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WRITING A PRACTICUM REPORT

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, IUBAT
by
Prof DrEngr A Z A Saifullah
Chair, Mechanical Engineering

The Assessment Criteria for your REPORT are:

Aims, Objectives and Management: To include ability to set goals, determination
to succeed,recommendations/conclusions and assess the success of the project.
Quality of Performance:To include literature and background research, quality of
investigation,
Experimental work / design work/computer based modeling or simulation /
theoretical analysis as
Applicable, logical approach, structure of report, presentation of report (particularly
of
data/programs/designs).
Evidence of Independent Work and Critical evaluation: To include initiative
shown, dependence on
Supervision, ability to compare and contrast theory and results, critical evaluation of
project work and
outcomes, discussion of projects to include relation of the work to that of others.
The relative weighting of this criteria is 1 : 5 :2.
FORMAT RULES AND STYLE GUIDELINES
Your report will be presented with a smart and polished appearance. Its preparation
will give you useful
experience in presenting a professional report or journal paper.
These notes include some examples of rules of format and style to illustrate the
standard expected.
There is also scope for individual style, which permits reflection of your graphical,
artistic and literary
abilities, while allowing but not demanding, the use of more sophisticated
apparatus.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The report must be presented in typescript on standard A4 size white paper (apart
from the covers) with
the following layout:
Spacing:one and a half lines
30 mm left hand margin

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20 mm right hand margin
Font:Times New Roman 12 pt for the main text
Page Numbers: to be numbered consecutively (from 1) the Introductory Chapter
onwards (including any
Appendices). Page numbers must be located centrally at the bottom of the page.
Two bound copies of the report must be produced at your own expense. Each copy
should preferably be
bound with a plastic comb binding or wire binding.
The length of your report would normally be expected to be no more than 8000
words. It should not
exceed 100 pages including all tables, figures, photographs, data etc.
Note: There is no correlation between the length of a report and the mark it
achieves. A shorter well
presented report is far more likely to achieve a better mark than a longer less wellwritten and produced
report. Remember: Quality counts, not quantity.
(1)THE OPENING PAGES
The pattern for the first 6 pages must be rigorously adhered to,and these
will not be numbered. Number pages from the first chapter, i.e. Introduction,
onwards.
The report cover must have the layout specified in appendix A and should
be on thick white paper/card. The rear cover must be a blank sheet of the
same paper/card.{You may additionally use a transparent plastic protective front
cover if wished}
Page 1 is the title page with layout as shown in Appendix B
Page 2 is blank
Page 3 is as written in Appendix C
Page 4 is blank
Page 5 is as written in Appendix D
Page 6 is certificate of completion of Internship from the Organization where the
student has done his
Practicum
Page 7 is the letter of request sent by the Department to the Organization for
practicum

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Page 8 is the Students Declaration as shown in Appendix E
Page 9 is the Abstract
Page 10 is the Acknowledgement as written Appendix F, or perhaps some
frontispiece artwork or blank
Page 11 is the list of Contents
Page 12 contains a Nomenclature list or Glossary or blank.
Page 13 starts the first chapter on the first page which carries a number, i.e. 1.
Note: there is no need to include a list of tables or figures.

(2)Title
Ensure that this describes the project. Use a short title of 15 words maximum on the
first line (and
only this will go on front cover). This may be followed by a sub-title of 1 or 2 lines
where necessary
on the Title page only.
(3)Abstract
The abstract must be a digest of the report, in a style which would stand alone,
with just the title, in an abstract journal. Only write it after you have finished the
report manuscript. It should bring out the major findings and results of the
research. Your conclusions should be summarized, along with the method of
research and source of data. The abstract must be informative: this was
investigated or conclusions are given are inadequate. It must fit entirely on
one page, and should have as a separate line at the end 4 6 key words.
(4)Contents list
The list of carefully worded chapter headings (not necessarily numbered),
together with appropriate, but not necessarily all, sub-headings, and listed
appendices and pocket items, should give the reader a fair idea of the scope and
balance of the report. It eliminates the need for a waffly introduction. It should fit
on one page only. Type it last, when you have the page numbers.
A typical Contents List would be
Abstract
Acknowledgements

