering design integrates mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, a

complementary studies in order to develop elements, systems, and processes to me

specific needs. It is a creative, iterative, and open-ended process, subject to constrain

which may be governed by standards or legislation to varying degrees depending upon tdiscipline. These constraints may also relate to economic, health, safety, environment

societal or other interdisciplinary factors.

Accreditation units (AU's)are defined on an hourly basis for an activity which is granted academic credit and for which the associat

number of hours corresponds to the actual contact time: one hour of lecture (corresponding to 50 minutes of activity) = 1 AU; one hour

laboratory or scheduled tutorial = 0.5 AU. Classes of other than the nominal 50-minute duration are treated proportionally. In assessing t

time assigned to determine the AU's of various components of the curriculum, the actual instruction time exclusive of final examinations

used.


2/192CIV 432 2013-07-25

Graduating Student Attributes

This course contributes to the obtention of the following attributes:

Graduating student

attributePA IN CS IE

PA- Problem Analysis: An ability to use appropriate knowledge and skills to identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex engineering

problems in order to reach substantiated conclusions.

IN- Investigation: An ability to conduct investigations of complex problems by methods that include appropriate experiments, analysis and

interpretation of data, and synthesis of information in order to reach valid conclusions.

CS- Communication Skills: An ability to communicate complex engineering concepts within the profession and with society at large. Such

abilities include reading, writing, speaking and listening, and the ability to comprehend and write effective reports and design documentatio

and to give and effectively respond to clear instructions.

IE- Impact of Engineering on Society and the Environment: An ability to analyse social and environmental aspects of engineering activitie

Such abilities include an understanding of the interactions that engineering has with the economic, social, health, safety, legal, and cultura

aspects of society; the uncertainties in the prediction of such interactions; and the concepts of sustainable design and development and

environmental stewardship.

Policies

Academic IntegrityMcGill University values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning an

consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct an

Disciplinary Procedures.

(see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/for more information).

(approved by Senate on 29 January 2003)

In accord with McGill University's Charter of Students' Rights, students in this course have the right

submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.

(approved by Senate on 21 January 2009)

Grading Policy

In the Faculty of Engineering, letter grades are assigned according to the grading scheme adopted by thprofessor in charge of a particular course. This may not correspond to practices in other Faculty and Schools

the University.

In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University's control, the content and/or evaluation schem

in this course is subject to change.


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Fall 2014

McGill University

Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Technical Paper CIVE 432

Open only to those students graduating in December, 2014

Instructions to Students

Professor Ronald Gehr

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to learn how to prepare

and write a Technical Paper that is properly formatted and presented, in an appropriate area of

Civil Engineering. Students must therefore carefully follow the attached guidelines, reviewavailable references and adhere to the basic rules of report writing. Particular attention must be

paid to the rules governing the citation of sources for tables, figures, data, references,

photographs and any documentation retrieved via the internet.

REGISTRATION AND OVERVIEW

Each student must have completed CCOM 206, Communication in Engineering, before

registering for CIVE 432. Students must attend the introductory lecture in the semester prior tothat in which they will register for the course and submit their paper. This registration should be

in their final semester. The Technical Paper course affords each student an opportunity to

research, organize and compose a significant piece of technical writing, and permits theDepartment to review and assess the students progress in this activity stage by stage. The

Technical Paper should be on a Civil Engineering topic that the student is personally familiar

with or has researched. Each Technical Paper should represent original work, and include a

theoretical overviewand a case studyof the selected topic. The length of the Technical Paper

should be between 3,000 and 5,000 words (approximately 14 20 pages, average ~ 15 pages, 1!

spaced, including figures and tables).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The following is taken from the Handbook on Student Rights and Responsibilities: No student

shall, with intent to deceive, represent the work of another person as his or her own in anyacademic writing, essay, thesis, research report, project or assignment submitted in a course or

program of study, or represent as his or her own an entire essay or work of another, whether the

material so represented constitutes a part or the entirety of the work submitted. For furtherinformation on this important subject, please consult the following web site:

http://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrity

The originality of each Technical Paper may be assessed by the instructor using text-matching

software.
http://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrityhttp://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrityhttp://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrity


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CIVE 432 Instructions to Students

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DELIVERABLES

In order to fulfill the course requirements, all students must submit the following three items (see more

detailed submission requirements below):

1) Abstract and Table of Contents (TOC): due by Friday, July 11th

, 2014. Electronic; e-mail

to me.

2) Extended abstract, outline of paper, and complete list of references: due by Wednesday,

September 10th

, 2014 (or earlier) with 1 mark penalty per day to the ultimate deadline of

Friday, September 17th

. MyCourses.

