Faculty of Science and Engineering

Module 7CV013 (60 credit) Module Leader xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Semester Cross Year Year 2021-2022 Assessment Number Component 3 & 4- Assessment brief % of module mark 70% Due Date Final Report submission date as per CANVAS VIVA – In Jan 2022 Hand-in – what? Component 3: Dissertation report accounts for 70% of the marks Students will submit their complete work electronically on Canvas. Turnitin software is used to evaluate all dissertations. Failure to upload through Turnitin will incur a FAIL mark Component 4: Final presentation – VIVA. It will be graded as pass or fail. Hand-in- where? Canvas Pass mark 50% Method of retrieval N/A Feedback Written feedback via Canvas Collection of marked work In the classroom and online     School of Architecture and Built Environment Assessment Brief 3, Dissertation final Report and VIVA

Submission of work

Your completed work for assignments must be handed in on or before the due date. You must keep a copy or backup of any assessed work that you submit. Failure to do so may result in you having to repeat that piece of work.

Electronic submission:

This is normally done via Canvas. Any special instructions will be available on the upload tag or within the assessment brief.

Paper submission:

Your assignment should be handed in at the student office on the ground floor of MI building. It should have a barcoded front cover (available via eVision) and be neatly presented, preferably in a suitable plastic cover. Any item handed in must have, clearly written on the front:

your name and student number

the module number, title and the module leader’s name the date of submission

Penalties for late submission of coursework

Standard University arrangements apply.

Procedure for requesting extensions / mitigating circumstances This is done via eVision. Further information can be found at http://www.wolvesunion.org/advice/academic/

Retrieval of Failure

Where a student fails a module (less than 40% for undergraduate modules, less than 50% for postgraduate modules) they have the right to attempt the failed assessment(s) once, at the next resit opportunity (normally July resit period). If a student fails assessment for a second time they have a right to repeat the module.

NOTE: STUDENTS WHO DO NOT TAKE THEIR RESIT AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE RESIT OPPORTUNITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPEAT THE MODULE.

Return of assignments

Assignments will be normally returned within three working weeks.

If you have any questions regarding your feedback you normally have two working weeks from the date you receive your returned assessment and/or written feedback or receive your exam results to contact and discuss the matter with your lecturer.

Cheating

Cheating is any attempt to gain unfair advantage by dishonest means and includes plagiarism and collusion. Cheating is a serious offence. You are advised to check the nature of each assessment. You must work individually unless it is a group assessment.

Cheating is defined as any attempt by a candidate to gain unfair advantage in an assessment by dishonest means, and includes e.g. all breaches of examination room rules, impersonating another candidate, falsifying data, and obtaining an examination paper in advance of its authorised release.

Plagiarism is defined as incorporating a significant amount of un-attributed direct quotation from, or un- attributed substantial paraphrasing of, the work of another.

Collusion occurs when two or more students collaborate to produce a piece of work to be submitted (in whole or part) for assessment and the work is presented as the work of one student alone.

For further details see: http://www.wolvesunion.org/advice/academic/

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

COMPONENT 3: DISSERTATION FINAL REPORT – 70%

Dissertation submission As shown on CANVAS

Submission must include: final electronic copy of the report submitted via canvas for turnitin check.

COMPONENT 4: FINAL PRESENTATION (VIVA) – PASS/FAIL

VIVA will be held as per the date shown on first page.

Please note that this is a compulsory part and students who fail to attend will be marked at 0NS for this component and will not be able to pass the dissertation module.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………… 5

COMPONENT 3: DISSERTATION………………………………………………………….. 7

FORMATTING GUIDANCE……………………………………………………………………. 7

OVERVIEW OF DISSERTATION STRUCTURE……………………………………… 7

COMPONENT 4: VIVA…………………………………………………………………………. 10

Grading Criteria for the Dissertation – Component 3………………………………….. 11

INTRODUCTION

This document offers guidance to all civil engineering students undertaking a level seven dissertation project within the Civil Engineering Department. It is intended as a first point of reference but should also be read in conjunction with the module guide and specific direction / guidance given within the scheduled dissertation lectures/class contact time, throughout the entire period of dissertation study.

