Engineering Writing • Spring, 2018 PROPOSAL Until you receive your graded Proposal back, your main point of contact for questions you might have is the Writing Instructor who visited your 0012 class on 1-9-18. Be sure you know this Instructor’s name and email.

Read the Assignment!! Be sure to read and re-read the assignment: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/First-Year/First-Year-Conference/Conference-Information/ Read all additional/related materials! Keep all assignment materials with you as you write—for a successful Proposal (and, eventually, Conference Paper) you MUST CONTINUE TO consult/reread all assignment materials.

COMMUNICATE with Your Partner Make sure you have (and have saved/written down) every point/mode of contact with your partner Email (at least 1 reliable email address) Phone number Address Other contact info., as agreed upon by both of you (Skype username? Facebook Friend/Messages? Etc.?) Favorite places to hang out? Emergency contacts? Don’t lose your partner; you only get one!

Play Nicely If problems come up between you and your partner, address them with your partner respectfully and IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT let things go! If you are having issues that you and your partner cannot resolve together, contact your W.I., Dr. Budny, and/or Beth Newborg You and your partner get the SAME GRADE on every part of this (and every) assignment.

Let’s Get Technical Your SSFYC Paper will have considerably more "technical" content than your fall semester papers. You will need to include descriptions/explanations of "how things work," complete with formulae, equations, diagrams, etc. Sound "technical content/communication" requires careful and extensive research (Start your research NOW! Today!) But always keep in mind: Though your paper will definitely include significantly technical content, engineering and technologies do not exist” in a vacuum.” You will, in your Conference Paper, discuss significant "so what?” social and professional impact factors. Your Proposal will introduce/summarize these factors.

Start Your Research Now!! This assignment requires significant research. The sooner you begin, the better. You should begin TODAY! It will not be possible to delineate a sufficiently specific topic without doing significant research!

The Proposal 375-450 words You need a solid foundation to move forward  toward all the steps of writing whole SSFYC paper. Due Thursday, January 16th; format and submission instructions will be provided.

PROPOSAL: Key Elements 1) Statement of topic (be sure to underline your topic statement or interrelated topic statements) 2) Describe/explain key aspects of the technology (and/or material, process, device, etc.); describe/explain key application or applications; describe the example (or examples) you be will using throughout the paper 3) Describe/explain how/why knowledge and understanding of this topic are important to the Conference audience at this time 4) Briefly describe your “plan of action” for continuing with your research/descriptions/explanations/analyses

Key Elements: 1) Topic Underline your topic sentence or sentences “Focus in” on a topic that is appropriate/manageable for the Conference Paper; for example: mechanical engineering  solar power  solar panels for residential use  nano solar  thin films the use of CIGS technology in creating solar shingles (see pages 1-3 of the Proposal Assignment) Write a strong topic sentence (or set of interrelated sentences) that states what your will “be about”--what your paper will cover and explain. Your topic sentence (or set of sentences); your topic sentence (or sentences) will concisely describe all the information areas of your paper. For example, if you are writing about CIGS technology and solar shingles, your topic sentence (or sentences) will state that you will be describing and explaining this technology, and that you will be establishing and explaining the importance of this technology and its applications and outcomes Underline your topic sentence or sentences You might need to go “backwards” in order to write your best topic sentence or sentences. Once you have drafted a version of your Proposal, go back and make sure your topic sentence (or sentences) clearly articulate everything that your paper “is about.”

Key Elements: 2) Description of key aspects of the technology (and/or material, process, device, etc.) Concisely describe/explain: what is this technology and how does it “work?” Concisely describe/explain : What are the key materials and/or components and/or processes? Concisely describe/explain: What application/use and accompanying EXAMPLE will be described/explained/analyzed in your paper?

Key Elements: 3) Describe/explain how/why knowledge and understanding of this topic are important to the Conference audience at this time. Begin answering the question: “So what?” “Why should we (engineering students, engineers, various other professionals) —or anyone—care about this topic/technology?”

Key Elements: 4) Plan of Action What is your strategic plan for continuing your research and writing? What kinds of information will you be using? What types of sources will you be consulting? Concisely convince the readers of your Proposal that you can and will be able to continue with the research and writing in appropriate, effective ways.

Topic Area Explanation ↓ ↓ ↓ In addition to your Proposal, you will submit a 75-100 word explanation of why your Conference Paper belongs in topic area X. The Topic Area Explanation will be on the same page as your Proposal, but it is not a part of the Proposal, itself. Check/follow the posted format instructions on how to “set up” the Proposal and the Explanation of Topic Area. If you and your partner are in different “areas” of engineering and/or your topic/technology could be in 2 different Conference Topic Areas, choose 1 Topic Area, and explain why your topic/technology should logically and usefully be within this area. Conference Topic Areas Bioengineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Energy Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Sources For the Proposal, you must consult at least 6 sources (see next slide for details). You will include a “Sources Consulted” section with your Proposal. Within this section, you will provide complete bibliographic information for the sources you have consulted. Note: you will also include a regular “Sources” section—with the bracketed numbers that correspond to source material within your your Proposal. Within this “Sources” section, you will include full bibliographic info. for any source material quoted, paraphrased, or summarized within your Proposal.

Sources A Minimum of 6 Sources: Breakdown At least 1 source must be a “history of” or “overview of” your topic. This source will help you to understand How your topic and related technologies evolved The highlights of the success and difficulties along the way How/why, in general, your topic is important? At least 3 sources must address your specific, “focused in,” narrowed topic. These 3 sources must provide detailed information about your specific topic Locating and studying at least 3 sources on your specific topic will help ensure that you have an appropriately specific topic In most cases, your topic will be specific/specialized enough that locating significant, university-level information will not be quick and easy. Consult the Bevier and Hillman Librarians for assistance, and READ/REREAD the very helpful LibGuides that begin here http://pitt.libguides.com/freshmanengineering/resources At least 2 sources must be on the ethical or social impacts and/or professional impacts of your topic and the related technologies, applications, outcomes See pages 3-4 of the Proposal Assignment Remember this? ➡ These guides remain EXTREMELY useful !