Writing as a Materials Engineer How to get lab discoveries and results into a written document

Dr. Hillary Hart Office Hours: ECJ M W11:00-12:00 Th.10:00-11:00 Th.10:00-11:001:00-2:

Writing Teaching Assistants ECJ Allison Osborne T. 2:00-3:15 W. 11:00-12:45 Jason Fialkoff T. 2:00-3:30 Th. 10:45-12:15

Read Requirements in Technical Writing Guide Technical Writing Guide Technical Writing Guide ► General Information applies to all writing assignments for 314K. ► Two types of assignments:  Writing Assignments  Calculation Assignments ► Figures and Tables applies to all assignments.

Three Layers of Information Plot and present the data.Plot and present the data. Compare data to expected values.Compare data to expected values. Interpret and explain the data, especially any differences.Interpret and explain the data, especially any differences. Even if no differences, interpret the significance of the data for both your audiences. Three tasks for you the writer:

Although the stress-strain curves plotted in Fig. 1 indicate that the rubber experienced a slight amount of permanent elongation, the specimen returned to its original length after approximately 5 minutes. Therefore, the observed response may be classified as being elastic. These trends in the measured data were expected based on published information (Young et al., 1998). Figure 1: Measured Stress-Strain Curves for Rubber Specimen

Use writing to solve problems for others. Most important questions for you to ask:

Who is reading your reports? ► These assignments ask you to interpret the significance of your data for 2 different audiences. ► Letter or memo is for a busy managerial decision-making person.  Characteristics? ► Report is for a technical advisor.  Characteristics?

Writing Assignments Every writing assignment includes two parts:  A scenario-based memo or letter  A short lab report of results and conclusions attached to the letter or memo

Memos and Letters ► Letters are for external audiences Letters Letters  Contain salutations and sign-offs  Include addresses of sender and receiver ► Memos are for internal audiences or for recipients who are working together on the same project.  To:  From:  Date:  Subject:

Sample Lab Report: Bungee Cord Bungee CordBungee Cord ► Engineering supervisors usually have technical backgrounds, but they are VERY BUSY. ► Supervisors often have to pass along summary documents to the client. The memo is a summary. ► Clients want their concerns addressed quickly. Why add on a memo for the supervisor?

For memos and letters: Give critical information up front. “I have conducted a series of materials tests on our standard 0.5-in. diameter bungee cord manufactured by Titan Rubber Supply and have concluded that this material is suitable for the proposed attraction at Six Flags in San Antonio, TX.” (sample memo) “Using lumber with a moisture content above the fiber saturation point would be catastrophic for the structural integrity of this building.”

More suggestions for memos and letters: ► You may use personal pronouns (“I” and “we”) in memos and letters, but not in technical reports. ► Figure or table may be very helpful to reader! ► Never make the memo or letter more than 2 pp. (including figures and tables).  This is not a suggestion!

Sample Lab Report Lab ReportLab Report ► Audience is a technical person. ► No more than 5 pages in length ► Attach appendices with raw data. ► Both sets of TAs will evaluate the report.

Organization of a Lab Report ► Introduction -- short ► Procedures -- short ► Results and Discussion  Consider including sub-headings ► Conclusions -- short ► Appendices

Introduction ► What was objective of experiment? ► Give brief statement of methodology:  How were data collected, measured, and analyzed?  No longer than 150 words.

Procedure ► Also brief (150 words), but includes more detail on how data were collected:  tests and equipment used. ► You may reference the lab manual.

Results and Discussion ► Present results in figures and tables.  Use titles and labels – see later slides. ► Tell the story of what happened, weaving in figures and tables.

Organize results to illustrate main findings. ► Consider using headings from lab assignment:  Modulus of Elasticity  Poisson’s Ratio  etc.

Present results in both narrative and graphical form. Highlight significance of data shown in tables and figures. “The test results are tabulated below. In both tests, the dry lumber sustained significantly larger loads before failure.” Sample description Maximum load (lbs.)Displacement(in.) Strength ratio (dry/wet) Test 1 DryWet Test 2 DryWet

After presenting data, After presenting data, analyze and interpret the results. ► ► “Although the stress-strain curves plotted in Figure 1 indicate that the rubber experienced a slight amount of permanent elongation, the specimen returned to its original length after 5 minutes. Therefore, the observed response may be classified as being elastic.” ► ► Not just here are the numbers, but here’s what the numbers mean.

Conclusions ► Compare the results with theory: did the expected happen?  “These trends in the measured data were expected based on published information (Young et al., 1998).”  “The experiments were remarkably repeatable.”  “Additional tests are required to determine whether these variations are representative of the rubber tested …”

Suggested sequence of writing 1.Do calculations, appendices and graphs. 2.Write Results and Discussion section. 3.Write rest of report. 4.Write memo or letter In this order, each part of the assignment addresses a wider circle of readers.

First writing assignment: ► You will do a draft of the letter-plus-lab report. ► Draft will be graded. You’ll get comments from TAs; then you can rewrite the draft. ► Final grade is a combination of the draft’s and the revised version’s grades.

Integrating Graphics with Text Position each graphic as near as possible to the words it supports. Comment on every graphic at least once in the text. Discuss significance!

Guidelines for Labeling Label each graphic clearly with a figure or table number and a title. Place the figure number and title beneath a figure Place the table number and title above a table. Create a title (or a title and a caption) that draws attention to significant aspects of the graphic.

Beware the default parameters in Excel!

Figure 2. Deflection of Concrete Beams at Various Applied Loads

Appendices ► Give each appendix a letter and a title ► Number pages separately from report  e.g., A-1 ► Include detailed information:  Data sheets, sample calculations, mathematical derivations... anything not essential for a reader’s understanding of the report. ► Cite each appendix in body of report

Document sources of information in References and avoid plagiarizing. ► CE 333T web site has information on how to avoid plagiarizing: CE 333T web site CE 333T web site  no more than 5 words in a row copied from another source without quotation marks ► Don’t plagiarize unintentionally – consider these writing strategies:  Quotation, paraphrase, summary ► If in doubt about whether to cite source, cite it!  Improper citation is way better than no citation.