The dissertation is a level seven ‘ individual project’ module worth 60 credits and is normally studied over three semesters. This document focusses on the Final Report and VIVA component.

• Report (Component 3):
• VIVA (Component 4)

As such, the dissertation represents a substantial piece of work requiring initiative and commitment on the part of the student. Therefore, the dissertation should not be underestimated in terms of level of commitment and effort required by the student, to achieve satisfactory completion. We expect the dissertation project to be:

• Experimental.
• Numerical (using software analysis tool).
• Innovative design.
• Combination of the above.
• Other type of projects (e.g. field studies) must be discussed with your supervisor.

This dissertation is part of a Technical MSc Programme and therefore should be of technical nature. To be of a technical nature it is likely that the topics covered will be from the JBM List A subjects (i.e. structures, materials, geotechnics) and/or fluid mechanics and water engineering, surveying, infrastructure and transportation engineering, public health and environmental engineering.

The guidelines from our professional body states;

“A ‘Technical’ dissertation should also be in one of the above technical subjects, should demonstrate a sound understanding of engineering principles and an ability to apply them to analyse key engineering problems. It should involve the use of analytical methods or modelling techniques, and to have required the definition and investigation of a problem including consideration of aspects of the wider engineering context such

as environmental and sustainability implications; ethical, health, safety, security and risk issues; intellectual property; and legal, contractual, quality and cost issues. The assessment of the dissertation should have required the individual to demonstrate an ability to plan, manage and evaluate the outcomes of their work and an ability to communicate it to both technical and non-technical audiences.”

In view of the above, the chosen dissertation topic should allow a student to demonstrate an appropriate range of: analytical; critical; evaluative; and synthesising skills. More specifically, the dissertation should meet the following learning outcomes of the AHEP3 output standards.

7CV013 learning outcomes as per the mapping with AHEP3 document	LOvi EA The ability to collect and analyse research data and use appropriate engineering tools to tackle unfamiliar problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data or specifications, by the appropriate innovation, use or adaptation of engineering analytical methods.
	JBM Cat. 2
	LOix D Ability to generate an innovative design for products, systems, components or processes to fulfil new needs.
	JBM Cat. 2
	LOx EL Awareness of the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering
	JBM Cat. 2
	LOxiii EL Awareness that engineering activities should promote sustainable development and ability to apply quantitative techniques where appropriate
	JBM Cat. 1
	LOxvi EP Advanced level knowledge and understanding of a wide range of engineering materials and components;
	JBM Cat. 1

COMPONENT 3: DISSERTATION

Final dissertation report should be submitted as per the date on CANVAS. The dissertation will be typed or word-processed on A4 sheets. It is expected that the dissertation would be around 15000 words.

FORMATTING GUIDANCE

It shall have a left margin of 30mm and a right margin of 25mm with text fully justified. Spacing shall be 1.5 lines using an Arial (11pt) or Times Roman (12pt) Font.

Headings and Sub-headings: Headings may be used to give an indication of the relative importance of sections or paragraphs, usually in the following order: MAIN HEADING:           CAPITAL LETTERS BOLD

Sub heading:             Lower case bold

Sub-sub heading:        Lower case plain text, or lower case bold, italic. Spacing: Select spacing between:

• title and first heading
• headings and first paragraph
• each paragraph
• end of section and next heading.

Numbering: Decide if all paragraphs are to be numbered or just sub-paragraphs of the text. Numbering method (optional) must be consistent if used.

All tables must have a table number and a full descriptive title, all diagrams and photographs must have a figure number and a full descriptive title. All referencing will be undertaken to the HARVARD standard.

Check the final copy before you submit it. All errors reflect on you, not the typist, the binder, your supervisor, etc. See that: corrections have been made; no pages are missing; no pages are upside down; pages are clean; University format is followed; binding is sound and so on. When the dissertation personifies perfection: present it.

Only online submission on canvas required. No need for hard copies.

