ET 688 Course Syllabus

Department of Engineering and Technology

Western Carolina University

Course:  ET 688 Directed Project.

Instructor:  Dr. Aaron K. Ball             Office:  332 Belk

                     Email:  ballaaron@wcu.edu

Course Overview

The ET 688 project class is one in a sequence of classes for completing your thesis. Efforts in this class should be focused and applied.   Quantitative, empirical studies are highly recommended; however, your committee will ultimately approve your selected topic.  It will be up to the individual graduate student to work with your committee and refine a topic, conduct the experimental research, analyze data, and generate professional reports.  While the topic can be across a wide variety of subjects, it must focus on your area of professional interest, and contribute to a new body of knowledge.  Rather than just an academic exercise, beneficial outcomes should be generated by completing the project. 

The following are key goals of the course:

·         Develop the skills in carrying out research and data synthesis.

·         Implement project management skills for organization and time management

·         Develop a professional writing process both to produce high-quality documents and to diagnose problems in documents.

·         Learn how to conceptualize, develop, and manage larger, complex, and challenging writing tasks.

·         Determine how to choose the most appropriate medium or combination of media to accomplish the goals of documentation.

·         Polish a piece of writing through revisions to a professional level and learn how to work with reviewers.

·         Deliver a professional report and preliminary research article.

·         Submit an approved thesis proposal to the Graduate School

Text:  No formal text will be used; however library resources, modules, and reference literature, indices, data bases and studies will be used throughout the semester.

Required Writing Formats:  APA / IEEE as applicable to your field. 

Responsibilities

    Instructor.  The instructor will provide general guidelines for carrying out a sound and   

    reputable study, provide general formatting requirements for reports, and offer general   

    recommendations for methodology and data analysis.  The instructor will not select

    your project.  This is your thesis, and the instructor will act to coordinate direction

    and guidance.

    Students.  Students are responsible for identifying their research topic, requesting their

    major professor with expertise in the area of research, establishing their thesis   

    committee, submitting a proposal brief for  

    approval, carrying out the required research and data analysis, writing a report of

    findings, submitting a thesis proposal to the Graduate School, and writing a

    preliminary research article that will be co-authored by your major professor and

    submitted for publication in your final semester.  You should contact (as soon as

    possible) a faculty member with expertise in the topic you choose,

    and request guidance and assistance to serve as a major professor and establishing your

    thesis committee.

Proposal Brief

A proposal brief is due within two weeks, and must include the sections shown in the proposal format section.

Proposal Format: 

     Statement of the problem 

         Goal:

         Objectives (defines deliverables)

         Background and need for the study

     Literature Review 

         (Identify typical sources of literature that will be reviewed, and provide one

          condensed review of a related study.  Focus on examples of other similar research  

          studies that have been successful.)

     Project approach and methods

         (Outline what methods you will incorporate to carry out the project.  These methods

          should highlight the procedures of carrying out the study as well as the anticipated    

          data analysis methods). 

     Schedule

          (Develop a schedule of tasks and timeline of completion of the project.  A Gantt    

           Chart should be included with your proposal).

     Deliverables 

         (Identify the actual deliverables that will be presented as a result of carrying out the

          project).

Evaluation 

        Proposal Brief                                           5%               Due in 2 weeks

        Library Modules                                   33%                Due dates to be assigned

        Research (evaluated by committee)     33%                Evaluated in week 15

        Written Report                                        23%                Due by week 10 (check

                                                                                                 Graduate school deadline

        Research Article                                      5%                 Due by week 12

ET 688 Schedules and Task Breakdown

Goal:

Your goal for this semester should be to complete all of Chapter 1, a major portion of Chapter 2, and most of Chapter 3 as defined in the following section.  Your final written work must conform to the requirements set forth by Western Carolina University’s Graduate School and must adhere to their required format.  The following section provides a simplified outline of a typical thesis for your reference.

Simplified Thesis Format:  (Ball Version)

Chapter 1:  Statement of the problem

a.       Purpose (Clearly defines the overall goal)

b.      Objectives (suggests or defines deliverables).

c.       Statement of Hypotheses (suggests methodology)

d.      Background and need

e.       Significance of the study (who benefits)

f.        Delimitations for the study (sets the research boundaries)

g.       Definition of key terms.

Chapter 2:  Literature Review

1. Establishes credibility by stating and summarizing what relevant research has been done. 
2. Provides documented citations of authorities in the field relative to the research topic.
3. Reinforces stated hypotheses.
4. Establishes and confirms the appropriate methodologies.

Chapter 3:  Methodology

1.      Defines the roadmap for carryout the research

2.      Supports the objectives stated in Chapter 1.

3.      Identifies collecting data strategies and tools.

4.      Sets guidelines for time management.

5.      Establishes procedures for analysis of data.

Chapter 4:  Results

1.       Presents Outcomes and Data

2.       Presents results as related to objectives.

3.       Presented in a manner to support or refute stated hypotheses.

4.       Presents summaries of significance.

Chapter 5:  Analysis and Conclusions

1.      Restates problem (goal)

2.      Addresses objectives

3.      Answers the outcomes (results) relative to stated hypotheses.

4.      Leads to conclusions

5.      Emphasizes findings relative to overall goal

Example Schedule and Committee Approval Sheet

Important Links:

 
Western Carolina University Thesis Guide Link

http://www.wcu.edu/WebFiles/PDFs/Thesis_guide.pdf

Literature Review Links

http://www.wilderdom.com/OEcourses/PROFLIT/Class3LiteratureReview.htm

http://york.cuny.edu/~washton/student/Org-Behavior/lit_rev_eg.pdf

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed
to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities.  Students
who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having
a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services.  All information
is confidential.  Please contact Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-2716 or
144 Killian Annex.