3) Final Paper: due by Friday, October 10th

at 4:00 pm, with 1-mark penalty per day to the

ultimate deadline of Wednesday, October 15th

at 4:00 pm. Hard copy, Room 492.Note

that Monday October 13th

is Thanksgiving Day, so you will automatically lose 4 marks if yousubmit on the next available day, October 14

th.

1) Abstract and TOC: Each student must select a topic and submit it with one paragraph describing

the possible contents of the paper, as well as a TOC, by e-mail to me at the following address:[email protected]. Students must indicate their name, student number andCIVE 432in the

subject line of the e-mail (Smith, John 260123456 CIVE 432), and include the following

information in an attached Word file with the same file name as the e-mail subject (e.g. Smith,John_260123456_CIVE432.doc):

Name and Student Number

Proposed Title of Technical Paper

Abstract (1 paragraph)

Proposed Table of Contents

Suggested Technical Advisor

The student should select a Professor in the Department to be his/her technical advisor, but the studentmay use other expertise outside the Department as well. The Professor can be consulted (by

appointment) to clarify matters related to the preparation of the Technical Paper. The student must

recognize the Professor and any other assistance in the Acknowledgements section of the final

paper.

The deadline for the submission is Friday, July 11th

, 2014(or earlier, if possible). I will either validate

the topic and TOC, or recommend some changes to them, and inform the student by e-mail. First come,first served!

2)

Extended Abstract, Outline, and References counts 15% towards final grade:

Extended abstract of 4 pages, including 1 or 2 figures and 1 or 2 tables. A brief description

of the case study will be included.

Table of contents or an outline of the full paper in point form.

The full list of references to be used, prepared according to the requirements in theseInstructions. Students may add to this list in the final document, but not subtract. The grade

will be affected by the quality of the references (at least 10 scholarly references expected).


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The deadline for the submission (electronic submission via MyCourses) is Wednesday, September

10th

, 2014. Late submissions will be subjected to a penalty of 1 mark per day, and no first drafts will

be accepted after Wednesday, September 17th

. The graded submission will be returned to the student

within approximately 2 weeks.

The student can then consult their Technical Advisor(s) to obtain advice concerning the preparation of

the final submission. This process will enable the Professor to identify the areas of weakness in the

paper and to suggest appropriate actions for its improvement. The student is expected to learn from thisprocess and where necessary make an attempt to improve the quality of the paper through making

appropriate corrections.

Evaluation:

Extended abstract

- Technical content, including case study 4

- Quality of the writing; absence of errors 4

Outline of the paper

- Logical flow of topics 2

- Completeness; all required sections covered 1

References

- Number of scholarly references 2

- References style and absence of errors 2

Total = 15

3) Final Paper: The Technical Paper must be submitted on or before Friday, October 10th

at 4:00

pm, with 1-mark penalty per day to the ultimate deadline of Wednesday, October 15that 4:00pm. This will be a spiral-bound hard copy with clear plastic cover submitted to the UndergraduateSecretary, Ms. Anna Dinolfo (Room 492). A Statement of Authorship (completed by the student) is

to be included as the final page of the submission. A sample with the required format is appended at

the end of this handout. A filled-in Checklist and Evaluation sheet must be included UNBOUNDwith the paper.

Students should be aware that if the Technical Paper is not submitted by the last acceptable date, they

will not graduate.

Evaluation:See the final page of this handout (total 85 marks)


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WRITING RESOURCES

The following resources are suggested for improving your technical writing and style.

Textbook: Northey, M. and Jewinski, J. (2005) Making Sense. A Students Guide to Research and Writing.

Oxford University Press, Don Mills, Ontario.

Online resources: Perelman, L.C., Barrett, E., and Paradis, J. (1997) The Mayfield Electronic Handbook of

Technical and Scientific Writing.http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htm

Strunk, W. (1995) The Elements of Style.http://www.bartleby.com/people/Strunk-W.html

Library:http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432

FORMAT

Each student must adhere to the following format for presentation of the Technical Paper:

Title Page

Abstract (approx. 250 words, starting page i) Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Introduction (starting page 1) Body of the Technical Report

Conclusions

References

Appendices (if necessary)

Statement of Authorship

Other formatting and stylistic notes:

Text must be 1!-spaced, and double-sided printing is preferred. Sections should be numbered, e.g.:

1.0 Introduction. Should include objectives of the paper. THIS IS

IMPORTANT.2.0

2.1..2.2..

Do not use quotations; you must paraphrase all material. Avoid the use of footnotes.

