MEEN 404 — ENGINEERING LABORATORY

–– A Writing Intensive Course in Mechanical Engineering ––

Lecture: MW at 1:50 – 2:40 pm (ENPH 202)
Laboratory: sections 901, 902, 903, and 904
Professor Yong-Joe Kim
Fall 2018

COURSE: Engineering Laboratory. (2-3). Credit 3

Systematic design of experimental investigations to meet needs within
realistic constraints; student teams identify topics and develop experi-
ment designs including: establishing the need; functional decomposi-
tion; requirements; conducting the experiment; analyzing and interpret-
ing the results and written and oral reports documenting the objectives,
procedure, analysis, and results and conclusion of two or three experi-
ments. Prerequisites: MEEN 260, MEEN 360, MEEN 361, MEEN 364,
MEEN 461; MEEN 401 or registration therein; junior or senior classifi-
cation.

INSTRUCTOR: Professor Yong-Joe Kim

E-Mail: joekim@tamu.edu
Office: MEOB 315
Phone: (979)845–9779
Office Hours: 3:00 – 4:30 pm on Monday and Thursday or by appoint-
ment

TEXTBOOK: No required textbook.

COURSE MATERIALS: Course materials will be posted to http://eCampus.tamu.edu

EXPERIMENTS: The main focus of the course is the design and execution of three exper-
iments. Details supplied elsewhere.

FINAL: A closed book, comprehensive final will be given at the scheduled time:
December 11, 2018 (Tuesday) at 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm.

ASSIGNMENTS: Problems will be assigned frequently throughout the semester. These

problems will form an integral part of the course. Solutions will be
posted after class, and hence, no credit can be given for any late sub-
missions.
GRADING Distribution:
(Technical Component): First experiment* 10 90–100% A
Second experiment* 15 80–89% B
Third experiment* 25 70–79% C
Oral presentation* 05 60–69% D
Homework & Quizzes10 0–59% F
Lab performance* 05
Final 30
100%
GRADING Distribution:
(Writing Component): First report 90–100% A
(individual) 80–89% B
100% 70–79% C
60–69% D
0–59% F
COMBINED GRADE: Distribution:
Technical 67 90–100% A
Writing 33 80–89% B
100% 70–79% C
60–69% D
0–59% F
GRADING POLICY You must earn a “C” or higher
(and warning about writ- grade in the writing component
ing intensive courses) alone to pass the course for “W”
credit. Students who do not pass
the writing component with a
“C” or better writing grade will
receive a D or F grade in the
course. This is a university rule
for “W” courses.

WRITING INTENSIVE This is a Writing Intensive Course. MEEN 404 was chosen
COURSE to be a W-course because writing and explaining technical
features, observations, and phenomena in engineering are
intricately linked. The obvious connection is that engineers
must communicate engineering principles, designs, anal-
yses, findings, and conclusions. The less-obvious, but
equally important, connection is that writing helps to im-
prove our understanding of the technical principles we rou-
tinely apply. Being a good writer is as important as being a
good engineer; some would argue that you aren't truly a
good engineer unless you are also a good communicator, of
which writing is essential. Be ready to integrate these prin-
ciples throughout the semester

* The grades for the experiments are based on the proposal (20%) and report (80%).
An oral presentation is scheduled at the conclusion of the third experiment. Laboratory
performance is based on individual assessments by team members and the instructor.
 MEEN 404 — ENGINEERING LABORATORY

Professor Yong-Joe Kim

Fall 2018

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that pro-
vides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that pro-
vides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring
an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, currently located in the Disability Services
building at the Student Services at White Creek complex on west campus or call 979-845-1637. For
additional information, visit http://disability.tamu.edu.

Academic Integrity Statement

Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”
Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a com-
mitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning and to follow the philosophy
and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations,
research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of
the Texas A&M University community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.
For additional information please visit: aggiehonor.tamu.edu

On all course work, assignments, and examinations at Texas A&M University, the following Honor
Pledge shall be preprinted and signed by the student:

“On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.”

Absences
Work missed due to absences will only be excused for University-approved activities in
accordance with TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY STUDENT RULES (see http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07).
Specific arrangements for make-up work in such instances will be handled on a case-by-case basis. In
accordance with Rule 7, please be aware that in this class any “injury or illness that is too severe or
contagious for the student to attend class” will require “a medical confirmation note from his or her
medical provider” even if the absence is for less than 3 days (see 7.1.6.2 Injury or illness less than three
days.).