1. Structure Title Define a short, significant title which reflects clearly the contents of your report. Title Page The following information is always included: report title, who the report was prepared for, who the report was prepared by, and the date of submission. This is not a numbered page of the report. Abstract Brief abstract of less than one page. This include a summary of the whole report including important features, results and conclusions. This is not a numbered page of the report Acknowledgements Thank the people who have helped to successfully complete your project, like project partners, tutors, etc. This is not a numbered page of the report Table of content The table of content lists all chapters (headings/subheadings) including page number. This is not a numbered page of the report Introduction Explain why this work is important giving a general introduction to the subject, list the basic knowledge needed and outline the purpose of the report. 1 Background and results to date List relevant work by others, or preliminary results you have achieved with a detailed and accurate explanation and interpretation. Include relevant photographs, figures or tables to illustrate the text. This section should frame the research questions that your subsequent research will address. Goal List the main question(s) you want to answer. Explain whether your work will provide a definitive answer or simply contribute towards an answer. Methodology Explain the methods and techniques which will be used for your project depending on the subject: field work, laboratory work, modeling technique, interdisciplinary collaboration, data type, data acquisition, infrastructure, software, etc. The sections which make up the body of the report (Procedure and Results) Divided into numbered and headed sections. These sections separate the different main ideas in a logical order Discussion Explain your results. Discuss the results and interpretation in light of the validity and accuracy of the data, methods and theories as well as any connections to other people’s work. Explain where your research methodology could fail and what a negative result implies for your research question. 2 Conclusion In this final section of the body of the report, you should briefly bring everything together. It is similar to the abstract except that now the results are concluded upon in a quantitative way. Therefore, the conclusion should be a concise description of the report including its purpose and most important results providing specific quantitative information. The conclusion should not contain figures or make reference to them. As with the abstract, the reader should be able to read this section on its own which means that there should be no specific technical jargon, abbreviations, or acronyms used. Recommendations Simply, what could be done next? Reference & Literature (Bibliography) List papers and publication you have already cited in your report or which you have collected for further reading. The references should be arranged alphabetically Appendix (if appropriate) Any further material which is essential for full understanding of your report. Add pictures, tables, large scale diagrams, computer code, raw data, specifications or other elements which are relevant, but that might distract from the main flow of the proposal 3 2. Report Layout The appearance of the report is no less important than its content. An attractive, clearly organized report stands a better chance of being read. Use a standard, 12pt, font, Times New Roman, for the main text. Use different font sizes, bold, italic and underline where appropriate but not to excess. The following guidelines are recommended Script The report must be printed single sided on white A4 paper, with font “12”pt, Times New Roman, 1.5 Line spacing Margins All four margins must be at least 2.54 cm Page Do not number the title, summary or contents pages. Number all other pages numbers consecutively starting at 1 4 3. Diagrams, graphs, tables and mathematics It is often the case that technical information is most concisely and clearly conveyed by means other than words. Imagine how you would describe an electrical circuit layout using words rather than a circuit diagram. Here are some simple guidelines; Diagrams Graphs Keep them simple. Draw them specifically for the report. Put small diagrams after the text reference and as close as possible to it. Place large diagrams in separate pages Should be clear with full information Is a table the best way to present your information? Consider graphs, bar charts or pie charts. Dependent tables (small) can be placed within the text, even as part of a Tables sentence. Independent tables (larger) are separated from the text with table numbers and captions. Position them as close as possible to the text reference. Complicated tables should go in an appendix. Only use mathematics where it is the most efficient way to convey the information. Mathematics Longer mathematical arguments, if they are really necessary, should go into an appendix. You will be provided with lecture handouts on the correct layout for mathematics. 4. Headings Use heading and sub-headings to break up the text and to guide the reader. They should be based on the logical sequence which you identified at the planning stage but with enough sub-headings to break up the material into manageable chunks. The use of numbering and type size and style can clarify the structure as follows; 3 Methods of Decision Making 3.1 Decision making under certainty 3.2 Decision making under uncertainty 3.2.1 Maximin 3.2.2 Maximax 5 5. References to diagrams, graphs, tables and equations a. In the main text you must always refer to any diagram, graph or table which you use. b. Label diagrams and graphs as follows; Figure 1.2 Graph of energy output as a function of wave height. In this example, the second diagram in section 1 would be referred to by "...see figure 1.2..." c. Label tables in a similar fashion; Table 3.1 Performance specifications of a range of …….. In this example, the first table in section 3 might be referred to by "...with reference to the performance specifications provided in Table 3.1..." d. Number equations as follows; F(dB) = 10*log10(F) (3.6) In this example, the sixth equation in section 3 might be referred to by "...as given by eqn (3.6)..." 6. References style a. In the main text you must always refer to any reference you used in your report. b. Write your reference in the Text as follows: In 2009, Abdel-Karim …….., Ohno and Abdel-Karim (2000) discussed …… ……….., as discussed by Khan et al (2007). c. Arrange your references at the end Alphabetically according to Author Family Name As: i. Abdel-Karim M., 2009. Modified kinematic hardening rules for simulations of ratchetting. International Journal of Plasticity, 25, 1560–1587. ii. Khan, A.S., Chen, X., Abdel-Karim, M., 2007. Cyclic multiaxial and shear finite deformation response of OFHC: Part I, experimental results. 6 International Journal of Plasticity 23, 1285–1306. 7 iii. Ohno, N., Abdel-Karim M., 2000. Uniaxial ratchetting of 316FR steel at room temperature, Part II – Constitutive modeling and simulation. ASME Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 22, 35-41. 7. The Summary The summary, with the title, should indicate the scope of the report and give the main results and conclusions. It must be intelligible without the rest of the report. Many people may read, and refer to, a report summary but only a few may read the full report, as often happens in a professional organization. a. Purpose - a short version of the report and a guide to the report. b. Length - short, typically not more than 100-300 words c. Content - provide information, not just a description of the report. 8