Do not use 1stor 2

ndperson (I, we, us, you), contractions or colloquial language.
http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htmhttp://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htmhttp://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htmhttp://www.bartleby.com/people/Strunk-W.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/people/Strunk-W.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/people/Strunk-W.htmlhttp://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432http://www.bartleby.com/people/Strunk-W.htmlhttp://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/toc.htm


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GRADING AND RECOGNITION

I will grade all the extended Abstracts (15%) and most, if not all, of the papers. I will also assess the

suitability of each submitted final Technical Paper for consideration for a prize. Any such Technical

Paper must be exemplary in originality, format, presentation and engineering significance. Finaldecisions regarding the awarding of prizes will be made by the Technical Papers Committee.

DOCUMENTATION OF SOURCES

Documentation of sources is the process of explicitly identifying the sources of the ideas andinformation in your technical paper. Documentation serves three basic functions:

To help you acknowledge your recognition of the sources used this is simply a matter of ethics.

To help you establish credibility knowing how to use existing research is a mark of aprofessional.

To help your reader(s) find the source you have relied on in case they want to read more about a

particular subject.

Two kinds of material should be cited:

A paraphrased idea, concept or opinion gathered from your reading or interviewing. Direct

quotations may not be used in technical papers; these should be appropriately paraphrased.

Any graphic or table from a written or electronic source.

Sources must be given in the text where appropriate, as well as under any figure or table, the information

for which has been taken from a publication, including a website. When a single source has been used

several times in the same paragraph, refer to it only at the end of the paragraph; if an entire section isderived from one or two sources, this may be stated just once at the beginning of the section. All

sources mentioned in the paper must be given in the list of references, and all references shown in the

list must be used somewhere in the text, or with a figure or table.

The following format should be used for citing sources within the text:

Single author: (Barns, 1999); two authors: (Smith and Frank, 2004); three or more authors (Chu

et al., 2001). No other details are given.

Information from websites should still be given under an author (or organization) in the text, plusthe date of publication, or only if none exists, the date accessed. Eg: (Fulton, 2002); (UNICEF,

1998). Do not quote the web address (url) in the text, but give it in the list of references.

If two or more papers have the same author and date of publication, use letters to differentiate

between them: (Peters, 2005a); (Peters, 2005b). Use the same letter notation after the date in thelist of references at the end of the paper.


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References List:

A references list provides the information needed by the reader(s) to find each source used by

you. A references list includes only those items that you actually used in preparing your technicalpaper.

A reference lists is presented in alphabetical order beginning with the last name of the first

author. Note that only the authors first initials are given. A reference entry is arranged by date if two or more works by the same author are listed

beginning with the earliest date.

A references list is not numbered.

Do not separate journal articles, books, and websites.

The following formats should be used in the references list, in accordance with the ACS style

guidelines:

Book with one author:

Anastas, P. T.; Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. Oxford University Press:

Oxford, 1998. Batu, V. Aquifer Hydraulics: A Comprehensive Guide to Hydrogeologic Data Analysis. Wiley

& Sons: New York, 1998.

Book chapter (from a book consisting of chapters authored by different individuals):

Stepl, B. A.; George, K. F. Antifreezes and Deicing Fluids. In Chemical Technology;4th Ed.

Howe-Grant, M., Ed. Wiley-Interscience: New York, 1992; Vol. 3, pp 347-367.

Journal article:

Evans, D. A.; Fitch, D. M.; Smith, T. E.; Cee, V. J. Application of Complex Aldol Reactions tothe Total Synthesis of Phorboxazole B.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 10033-10046.

Website:

Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks

http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/ (accessed 2011/11/17)

Author. Title. Date of last update. url.

The following are NOT suitable as sources and references for text material, although they may be used

for photos, diagrams, maps, etc.:

Wikipedia, or other general popular online encyclopedias

Lecture notes or course slides from a McGill professor or any other professor

Newspaper articles (except to highlight a specific or current problem), websites from industry,and blogs.

Webpages of potentially biased organizations (consulting groups, corporations, lobby groups,

etc.)
http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/


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Referencing Tool

The McGill libraries has acquired a site license for the program EndNote, which can automate the

formatting of your references in ACS style. A custom output style (CIVE 432.ens) has been made for

this course, and is available for download on the webpage:http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432

This is the link to the McGill Libraries site from which you can download EndNote:http://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/citation/software/endnote

You must check all your references manually as well; EndNote is not infallible!

Figures and Tables

Each figure and table must:

Be inserted into the body of the paper and referred to within the text

Be numbered and include a title. Examples:

Table 5: Non-reactive aggregate types (placed at the topof the table)

Figure 3: Steel strains in AAR reinforced concrete beams (placed at the baseof the figure)

Include a reference indicated at the base of the figure or table (eg. Source: Smith and Jones

(2005)) if it was not prepared by the student. If the student used data from a source to prepare the

figure or table (such as to make it clearer, to compress it from the original, etc.), the source

should be given as "After Smith and Jones (2005)". If the source is a website, it should still bereferenced with an author (or organization), plus the date of publication or the date accessed.

The url is to be given in the list of references.