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Contents
Nomenclature
Chapters
1

INTRODUCTION
1.1Introduction
1.2Aims and Objectives
1.3Report content

BACKGROUND or LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1General
2.2Specific to topic 1
2.2.1 Sub-section on topic 1
2.2.2 Second sub-section on topic 1
2.3Specific to topic 2
2.4
Summary contents

3
THEORETICAL CONSIDERATION (development of
theory/concepts) and/or
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE (for experimental investigation)
and/or
SIMULATION PROCEDURE (for computational/simulation
work)
and/or
PRODUCT DESIGN SPECIFICATION (including design
methodologies)
4 PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
4.1 General
4.2 Specific to topic 1
4.2.1 Sub-section on topic 1
4.2.2 Second Sub-section on topic 1
4.3 Specific to topic 2
4.4 Summary comments
5

DISCUSSION
5.1 General
5.2 Specific to topic 1
5.3 Specific to topic 2
5.4 Summary comments

6 CONCLUSIONS ( and where appropriate RECOMMENDATIONS ) & FUTURE

WORK
REFERENCES (AND BIBLIOGRAPHY)
APPENDICES (if any), e.g.
A1 Equipment Specifications/Details
A2 Data tables

THE MAIN TEXT

The general font should be Times New Roman size of 12. Generally use 1.5
spacing without line breaks but with paragraph indents. Justification is optional.
Do not use separate pages merely as chapter headings.
Use good English with a verb in each sentence. Use the third person singular, do
not overuse statements in brackets and avoid the unpleasant using of verb
participles.
Subdivide your text sensibly with chapter headings 1, 2 or 3 rank of subheadings, as in these notes. Heading styles are optional and can be improved
with bold type, but ensure that emphasis reflects the rank; and be consistent.
Make all headings informative. Number the chapters and subsections to help
with cross-referencing. Excessive headings are cumbersome and increase the
odds on difficult page layout when they turn up at the foot of a page. Only
chapters have to start on a new page. Sections and chapters do not need to be,
and rarely are, of even length> Number of pages, except 1-6 and any of
oversize diagram. Note that odd numbers are on the right of a spread a, and the
last page is an even number.
Do not use both headers and footers. If you want to use one or the other only
use it for the chapter number and title.
If you plan and roughly draft your figures, tables, photos and graphs as you are
writing the text, then they will not only integrate better, but will also be able to
number and refer to them (Fig. 1) correctly. Integration of text and illustrations
can only be done in the final stages, but thoughtful use of the double page
spreads can have figures beneficially adjacent to the relevant text. A modicum of
forethought on diagram size and shape can save much effort on compilation
stage.
References must be cited in the text (where appropriate) using the first authors
surname followed by the year of publication. If there are a number of authors
involved add et al to the first authors surname. When citing information from
a textbook, only include pages which are critical to a debate.
Example
The functional parameters which can affect the performance of a flying robotic
have been investigated experimentally (Hill, 2001). The parameters under
consideration include The results compare favourably with those obtained in a
previous investigation carried out at MIT (rogers et al. 1999). As advocated by
Crane (1998, p145), the design

