CAE 7810 - Research and Writing

2 lecture hours 0 lab hours 2 credits

Course Description
This course is designed to equip students with the research and writing skills necessary to successfully complete an engineering graduate capstone design project paper. After selecting an advanced civil or architectural engineering problem for investigation in a capstone project, the student will generate a series of preliminary research questions concerning the problem, and then engage in a guided approach to learn how to use appropriate databases and print/electronic resources, in addition to selected internet resources, to locate relevant and credible literature and other sources of information. Evaluating their source material in conjunction with an ongoing critical assessment of their preliminary questions that will occur in the co-requisite first capstone course, students will identify and further investigate a suitable capstone project research question and its associated issues. Weekly referencing exercises and writing discussions will help the student master the required style guide. (prereq: graduate program director consent) (coreq: ARE 7901 or CVE 7901)

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Explain what constitutes a formal technical research paper-describe the IMRAD structure and understand the significance of each component to the overall research process
Explain how the formal technical research paper and process aligns with the overall goals of the MSAE or MSCV programs, with the MSOE Mindset, and with the broader goals of graduate education
Develop a coherent research question, and outline a research plan for investigating the question, in consultation with student’s capstone advisor
Write a graduate capstone paper that features a critical literature review utilizing scholarly resources, including various technical databases and including proper citation formatting, in support of the research question
Format and cite sources using various standardized style guides, including APA
Develop a research plan for investigating the research question, including proposing methodology for data collection and analysis. Understand how to interact with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) when collecting data involving research on human subjects, and understand the ethics involved with such research.
Illustrate how to format a formal technical paper consistent with journal or conference proceeding standards
Write a graduate capstone paper, using appropriate formatting, grammar, figure and graphical annotations, and citation formatting

Prerequisites by Topic

Knowledge in the student’s specialty area

Course Topics

Course introduction: explanation of the formal research process, significance of the research process to the graduate level education and to the MSOE Mindset and to program goals
Elements of a formal technical paper and how to develop them, including guidance on writing
Research questions: what they are, how to develop them
Literature reviews: how they fit into the overall research process, types, the critical literature review, using technical databases and other legitimate scholarly sources to develop a literature review
Citing sources and formatting a report to be consistent with a given style guide
Research plans: developing methodology for data collection and analysis
Research designs and methods employed in civil and architectural engineering
Types of research in civil and architectural engineering requiring IRB approval and how such approval is obtained
Journal articles and conference proceedings: how to format these and derive them from a longer thesis or capstone report paper
Guidance on technical writing, clear communication, and ethical issues associated with the written capstone report

Coordinator
Dr. Deborah Jackman, P.E.

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CAE 7810 - Research and Writing