Mid semester Report and Presentation

Mid-Semester Report and Presentation

Please note that this report and presentation should include everything you have learned to date about your water treatment device, with the exception of the adsorption experiment. Of course, completing the adsorption experiment (and report) should help you understand the operation of water treatment devices that incorporate activated carbon, and this understanding may be incorporated into the Mid semester report and presentation. Your experience with the Mag-Lite report should also help. Use the Guitar Effects Pedal Competitive Assessment Project from Sophomore Clinic to get more ideas on what you should include in your Mid-Semester Report and Presentation regarding Form, Function, and Intellectual Property.

Purpose of Report

I. To summarize the results of investigations of your water treatment device conducted to date.

II. To describe a plan for further testing your water treatment device. This plan can include any tests that you think would be a worthwhile component of a competitive assessment project, regardless of whether you think we have the required equipment. Possible tests could evaluate strength, durability, ergonomics, economics, water quality capacity, water volume capacity, etc. The more appropriate tests you describe well, the better your grade.

Format of Written Project

Submit one report per team. Reports must be printed and stapled in the upper left-hand corner and have 2.5 cm margins on all sides. The type font must be 12 points. The line spacing should be double-spaced. Each page should be numbered (in Word, use Insert, Page Numbers). For help on report writing refer to the chapters "Representations of Technical Information" and "The logical structure of Technical Reports, Section by section" in the course text. The written project must contain the following:

1) A letter of transmittal addressed to your section professor stating the report title, what is in the report and why you are submitting it. The letter should be signed by all team members.

2) Cover Sheet - Use a descriptive title (give the brand and model) include team names, submittal date, and course and instructor name.

3) The body of the report, containing the following sections (see "The logical structure of Technical Reports, Section by section" in the course text for detailed descriptions):

Abstract

Introduction

Methods and Materials - this is called "the procedural section" in your course text.

Results - Include appropriate tables (e.g., specifications, parts list, testing results), figures (e.g., drawings, graphs of testing results), and photos (of the treatment device) after their first mention in the text. This section should cover the following:

i) Form of your water treatment device: For example: What does it look like? Is it ergonomic? What is it made of? Include a parts list.

ii) Function of your water treatment device: Describe how it works. Describe how it is constructed. Incorporate material, mechanical, electrical, and assembly factors into your discussion.

iii) Intellectual Property of your water treatment device: Describe any patents on the product, including sub components. Use http://www.delphion.com/ (you'll need to open a " basic registration" account), http://www.uspto.gov/, or other patent sites. When do the patents run out? If you can't find any patent information explain why and document the level of effort regarding your patent search.

iv) House of Quality analysis of the water treatment device.

v) Results of all tests of your water treatment device conducted to date (simple physical testing and water quality testing). Report average values as appropriate. Report class averages for tap and untreated water, and your average for treated water.Note: the adsorption test is not included in this report.

Discussion - It should cover the following:

i) Summary of the desirable characteristics of your water treatment device.

ii) Summary of the test results (to date) for your water treatment device.

iii) Proposal for further testing of your water treatment device.

The discussion section is based only on information presented in previous sections, with the exception of the material on proposed further testing. Summarize the important items from the preceding sections!

Drawings - Include drawings in the Results section (and the Discussion section if you want to include drawings of the proposed further testing). See the "Graphics" chapter of your course text (also called "Appendix C") for help on making engineering drawings. There should be at least a full page of drawings, drawn using AutoCAD and/or Solid Works (both if you have ME and CEE's on your team). Each drawing should be given a title (e.g., Figure 1: Body of Mag-Lite Flashlight). Figures should be referred to in the Body of the Report (e.g., Figure 1). If a figure is not referenced in the body, it doesn't belong in the report! Use the drawings you submitted for the Drawing homework, suitably improved based on my comments! Include your graded drawings as a separate attachment with the Mid semester report.

PowerPoint Presentation - The presentation will cover the same material as the report. It will contain the following slides/sections:

Title Slide (must include your treatment device + your names)

Overview Slide (main purpose and what you will cover in presentation)

Basic information on water treatment device (multiple slides on the form/function/intellectual property)

Water Quality Testing (multiple slides)

Proposed Testing Section (multiple slides)

Conclusions Slide (summary of activities/results to date)

Think about your objectives and intended audience. Does your presentation meet your goals? Will the intended audience understand it? Will it keep their interest? Make sure that all material included on the slides can be read by the audience. Avoid slides that are too busy. Use bullet points. Don't read your slides word-for-word during the presentation. Avoid "Um", "OK", "You know", "like",... Practice you presentation!