Report Rough Draft Components Project 1, Fall 2008

The information in this PPT is intended to aid the group member assigned to write the rough draft

Slides 1-6 review the front matter of the report Slides 7-9 provide an outline of the required content for the report

Red text indicates prompts/questions to help you organize the draft---red text should NOT be printed on your final draftFor additional information, See Report Guidelines on our website: www.ce.memphis.edu/1101

Parts of a Technical Report Cover letter (see slide #3, do not number page) Title Page (see slide #4, do not number page) Table of Contents (see slide #5, label with Roman

numerals (ii,iii,iv)) List of Tables (see slide #5, place on separate page,

label with Roman numerals (ii,iii,iv, etc.) List of Figures (see slide #5, place on separate page,

label with Roman numerals (ii,iii,iv, etc.)

Body of Report (see slides #6-11, label with Arabic numerals (1,2,3)

Appendix (label with Arabic numerals (1,2,3,etc.)

Writing the Cover Letter Create your own stationery with your logo Use a template for ease of formatting State your purpose in the first sentence of the

letter Follow with general details and refer to your

enclosed report Close by inviting Dr. Warder to the presentation

on September 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Engineering Auditorium

All group members should sign the final group cover letter in black ink

Sample Format for Title Page

Title of Project

Report Number 1101-1(W)

Date Submitted: ________

Prepared by: Prepared for:

Group Name Dr. Richard C. WarderGroup Members’ Names Dr. Charles V. CampGroup Address, Line 1 Dr. Anna P. LambertGroup Address, Line 2 The University of

Memphis Dept. of Civil

Engineering 3815 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38152

Sample Format: Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………..1Background………………………………………………………………………………………………..1

Objective………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Tasks…………………………………………………………………………………………………….2Methods and Procedures………………………………………………………………………………3

Measuring Elevations………………………………………………………………………………3 Determination of Grid Spacing…………………………………………………………………4

Construction of Elevations Grid……………………………………………………………….4Presentation of Elevation Data………………………………………………………………..5

(note: see Technical Content Evaluation Criteria form for other subheadings)

Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………………………..6

ii

General Formatting Information:

Use a standard 12-point font Double space Use consistent page numbering—pre-body pages are

numbered with small Roman numerals; body pages use numbers

Headings are bolded Be consistent with font type/style throughout the report Introduce all Tables and Figures before they appear

Example: “Figure 1 shows a sketch of our site….” Label all Tables and Figures Explain the data from Tables and Figures immediately

after they appear Example: “As Figure 1 indicates, the site is a quadrangle….”

Sections of the Report: Introduction

The following outline corresponds with the Project 1 scenario. Use the same headings and subheadings, make sure to address all criteria listed in red text (from the technical evaluation sheet)

IntroductionBackground Identify your client/describe the competition Identify your assigned site (use general terms such as “located on the South East corner

of Zach Curlin and Central on the University of Memphis’ main campus”) Present a rough sketch of your site (label as a Figure; double space before/after inserting

the Figure, and make sure to refer to the Figure in the text)

Objective State your group’s primary and secondary objective (see Project Description on course

website for this information; the primary objective is the overall goal; the second objective is the means required to reach the goal)

Tasks Identify at least 3 specific tasks required to meet your objectives Consider these questions: (1) what type of study are you conducting? (2) what are the

processes you’ve performed to gather the data? (3) what final products/deliverables will you present at the end of the project? Describe each briefly.

Note: This page should be numbered with Arabic numerals as page 1

Sections of the Report: Methods/Procedures

Methods/ProceduresMeasuring Elevations What is a benchmark? Where is the benchmark on your site? Describe the procedures for estimating the elevations of the site’s 4 corner points Present a table of of the leveling data for your corner pointsDetermination of Grid Spacing Describe the procedure/s used to compute grid spacing using data from each side of your site Present a rationale (reason) for selecting the appropriate grid spacing/Give value of the grid

spacingConstruction of Elevations Grid Describe your procedure for laying out your grid Present a drawing of your grid spacing (label as a Figure)Presentation of Elevation Data Present a table or chart of the elevations of your grid points; introduce and explainMethods/Construction of Contour Map Discuss the mathematical procedure for computing contour lines Present a contour map of your site (label as a Figure)Methods/Construction of Physical Model Describe the procedures for constructing your physical model. Consider these questions: (1) How did you transfer data from the contour map to the model?

(scale); (2) What were the requirements of the model? Note: A photo of your completed model is a great supplement to your description (Label as a Figure).

Sections of the Report: Discussion

Discussion

Characteristics of Site--Slope and Direction Give the elevation of the highest and lowest points of your site Give the direction of the predominate slope of your site

Conclusion

Summarize the procedures your have used to complete the objective and thank Dr. Warder for the opportunity to participate in the competition.