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Remember: pages are not cited in the reference list. For further information on
referencing please visit http://www2.ntu.ac.uk/Hr/linrary/citingrefs.htm. It would
be expected that a typical MSc research thesis would have 20 t0 60 references.
The style for equations is variable depending largely on the number used, but do
not be too wasteful of space. Greek symbols may be in word processing
packages, or may need to be added neatly by hand; ensure that all symbols are
defined; calculations are not usually worked in full.
The content and naming of the main chapters will vary a great deal depending
upon your particular project. However in general the content of the chapters
should contain the following:
Precise description of any experimental work undertaken, computaytional
packages, design specifications, or theory used so that, say, a student next year
could repeat exactly what you have done (and should arrive at the same finding
(s)).
Presentation of research findings (such as results, including any preliminary
interpretation/analysis of result, designs or new theory) in a manner which will
be clear to the second examiner of your report., who will be technical nonexpert. You should ensure that the presentation of your work is absolutely clear
to the technical non-expert as he/she will not spend many hours trying to
decipher exactly what you were you were intending to convey.
The analysis and discussion should demonstrate that you have fully understood
your work and can place it in the context of the work of others, such as that
discussed in the Background chapter.
The summary should highlight your main findings and achievements, the
conclusions should refer to your research aim(s) and objectives, and the future
work should describe the next steps that you would take if you were to continue
with the project (with reasons).
PLAGIARISM
Proper reference to previous work is appropriate and necessary, whereas blatant
copying is unprofessional and unlawful. You will need to refer to past work (Able
and Smith, 1978) and also summarize other peoples ideas (Student, 1989), and
any properly credited reference is acceptable. It is appreciated that your
research is building on previous work, but do make clear what is your own
original work and what is derived from elsewhere. Any significant quotation
copied from a previous publication should be place inside quotes and also be
referenced at the end (Thatcher, 1985). A diagram or graph from previous work
should be redrawn and must be referenced (after Student, 1989) in the caption.
FIGURES Drawings/Diagrams/Graphs/Photographs

Style of drawing is your choice, but the quality reflects strongly on your
work. Diagrams may be freehand, highly artistic or produced by computer
graphics.
Reduction to 70% enhances quality as it irons out quivering of the pen,
and it is impossible to draw as small as one can easily read.
Lettering may be stencil, very neat handscript, letraset or pasted on type,
and should be legible after the chosen reduction.
Frame the diagram and think of page shape when you do so.
Reduced diagrams, captions and page numbers can then all be pasted
onto a page. Either paste down very carefully or recopy on to a single
sheet.
Remember that pale blue graph grids may disappear on a photocopy.
Remember that only bar scales retain integrity when drawings are copied.
Full page landscape-form diagrams must have their margin right.

Figure 1: Essential details of a diagram or table, with a suitable caption which

explains the
context and meaning of the material. This will normally be typed separately and
pasted
on the page (best with Spray Mount). A type style different from the text is
acceptable
and often helpful, and the caption may be generated with the computer used to
draw
the diagram.

100 mm X 150 mm photo prints can be firmly mounted (with no loose

corners), with captions and page numbers, onto A4 sheets. This is
acceptable for your final submitted version.
Do not use excessive photographs, though some subjects may demand
more than others.
Photo-quality printing of pages does not produce a solid black print. Text
does not therefore print well on these pages, though captions are
acceptable. So avoid text and photos on the same page; note that two
landscape format photos can usefully go on one page and appear
opposite the relevant page of text, planning of such pairings makes good
presentation.
Colour photographs or colour photocopies can be pasted in afterwards
where blank spaces have been left for them. This should be limited to a
mere handful of prints, as an excess will cause a bulking of your report
and create problems with the binding.
Spray Mount is the best adhesive, and you will insert the photos yourself
after binding. Do not use Cow Gum (which produces a vapour which

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reacts with copier ink). Printing of your report will not be a colour copier.
Whole page colour photocopying is expensive and you will have to
produce multiple copies of double-sided sheets yourself if you choose to
use this process.
Figure 2: Essential details for photograph production. Captions prepared as
for figures.
END MATERIAL
Convention dictates certain requirements of the end material; there is still
scope for personal style, except in the case of the references which must
follow the examples here. You should not have a separate bibliography; any
relevant literature must be referenced in the text and then cited in the
references.

