Undergraduate Teaching 2023-24

Engineering Tripos Part IA, Exposition, 2023-24

Engineering Tripos Part IA, Exposition, 2023-24

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Co-ordinator in overall charge

Dr Graham McShane

Timing and Structure

2h/week Michaelmas term timetabled in laboratory sessions. Sessions may take place in Colleges as well as in all parts of the Engineering Department.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • develop communication skills, both written and oral, in professional areas.
  • raise awareness of the appropriate use of different writing styles (e.g. essays, technical reports, academic journal articles).
  • improve confidence and ability to take a lead as an engineer.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • make an oral presentation of technical material to a non-specialist audience in an accessible way.
  • critically analyse the treatment of data in technical articles in popular journals or the media.
  • write a good report on a laboratory experiment, including treatment of errors and uncertainties.
  • prepare and present balanced arguments on a controversial technical topic.

Content

During the eight weeks of Michaelmas term you will take part in three exercises:

Your exposition leader may introduce alternative forms of these exercises.

Journal Club

A “Journal Club” or similar oral presentation for 15 minutes, in which you will report on a current issue of a technical periodical or similar topic agreed by your leader followed by 5 minutes of questions.

Laboratory Report

A Laboratory report on AC and DC circuits.  There will be discussion about writing reports, following which you will produce a first draft which will be criticised by your peers.  You will then write a final draft which will be assessed by the exposition leader. The Guide to Report Writing on the Exposition website will help with this exercise.

Technical Discussion/DebateA

A discussion or debate on a technical but controversial topic agreed with your leader. You will plan with your colleagues how to split up the material and you will work as a team to present one part of the argument.

 

Further notes

ASSESSMENT

 

Standard credit. To reach the qualifying mark of 18/26 you must attend all the sessions required by the leader and complete the three exercises to a satisfactory standard.

Coursework

Labs & coursework

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

 
Last modified: 09/02/2024 11:54