Chapter Two

Technical Topics and Tasks

1
4. Technical Articles and Papers
▪ Technical publications: for engineers and
scientists to communicate and transmit
information with their peers.
▪ Reasons for writing publications:
1- Personal satisfaction.
2- Increase technical expertise.
3- More knowledge.
4- Good publicity for the university/firm.
5- Professional prestige for promotions.
6- Contribution in the technical knowledge
and help others to learn. 2
Continued -

• Important
➢ Written article should be worthy of
publication.
➢ Start writing by a strong opening
paragraph.
➢ Make sure to keep the reader attention.

3
5- Reports
• Definition: Technical representation used by engineers,
scientists, and managers.
• Aim: Transmit the results of their research, field work,
activities.
• Importance: Quality and worth is judged by the quality
of the written report.
• Types
1- Periodic report
• Time: regular intervals.
• Aim: Provide information on the activities and status of
the organization (bank statement, annual/event reports-
exhibition, call for papers, etc.). 4
Continued- reports
2- Progress report
• Aim: Update on an ongoing activity (construction, research
expansion, etc.).
• Time: set time/ end of each phase.
3- Research report
• Aim: Present results of the research, study, etc.
• Time: when completed.
4- Field report
• Aim: Present results of an onsite inspection (start-up, installation,
construction, etc.).
• Time: after doing the job.
5- Recommendation report
• Aim: Submitted to managers as a basis for decisions or actions.
• Time: before any new project or expansion.
5
Features in common
1) Cover and title page,
2) Nomenclature,
3) Abstract,
4) Table of contents,
5) Summary,
6) Introduction,
7) Body,
8) Conclusions and recommendations,
9) References, and
10) Appendixes.
6
 5- Reports
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7
1. Cover and Title page
Cover
▪ Attractive/ not exaggerating.
▪ Prepared (ready made) /made to
order covers.
▪ Important information.
➢ Heading (name of company, logo, division)
➢ Title
➢ Report number
➢ Date 8
cont.
The Title page
➢ Title in capital letters centered half-
way from top.
➢ Same information as the cover.
➢ Author/s prepared the report/
position.
➢ Approved/ checked/ revised by.
➢ Remarks.
➢ Number of pages. 9
 Internal Combustion Engines
MPE 324
3rd Year
Prod. Engineering &Design
Minia University
Final Examination
Second Term, June 2016
Time Three hours
Faculty of Engineering Mech. Power Engineering. & Energy Dept.
10
2. Table of Contents/Contents
o Center “Contents” at the top of the
page (capital or lower-case letters).
• Complete guide for the contents
(page number).
• Entries appear as headings referring
to sections/subsections.
• Important: not necessary that every
subsection appears in the content.
11
Continued- contents

➢ Begin items preceding chapter one with

Roman numerals flush with the right
margin.
➢ Arabic and/or Roman numerals/
alphabetic letters can be used
separately or mixed.
➢ Use a raw of periods to lead from the
topic to the page number (choice).
➢ Indent every subheading by five spaces
(choice).
➢ Preface & Abstract precede, while List of
Figures/ Tables (6 or more) follow.
12
13
14
15
3- Abstract
• Short and concise statement of the contents of the
report in one or more paragraphs (250 words - do not
exceed three sentences on any one).
• Executives/ researchers read it first.
• Abstract: descriptive and/or informal.
• Omit Articles and abbreviations, and avoid unfamiliar
terminology.
• Abstract should tell the reader
1) What is the subject (matter) of the report?
2) What you are trying to do?
3) What was done?
4) What are the important findings and conclusions of
the report?
16
Abstract – Example 1
Energy consumption is a major issue in
paper and pulp industry. A study was made
on the energy required to produce uncoated
and coated papers. Energy use requirement
were determined for each process from
pulping through coating. Raw material
energy needs were included in the study.
Based on the total energy concept, it was
determined that the production of coated
papers requires 5 to 12 percent less energy
than the production of uncoated papers of
similar weight and brightness. 17
4- Summary
• Presents the entire content of the report.
• Summary should tell the reader
1) What is the objective of the report?
2) What are you trying to do?
3) What was done?
4) How it was done?
5) What are the important findings and conclusions of
the report?
5- Introduction
• Reason (purpose) for writing the report.
• Background material, theory, explanation of why the
work will be done?
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5- Body
• Detailed theory.
• Apparatus/ experiments/ numerical & analytical
solution.
• Experimental results.
• Discussion (meaning, significance, and accuracy).
• Application.

6- Conclusions and Recommendations

• Numbered statements to show answers to raised
questions stated on the introduction.
• Recommendations based on results.
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 7-Nomenclature
• Symbols used in alphabetical order and its units.
8-References
• Alphabetical bibliography.
• Papers: Name, initials, year, title, journal, volume,
start page-end page.
• Books: Name, initials, year, title, publisher, city and
country of publisher, chapter number, start page-end
page (if relevant).
9-Appendixes
Tables, calculations, mathematical derivations,
calibrations, etc.…
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Features in common
1) Cover and title page,
2) Nomenclature,
3) Abstract,
4) Table of contents,
5) Introduction,
6) Body,
7) Conclusions and recommendations,
8) Summary,
9) References, and
10) Appendixes.
21
Important notes
• Facts: when stating facts it has to be
written in the simple present form and
active voice.
• Previous work: when mentioning
previous work, it has to be written in the
simple past tense and in active voice.
• Current work: when describing the
present work, it has to be written in the
present perfect tense and in the passive
form. 22
Example
• Introduction
• Reason (purpose)
This report presents the results of testing a 4-
cylinder internal combustion engine made by ZX.
• Problem
It is required to find engine fuel consumption and
emissions as compared with the new regulations
and environmental standards.
• Limitations
Testing will be conducted in the low to mid-speed
ranges and up to half-load as engine spent most
of its working hours under these conditions. 23
 Results
Engine operating conditions affect fuel consumption
and emissions to a great extent. During idling fuel
consumption is highest and engine emits maximum
amounts of pollutants.
When writing a report, project, thesis, etc. make use of
Figure (1) shows, exhibits, illustrates, depicts, etc.
It can be seen that, it is shown, Fig./figure (1), etc.
Author reported, found that, explained, mentioned,
tested, carried out, investigated, conducted, assessed,
proposed, concluded. (multi-authors A. Kim et al., one
author A. Moe, two authors, A. Moe and M. Kim).
A theoretical / an experimental study was carried out
conducted by, system was proposed by, etc. (author).
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