References (and Bibliography)

These start on a new page, with their own heading, and are in alphabetical order. All
references to published literature and unpublished documents must be correctly
cited within your ownpresentation.The references must follow theHarvard
style(examples given below) and other forms described indetail at the following
URL: http://www2.ntu.ac.uk/Hr/library/citingrefs.htm.
Hill, R. Lai, E. and Tyler, T. 2001 Characterisation of geotechnical materials
using friction generated ultrasound.Conference Proceeding of NDT 2001.
Coventry, UK, 18-20 Sept., 11-16.
Oyadiji, S.O., Ayalew, A. and Lai, E.2005 Analytical Framework for the Smooth
manoeuvre of Wheeled Mobile Robots Traversing Obstacles.Proceedings of
the Royal society A: Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences461, 481-507.
Crane, B.N. 1999 Design of a flying robot. London University Press, London
Other, A.O. 2005 Private Communication. Nottingham Trent University
The main purpose of the references is to allow the reader of your thesis to go to a
library and find any published item. Alternatively, the reference adequately
indicates the source of unpublished material. Proper references to other
researchers material also avoid any undue accusations of plagiarism.
Fold-outs and large drawings
These should generally be avoided as they are likely to get lost or damaged and
complicate the thesis binding. If you think large sheets are essential, discuss their
production at an early stage with your University Supervisor. A3 foldouts must have

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a central zigzag fold to fit A4 size (so the fold is not cut off when the volume is
trimmed). A single sheet up to AO size, folded to less than 190 X 280 mm (for AO
sheets zigzag folding 3 X 7 times is optimum), and/or computer disk, may go in an
end pocket. You will be responsible for producing all copies of large sheets.

APPENDIX A Some helpful hints

These notes have been prepared in the light of the errors made most frequently.
Some notes repeat and emphasize the same important rules, while others answer
the most common questions. Read them to avoid the same mistakes and to avoid
following examples of bad practice.
1

Do not use BSME Practicum Report as part of your title. You should use a
concise descriptive of the report which you have written.

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2

4
5

7
8
9
10
11

12

13
14
15
16

17

Do not use acronyms or abbreviations in titles e.g. NANDA or PFA, these

should be written out in full in your title (do you know what either of these
stand for?). You can use abbreviations in the main report text, but the first
time you use the words write them out in full with the abbreviations or
acronym afterwards, e.g. Global Positioning System (GPS), after this you can
just use GPS (without brackets) in the text.
You name on the title page should be in full with only the family name in
capitals, to clarify indexing e.g. Mary Jane ROBINSON; MAO Zedong; Abdul
KADIR.
Wording and line pattern at the foot of the title page must be exactly as in
the example with the right date and with the correct degree title.
Reports written by previous students are available in the library but not all
previous students work is in the format required, so do not copy their format
or styles follow the style instructions.
The abstract must conform to the style of the example provided. Use proper
key words, not phrases, though key terms are acceptable = e.g. Quality
Assurance.
Do not write this report explains in either the abstract or the text, and
never use the term as previously mentioned.
You can cite previous students work in your own report if you have used it.
Plagiarism can be a difficult subject if you are in doubt, discuss any problem
with your University Supervisor.
The seventh page, the first page of your main text, is your first numbered
page and carries the number 1.
The Introduction Chapter should include most of the proposal contents and 3
or 4 brief sections outlining
a) Nature of the problem, scope of project/research work, rationale for
project/research etc.
b) Aims and objectives, hypothesis being examined, project work/research
goals
c) Outline methodology
d) Brief report/dissertation contents
Chapter titles should be in larger letters than Chapter 3 etc. Do not use
whole page for a
chapter heading. Chapters start on odd or even pages.
It is best to centre chapter headings, and set sub-headings to the left margin.
Avoid excessive use of upper case (capital) letters); they are less easy to
read.
Number all illustrations diagrams, photographs, pictures of any kind, as
Figure 1, Figure 2 etc., numbering system, Table 1 ot Table 1.1 etc.
A descriptive and informative caption goes underneath every illustration.
Remember that 90% of readers look at only the abstract and captions they
are important.
Line borders around your illustrations prevent them from merging with the
text; they are not obligatory, but more layout care is needed with unedged
figures.