OVERVIEW OF DISSERTATION STRUCTURE

The title page should incorporate the following information: Student’s name; Student number; Institution name; Faculty; award title; date of submission; number of words

(includes chapters only) and the statement: “Presented in partial fulfilment of the assessment requirements for the above award”.

The following two COPYRIGHT statements will be reproduced on the second page:

• “This work or any part thereof has not previously been presented in any form to the University, or to any other institutional body whether for assessment or other purposes. Save for any express acknowledgements, references and / or bibliographies cited in the work, I confirm that the intellectual content of the work is a result of my own efforts and no other person”.

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IS ALSO TO BE INCLUDED IF APPROPRIATE:

“The work includes the following material that has been submitted for assessment / credit previously: (STUDENT TO LIST MATERIAL HERE). My DISSERTATION supervisor has expressly agreed that it is appropriate to include the above listed material in the work.”

• “It is acknowledged that the author of any project work shall own the copyright. However, by submitting such copyright work for assessment, the author grants to the University a perpetual royalty-free licence to do all or any of those things referred to in section 16(i) of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. That is, to copy the work; to issue copies to the public; to perform or show or play the work in public; to broadcast the work or to make an adaptation of the work”.

A brief abstract, succinctly summarising the dissertation (one page max.) should follow the above.

Content

A typical dissertation structure will be based on the following three parts:

Part one: The beginning

• Preliminary material: title page; abstract; copyright page; acknowledgements; preface; list of contents; list of tables; list of figures; list of appendices
  • First chapter: general introduction
  • Early chapter: literature review, outline of relevant theory

• Early chapter: confirmation of objectives
  • Link with second part.

Part two: The middle

• Main chapter: research methodology used with other research information such as limitations, investigation parameters, experimentation design, the sample composition, experimental, materials, testing, modelling, data collection.
  • Main chapter: data collection / processing and presentation of results / findings.
  • Link with third part.

Part three: The end

• End chapter: analysis and discussion of findings. This represents a significant percentage of the mark and is your opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking and to synthesize your results with the established literature. Note this must include a short section, no longer than 1000 words, which must consist of a commentary on the relevance of your chosen topic area in the context of wider engineering aspects such as environmental and sustainability implications; ethical, health, safety, security and risk issues; intellectual property; and legal, contractual, quality and cost issues.
  • End chapter: abstraction of firm conclusions.
  • Final chapter: derivation of logical recommendations and future work.
  • References.
  • Appendices.

It must be reinforced that the above guidance regarding formatting and structure is not prescriptive, but recommended. The suggested model is dynamic and prone to variation depending on for example, chosen dissertation subject and research method used. That is, certain chapters may be omitted whilst others may have to be incorporated to accurately reflect the research. Alternatively, several chapters may be merged into one.

COMPONENT 4: VIVA

Date: As shown on first page.

The main objectives of the Viva are:

• to make sure that the marks for the dissertation correctly reflect the students’ attainment
  • to ensure that students have the required knowledge of the subject to meet the module learning objectives
  • to ensure that the student is the original author of the work.

Students will be given up to 30 minutes to describe their projects flowed by 15 minutes of discussion and questions.

The Viva is a compulsory part and students who fail to attend will be marked at 0 NS for the whole Component 4. This is part of the marking process for the dissertation. The VIVA component as such has no weightage but the grade awarded is pass or fail and grades for component 3 (dissertation report) will be amended in accordance to the outcome of the viva.

