Individual Project:

Project Advice,
Progress Report

Professor Ron Patton

r.j.patton@hull.ac.uk

Contributions by I M Bell, P A Rubini & D Sowden

 Project Success…. How to achieve it

Overall the project module marks depend on:

• Your engineering achievement

• Report and presentation quality

If either of these is poor you marks may be low.

(More on engineering achievement in following slides)
Also………..
Make sure you keep your supervisor informed of your
progress and discuss you project regularly
 Expectations
• As a level 6 student you are expected to demonstrate
problem-solving skills, both theoretical and practical.

• Supported by your understanding of appropriate theory;

creativity of expression and thought based in individual
judgement; and ability to seek out, invoke, analyse and
evaluate competing theories or methods of working in a
critically constructive and open manner.
• Your output should be articulate, coherent and skilled.

(David Sowden)
 Your Project -
Your Engineering Achievement
• At its conclusions, your project should deliver some good-quality, real
engineering output which you personally have produced

• This is not a PhD – you are not expected to produce significant novelty,
but your are expected to demonstrate good engineering practice with
some form of definite outcome (e.g. well a executed design)

Your own work must come across clearly in your report

• Your own work written up in your own words is very important
• If English is not your first language do not make the mistake of
assuming that quoted material in “good” English will get better marks
than your own work in poorer English
 By the End of the project …
Your work must be more than ………

• … a write up of so-called “research” (stuff copied from the internet

etc.)

• Your report must discuss background and existing literature, but

that is just the starting point

• You need to perform critical analysis of existing work & develop

your own work
• Your own work is important and must be prominent in your reports
• Which means you must do the work
 By the End of the project …
Your work must be more than ………

… straightforward reproduction of work done by others

e.g. just download and plug-and-play
What is OK
• Replicating work in a critical/analytical context for validating published ideas
• Replicating work where there is a significant, genuine, technical challenge in
doing so may be appropriate (if there is a valid reason for doing so)
• Replicating work as a starting point for your own innovation and
development

In all cases your report must make it very clear what work is
from others and what additional things you did
 Project Learning Outcomes
Module learning outcome description
LO1 Devise, plan and carry out an individual project and provide
evidence of their in-depth knowledge and comprehension of a
range of issues pertinent to the task.
LO2 Identify, select, retrieve and appraise different sources of
Lessons Learnt
information, illustrating the links between the retrieved
information, data and the outlined task, and make judgements by
formulating new connections and ideas.
LO3 Select and use relevant engineering project management tools and
techniques, codes/frameworks and research strategies to meet all
defined milestones and objectives.
LO4 Communicate and defend their investigative research findings in an
objective, coherent and professional manner.
 Project Learning Outcomes
Module learning outcome description
LO1 Devise, plan and carry out an individual project and
provide evidence of their in-depth knowledge and Project Plan
comprehension of a range of issues pertinent to the task.

LO2 Identify, select, retrieve and appraise different sources of

information, illustrating the links between the retrieved
Lessons Learnt
information, data and the outlined task, and make
judgements by formulating new connections and ideas.

LO3 Select and use relevant engineering project management

tools and techniques, codes/frameworks and research
strategies to meet all defined milestones and objectives.

LO4 Communicate and defend their investigative research

findings in an objective, coherent and professional
manner.
 Project Learning Outcomes
Module learning outcome description
LO1 Devise, plan and carry out an individual project and
provide evidence of their in-depth knowledge and Progress Report
comprehension of a range of issues pertinent to the task.

LO2 Identify, select, retrieve and appraise different sources of

information, illustrating the links between the retrieved
Lessons Learnt
information, data and the outlined task, and make
judgements by formulating new connections and ideas.

LO3 Select and use relevant engineering project management

tools and techniques, codes/frameworks and research
strategies to meet all defined milestones and objectives.

LO4 Communicate and defend their investigative research

findings in an objective, coherent and professional
manner.
 Project

wk1
Management
Risk
Plan Report

wk4
Identification

Progress Report wk11 wk12+

wk1
Time Line

Final
wk11

Report
Oral
Presentation
Wk12+

Project
Interview
 The Progress Report

Progress Report should include

• Updated aims and objectives

• Overview of literature and other sources used to develop work
• Report on the work achieved so far
• Assess progress against the original plan
• Updated detailed plan of activities for the remainder of the
project.
 The Progress Report

Progress Report Guidance

• Download the template from the project site.

• Overview of literature and other sources used to develop the work

• Suggested length 10 -15 pages in length.

• If your work is not going to fit into this discuss with BOTH markers.
 Assessment Criteria

The progress report is assessed using the following criteria

• Communication and Presentation 20%

• Background Knowledge 20%

• Theory, Requirements and Strategy 20%

• Project Management 40%

 Communication & Presentation - 20%

Structure, clarity, presentation, linguistic range and accuracy,

presentation and labelling of diagrams and graphs.
• Make sure you look at the report writing presentation as a guide

• Present your work with a clear structure

• Use referencing to reference all sources of information, figures,
pictures, tables, datasheets etc..
• If necessary, proof read and ask someone else to proof read.
 Background Knowledge – 20%

Background research, quality and appropriateness of referencing,

level of knowledge of fundamental concepts related to the project,
critical analysis and review of relevant existing work or situation,
understanding commercial relevance of work and knowledge of
markets.
• Expand on your background to the problem from your plan
• Clear definition of the problem you are trying to solve or the research
question.
• Summarise literature review and link it to the work you are doing
• Clearly define the current state of the art and highlight what your work
will contribute to the subject
 Theory, Requirements &
Strategy – 20%
Theoretical development, development of models, development and
analysis of requirements and specifications for work to be undertaken,
development of investigative or design strategy, selection of case
studies, quality of system, high level, or concept design work.
Redefine your methodology and requirements if needed.
Summarise the work you have done so far.
Experiment design
Experimental work done
Concept designs
Definition of simulation model
Discuss any provisional results
If any conclusions can be made at this point do so
Identify the next steps
 Project Management - 40%
Project planning, understanding motivation for the work, ability to overcome
problems, proactive and professional attitude, interaction with "client"
(supervisor in this role, or industry partner, etc.).

• Show a summary of your weekly logs.

• Review progress against Gantt chart and specified activities.
• Comment on changes to activities and what implications this has on your work.

It is ok to change your direction, aims and objectives and methodology,

providing you justify your decision.

It is not ok to pretend you haven’t changed aspects of your project.

We are assessing your ability to mange your time and the work you are doing
and projects always change
Questions?