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18 Place illustrations and tables in the appropriate places in your report, either
within or opposite the relevant text. All figures are best placed at the top or
foot of any page to avoid breaking the text. If they have to go in the middle
of a page, then at all costs avoid widows 1 or 2 text lines that are isolated
and lost to the reader. Do not leave gaps at the foot of a page except at the
end of a chapter. If you are instructing a typist to leave a gap for a figure, ask
him/her to leave it at the foot of the next or previous page; or adjust it
yourself later, on screen or by cut and paste.
19 Try to avoid figures which need page rotation to be read. Most can be reduced
to half page, to read correctly. If unavoidable, always place foot of figure to
right.
20 Do not write refer to figure 4, but use the style of tests showed strength
increasing with temperature (figure 4).
21 The reference list goes before any appendices. It must be a single list in
alphabetical order of authors. Do not have reference lists at the end of each
chapter.
22 Your references to material cited in your text must follow the style designated
at httt://www2.ntu.ac.uk/Hr/library/citingrefs.htm. Use the Harvard
referencing format. No exceptions will be accepted.
23 Do not include a separate bibliography; if you have used a book or other
written material, and not just casually read it, cite it in your text, and include
it in your reference list.
24 Try to avoid appendices your information should go into the main body of
your written text if possible. Only exceptions are collections of lab sheets or
computer programs, which may be presented in a less polished style in an
appendix.
25 None are square is wrong; none is square is correct., remember that none
is singular, as it means not one.
26 Do not use Cow Gum to fix photos it reacts with photocopier ink.
27 Remember that photocopying may not be able to have colour on both sides
of a sheet; many machines have a cut-out to prevent copying currency notes.
28 A3 foldouts are added late and you must have the zigzag folds in the centre
of the A4 format a fold in the middle of the A3 lies at the edge of A4 and will
be cut through during binding and trimming. Think about it!
Conferences
The first element of the reference should be the individual (s) or organization
responsible for editing the proceedings. If these cannot be traced, begin your
reference with the name of the conference. If possible, you should include the
place and date of the conference.
PAEPCKE, A., ed., 1992.OOPSLA92 conference on object-oriented programming
systems, languages, and applications, Vancouver, 18-22 October, 1992.New York:
The Association for Computing Machinery.

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CUNNINGHAM, S., ed., 1993.Computer graphics: SIGGRAPH 93 conference
proceedings, Anaheim, California, 1-6 August, 1993. New York: The Association
of Computing Machinery.
If you need to cite an individual paper within published conference proceedings,
the author of the paper becomes the first element of your reference. You should
also include the page numbers of the contributed paper. Eg.,
COOK, W. R., 1992. Interfaces and specifications for the smalltalk-80 collection
classes. In: A. PAEPCKE, ed. OOPSLA 92 conference on object-oriented
programming systems, languages, and applications, Vancouver, 18-22 October,
1992. New York: The Association for Computing Machinery, pp. 1-15
Please note that the above is also applicable for a paper in a journal

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APPENDIX B - Page 1

Study on Automotive Engine and

Car Air-conditioningSystem of
Ford Ranger Car

By
Abdul KADIR
ID#: 12345678

Program: BSME
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IUBAT International University of Business Agriculture and Technology
15 April 2015

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APPENDIX C - Page 3

In the name of Allah, The

Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful and the Most
Gracious

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APPENDIXD- Page 5

A Practicum Report Submitted to the Department

of Mechanical Engineering at IUBAT
International University of Business Agriculture
and Technology in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of
Science in Mechanical Engineering

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APPENDIX E - Page 8

Students Declaration

This to inform that the Practicum Report Study on Automotive Engine and Car
Air-conditioningSystem of Ford Ranger Car has been prepared only for academic
purpose. I also confirm that it has not been submittedelsewhere for any reward
or presentation or any other purpose.

Abdul KADIR
ID#: 12345678

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APPENDIX F Page 10

Acknowledgement

Acknowledgethe Honorable Vice Chancellor

Acknowledge the Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Acknowledge the Course Coordinator, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Acknowledge the Internal Supervisor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Acknowledge the Chief of Organization where Internship has been done
Acknowledge the Person of Organization who supervised you