Grading Criteria for the Dissertation – Component 3

Element	> 70% (excellent/outstanding)	60-69% (Very good)	50-59% (Good)	40-49% (Borderline)	30-39% (unsatisfactory)	<30% (inadequate)
Abstract & Introduction	Excellent succinct abstract. Introduction introduces the topic logically and clearly leads into the aims and objectives	A very good abstract and introduction. Relevant aims and objectives.	Introduction and abstract show a good understanding of the topic but lacks detail or clarity. Clear aims and objectives.	Introduction and abstract demonstrate a minimal grasp of the topic area.	Some evidence of an elementary grasp of the topic area. Unrealistic aims and objectives	Inadequate introduction to the entire topic area, inappropriate abstract, unsuitable aims and objectives
Review of Literature	Excellent review of literature, demonstrating an excellent understanding of the underlining theory, with a critical analysis of relevant work from a wide range of sources.	A well written review demonstrating understanding of most of the major issues. Good use of relevant sources.	A good understanding of the underlying theory and related work in the topic area. Relevant source material cited.	Some understanding demonstrated of the underlying theory, but lacks depth or breadth. Some suitable sources.	Some understanding shown but rather superficial. Insufficient citing of source material.	Little understanding demonstrated, insufficient or irrelevant references
Methodology	Clear justification of appropriate and achievable methods to be used. In depth descrption of the method (i.e. experiment, numerical model, questionnaire, etc) and alternatives where applicabable.	Suitable and relevant methodology used. Some evidence of the consideration of alternatives where applicable	Generally relevant techniques applied and suitably documented.	Some relevant methods used, with little consideration of alternatives	Methodology not well described. No consideration of alternatives.	Very poor plan or little evidence of a methodology
Results	Excellent standard of presentation of results using the most appropriate graphics. Clearly introduced and organised.	A very good quality and quantity of results, but lacking either a brief description or titles etc	Some good results presented clearly. Quality and quantity could be improved.	Some relevant results presented and presented in a coherent manner	Some evidence of results but not presented appropriately.	No results or very poor presentation of limited or irrelevant results.
Analysis of results/ Discussion	Excellent discussion of own results within the context of the established literature.	Discussion demonstrates a very good understanding of the issues with well organised writing accurately supported by a range of relevant sources	Discussion is good in places but does not demonstrate depth of understanding. Limited link to literature	Discussion is barely adequate, some evaluation but rather superficial and hardly any link to literature.	Some evaluation provided but shows a general lack of understanding with no link to literature	Inadequate or superficial evaluation of results.
Conclusions	Excellent conclusions closely linked with stated aims and objectives and demonstrating a deep understanding of the wider issues and limitations. Relevant recommendations for future work.	Conclusions closely linked with stated aims and objectives and demonstrating a good understanding of the wider issues.	Good conclusions linked to aims and objectives, with some recognition of wider issues	Conclusions barely logical, with limited link to aims and objectives.	Some conclusions stated but not logical or linked to stated aims	Inadequate or superficial conclusion
Presentation/ Effort	An outstanding standard of presentation and efforts.	A very good standard of presentation demonstrating a well organised report with the associated effort.	A good standard of presentation with evidence of suitable effort at this level.	Adequate standard of presentation with satisfactory effort applied.	Some effort evident but presentation of a poor standard.	Of an inadequate standard. Little effort demonstrated.

1^st/2^nd Marker

Final Dissertation– Component-3

Student Name & Number:

Project Title:

Supervisor / Marker’s Name:

Provide a grade based on the grading criteria for the Dissertation

Element	Grade (G)	Weighting (W)	Weighted Grade (GxW)
Abstract and Introduction (10%) Succinct synopsis and introduction (including the aims and objectives).		0.10
Review of Literature (10%) Presentation of concise relevant literature review (as appropriate). Relevant theory. Good range of references		0.10
Methodology (15%) Description of appropriate and achievable methods. Justification of methodology.		0.15
Results (20%) Clear and full presentation of results of analytical / design / experimental (where appropriate) work.		0.20
Analysis of Results/Discussion (30%) Critical evaluation, analysis & appraisal of the findings		0.30
Conclusions (10%) Valid conclusions and observations (pertinent to the aims and objectives of the work) and recommendations for future work.		0.10
Report Presentation/efforts (5%) Clarity and layout of report, use of English (grammar, spelling, language), Harvard system of referencing, style and appropriate use of illustrations / tables / appendices. Also efforts and record of student/supervisor meetings		0.05
Please note that clarity and coherence of expression are assessed throughout the marking scheme as they are essential elements to the overall quality of the report.	Σ	1.00
Total Grade

What was done well on this submission:

How this submission could have been improved:

Assessor-1 Grade	Signature	Assessor-2 Grade	Signature	Agreed grade

Date:

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