C3.1. The Project Progression Report C3.1.1. Writing your project progression report The purpose of preparing a project progression report is three-fold. In the first instance it forms a basis that enables you to present a succinct but relevant literature review of the previous published research work related to your project. This referenced information should be from respected Journal papers and books available online or in the library. This will prove and ensure you have engaged with the project title and aims, as you will need to be clear on these to produce an effective review. 10-12 references should suffice originally. Following that it forms a basis that enables you to produce a statement of intent for your project and that the aims, objectives, scope and challenges developed between you and your supervisors in your project arrangement form have been clearly understood, i.e. it is a document that clearly states what should have been accomplished on successful project completion, and is thus used as a gauge by your supervisor and the External Examiners to assess your performance. Thirdly, it is a document that shows what you have done hitherto to understand and apply yourself to address the challenges in your project arrangement form and what independent research you have done above those baseline requirements. It is understood that with 8 weeks into your project you will of course have lots still to do, but it must be clear in this report that you have clearly started addressing your project It is important to bear in mind that this document, to a certain extent, could be considered as a form of contract between you "the supplier" and your supervisor "the customer". Therefore, it is important that you make it both clear and unambiguously obvious to the benefit of both parties. Having pointed out the importance of such a document in terms of its usefulness, one must also bear in mind that it is being awarded a maximum of 5% of the available marks for your project, which should be an incentive to prepare it properly and professionally. The report should be about the project itself and what you as an individual have achieved and will be doing to achieve the goals. In this respect the Gantt chart will help you describe the journey (or proposed journey), and timelines to arrive at the final destination (working/finished project). By the date specified in the assessment schedule, you must have submitted: One copy of the Progression Report, your Project Plan Schedule (section A5), and your cost estimate to your Supervisor, who will mark the specification. One copy of the Progression report and Project Plan Schedule to Dr. Sandra Dudley-McEvoy, who will pass them to the External Examiners, if requested by them. Any copies required will be sent out during week eight, so make sure that you submit them on time. One copy of your cost estimate to the Course Director. Nil returns are required where relevant, but will be assumed if no return is made. All supplied copies of this documentation will be retained. Where specialist software is required this must be discussed with your Supervisor .The Progression Report should be seen as a detailed statement of intent for the Project, since it is formally assessed it must be of professional quality. Please do not provide large realms on background information. This should be carried out with your supervisor during the Project arrangement form stage and what you have done over the summer. In this report you must clearly state what you have done to address the aims, objectives and challenges. If no achievement is evident from your report, it will mean a low mark. The reasons why will be given in the feedback you receive. The module coordinator will also receive this feedback and may contact you regarding the lack of performance. C3.1.2. Contents of the Progression Report document The contents of the project Progression Report should be along the following lines: Title Contents Short Project Introduction Review of the Project Arrangement form contents o Aims/Objectives and the Scope of the project o Literature review of work related to your project o Breakdown of the Project Arrangement form challenges, stating clearly what you have done/will be doing to address them (timelines should agree with Gantt chart). o Also it is important to mention here any new challenges you have noted and what you plan to do about those. This is very important as it shows you are willing to work above the baseline level required of the project and that you are able to work independently of your supervisor. This of course will lead to a better project outcome. The title should be included in the header of each page of the document, with a title page containing the student's name, course and project supervisor. The introduction should be brief (no more than a single page); it should describe the project and outline any unusual features both in the development of the project and in the project itself. The Project Progression report is required by the date given on page 5. Its aim is to ensure that in conjunction with your supervisor you have understood and started working on the aims/objectives of the project, formulated a realistic plan of action and clearly started project work. You should have carried out an analysis of the requirements for the project (including resources) and the proposed approach via Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Gantt charts. Report length should be no more that 5-6 pages. All formats are given in section C3.3 C3.3. Progression, Interim and Final Project Reports - Points regarding Font, Page format, Page Margins. You are required to produce two formal reports (the Interim and Final Reports) in the styles prescribed below. You must follow these styles. One aim of doing this is to give you practice for producing reports in a prescribed "company style" which you will be required to do in a future job as an engineer. 1. The reports must be typed, with a bound-side margin at least 1.5" wide. 2. Use single or one-and-a-half spacing between lines). Do not use double-spacing. 3. The font size should not be smaller than Times New Roman 12 or equivalent. 4. Number the pages. 5. You must write on single sided pages. 6. All documents must be A4 in size, including computer listings. Documents larger or smaller than this will not be accepted. 7. Ahigh standard of English is REQUIRED-check and recheck your spelling and grammar. Try and get someone else to read your report too if appropriate. 8. Writing style – do not use first person singular. Your report must be written in the impersonal passive voice. For example: 9. Instead of writing: 'I designed a circuit to …..' Use: 'A circuit was designed to ….' 10. The final report should have one copy that uses hard binding (to supervisor) and the second copy to Dr. Sandra Dudley-McEvoy can be securely spiral bound. 11. It is not appropriate to put acknowledgments into your submitted reports. Reports are only read by academic staff and are not placed into the public domain. If you produce copies for your sponsor or employer you can include an acknowledgement of them in that copy. 12. Print your initials, surname, course and the academic year on the spine. 13. You must use the standard covers available in the School Office for both the interim and final reports [specimens shown in Appendix 3]; fill in all the details indicated. 14. PLAGIARISM and Referencing: Your report will be electronically checked for plagiarism. Materials used from other sources must be properly cited. Please see help on references in section C1.1 15. The Harvard or Numeric referencing systems are acceptable methods of referencing (see the help sheet on referencing produced by the Perry Library at: http://www.library.lsbu.ac.uk/006_services/help/helpsheet.htm). It does not matter which method you use providing you are consistent. 16. References are those works that you have cited in the report. For each reference, give the complete details using a consistent format. There is a help sheet on referencing produced by the Perry Library at: http://www.library.lsbu.ac.uk/006_services/help/helpsheet.htm). 17. Project Planning (Required with Progression, Interim and Final Project Reports) 18. See Section A5 for a full description. Ensure that Planning is clearly shown in your Interim and Final report. 19. APPENDIX 1: RISK ASSESSMENT. A COPY OF YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT MUST BE APPENDED TO YOUR PROJECT BRIEF. IMPORTANT: Most marks are given for your reporting. The final report is the only piece of your project work scrutinised by the external examiner. A badly written, poorly presented final report will mean a low project mark irrespective of how good your project performance has been. If you need help with any aspect of report writing do not hesitate to ask for it.