ET 699 Course Syllabus
Department of Engineering and Technology
Western Carolina University
Course: ET 699 Thesis.
Instructor: Dr. Aaron
K. Ball
Office: 332 Belk
Email: ballaaron@wcu.edu
Course Overview
The ET 699 Thesis Course focuses on carrying out the proposed research developed in ET 688 (thesis option). Quantitative, empirical studies are highly recommended. It will be up to the individual student to carry out the medothology identified in the proposal submitted to the graduate school. Your major professor will serve as your mentor and assist in guiding you through your research. It is your responsibility to conduct the experiment, analyze data, and generate the thesis document in a professional manner. Remember that your thesis should 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 analysis.
• 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 research article (for submission).
Required Formats: APA, MLA, Chicago Style, IEEE as applicable.
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 do
your project.
This is YOUR thesis! Both the major professor and the instructor will only
provide direction and guidance.
Students.
Students are responsible for carrying out their research, working closely with
their major professor and mentor. You must develop expertise in the area of research,
carry out
the research and data collection, write a final document of findings, write
a condensed
research article (co-authored with your major professor), and submit the
article for publication. You
should meet with your major professor as
soon as possible,
and establish a regular schedule during the semester
guidance.
Project Proposal
A project proposal should be on file in the graduate school, and an approved signed copy has
been sent to your major professor. This is your contract! You must carry out what was proposed
in a timely and professional manner.
Format
The graduate school requires specific formatting in addition to the research and writing style
required by your indicipline (APA for Engineering Technology and IEEE for Electrical).
Schedule
Develop a schedule of tasks and timeline of completion of the project.
A Gantt
chart is required by week 2 and must be signed by your major professor.
Major Sections of the Thesis with General Guidlines
Chapter 1: Statement
of the problem (Include background and need for studying
the problem)
Goals:
Objectives:
Chapter 2: Literature
Review
The literature review is ongoing throughout the duration of your thesis
right up until the
final draft is completed! Focus on examples of other similar
research
studies that have been successful. You must establish a theoretical
basis for carrying out
your study, and identify sound and accepted methods related to research.
Project
approach and methods
Define the methodolgy that will be incorporated to carry out the
project.
These methods
should highlight the procedures of carrying out the study as well as the
data analysis methods. Methods much be in line with your research and accepted in the field.
Results
Restate (highlight) the methods used to collect the data, and describe
the data. Make efficiend use of professional
tables, charts
and graphs. Explain relationships, trends, significance, confidence
intervals and other observations as
appropriate.
Analysis and Conclusion
Restate the problem and conduct a thorough analysis of the data. Show
evidence of the agreement or disagreement of the
theoretical framework
established in the literature review. Summarize both the
statistical significance and practical importance
of the analyzed data.
Evaluation Points
Schedule
10 Due by week 2
Chapter
1
20
Chapter 2
60
Refined work on chapters 1-2 Due by week 6
Chapter
3
30
Refined work on chapter 3 Due by week 8
Chapter 4
45
Chapter 4 draft due by week 8
Chapter
5
55
Preliminary draft due by week 12
Research
Article 30
Article draft due by week 10, final submission is due by week 14
Total
250
Total Accumulated Points and Grade
225 and
up
A
200 -
224
B
175 -
199
C
Below
175
F
COURSE EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Accommodations for Students
with Disabilities:
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.