The following sample pages provide detailed examples to help in the preparation of the Technical Paper.
http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432http://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432http://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/citation/software/endnotehttp://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/citation/software/endnotehttp://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/citation/software/endnotehttp://www.mcgill.ca/library/find/courses/guides/cive432


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Title page:

The Impact of Forestry Roads on Rivers

John Smith

260123456

McGill UniversityDepartment of Civil Engineering

and Applied Mechanics

Montral, Qubec

February 25, 2014


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Abstract

The impact of forestry roads on rivers has direct and indirect impacts on the morphology and ecology ofthe rivers. These impacts have led Quebec and British Columbia (BC) governments to put forward new

regulations regarding road construction on public lands. This paper reviews these regulations and finds

that the Quebec regulations are generally more stringent, and less flexible, but may be operationallydifficult to implement. The BC regulations stipulate that bridges and culverts shall be designed for the

50-100 year flood, while the Quebec regulations require that the structures should be able to cope with

the 10-30 year flood. In Quebec, all crossings must be passable to fish, while in BC, only fish bearingstreams need to be passable. Quebec also has much stricter regulations regarding ditches by prohibiting

ditch water to be directly connected to a watercourse. A case study on the impact of a forestry road on

the Chandler River in BC is also discussed.


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Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my appreciation to Professor Annie Smith for her guidance and support

throughout the preparation of this technical paper. I would also like to thank Mr. Robert Marks,President of ABC Corporation, who provided the resources to assist me with data gathering.


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Table of Contents

Page

Abstract

Acknowledgements Pages i to v:

start each

Table of Contents section on a new pageList of Figures

List of Tables

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Objectives (or at the end of the Intro.)

1.2

River1.3

Fish Habitat Requirements

1.4 Other Considerations

2.0 Laboratory Model

2.1 Overview of Model

2.2 Model Parameters2.3 Model Test A

2.4 Model Test B

3.0 Numerical Model

3.1 Depth Averaging Model

3.2

River Bed Model

4.0 Experimentation Method

5.0 Uniform Flow

6.0 Case Study

7.0 Conclusions

References

Appendix A (to be included only if necessary)


Pages 1

to end


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List of Figures

Number Caption Page

1 Expansive concrete strains in a beam 14

2 Flexure versus load characteristics 16


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List of Tables

Number Caption Page

1 Comparison of experimental strain with calculated strains 14

2 Predicted versus measured strains 16


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The following excerpt from a journal article illustrates the proper format for citing sources

within the text.


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Checklist for Technical Paper

(Verify carefully prior to submitting the final draft; Included UNBOUND with the paper)

Name: ___________________________________________

Student I.D.: ________________________________________________

Title: ____________________________________________________________________________________

___________ Title Page (page i)

___________ Abstract

___________ Acknowledgements

___________ Table of Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables

proper page numbering (Introduction begins on page 1)

sections are numbered (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, etc.)

__________ References

proper treatment in text, figures and tables

proper presentation in List of References

cross-checked: body of paper references list and vice versa

__________ Figures, graphs, photographs, diagrams, and tables

numbered and with a title

table title above, figure title below

source acknowledged beneath figures, tables, etc. where applicable (do not

acknowledge your own materials shown for the first time in this paper)

__________ Length (3,000 - 5,000 words)

5,000 words equals approximately fifteen 1!-spaced pages

__________ 1!spaced with margins as follows:

left margin 30 mm

right margin 25 mm

top and bottom margin 25 mm each

__________ Headings and subheadings

adequate number; consistent treatment throughout text headings and subheadings are numbered

___________ Statement of Authorship included as final page of Technical Paper

___________ Evaluation sheet is included UNBOUND with the paper.

__________ Proofread by colleague


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I hereby certify that this technical paper,

______________________________________________________________________________

Title

is the original work of

Name of student

and has not previously been submitted as part of the requirements of any other course or project

at McGill University or elsewhere.

All sources of information used have been fully referenced.

______________________________ ____________________________

Signature Date


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Evaluation of the Technical Paper

Name: ______________________________________ Student I.D: _________________

Title: _________________________________________________________________________

Content: (30%) _________

Originality, completeness, effort

Engineering relevance and significance

Organization: (15%) _________

Clarity in statement of objectives

Suitability of introduction and conclusions

Logical development of the subject matter

Paper Presentation: (20%) _________

Proper breakdown to sections

Quality of figures and tables

Figures and tables mentioned in the text

Table of contents, acknowledgements, references list

Proper attribution to sources in the text, figures and tables

Quality of writing: (20%) _________

Accuracy and terminology

Grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, overall sentence structure

Penalty for late submission: _________

Final Score: (85%) _________

Faculty Reviewer: ___________________________________

Comments:

technical papers handout fall 2014

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