Assignment #2—Research Report on Invention (175 points)
Goal:
ENG 250
Write a research report dealing with an invention topic related to your declared major. This assignment
will demand that you learn to intelligently use various sources to uncover credible information and track
down additional promising sources. Most will automatically turn to the internet, but be aware that there is
a great deal of time-wasting garbage in e-land; however, there are also vast quantities of researched,
credible information. Universities post large numbers of documents on-line. Magazines and journals
frequently post their articles. Government research institutions often have huge and interesting electronic
archives. Professional forums point to interesting insights and problems. Manufacturers occasionally have
extremely informative websites concerning their product categories.
Some websites I’ve uncovered containing great quantities of promising information include:
www.us.fpl.fs.gov-- The United States Forest Products Laboratory
www.professionalroofing.net-- They have a large archive
PCA—Portland Cement Association
ACI—American Concrete Institute
www.nfrc.org-- The National Fenestration Council (windows and doors)
United States Department of Energy
You may even look to Iowa State and your departments for inspiration. Literally dozens of inventions are
being crafted in the Department of Construction, Civil, and Environmental Engineering.
Your working thesis will likely evolve as you conduct research and you may not even have one until you
have delved into your topic a bit. The important thing is to be flexible and open-minded and tenacious in
your digging.
Length:
--The document should be 1500 to 1800 words in length.
--It must effectively incorporate at least three visuals. Visuals can be taken from any source (as long as
the source is cited) or you may create them.
--It must use at least 4 sources.
--Preferably, the topic should deal with something regarding invention in your particular
Discipline, but this is a suggestion rather than a requirement.
Objective:
--Support your claims with SED’s (sufficient essential details)
--Present the content so all 7 C’s are met
--Choose appropriate detail
--Use accepted conventions for citing research
--Utilize effective writing strategies (i.e. analogy, narrative, comparison/contrast)
--Be organized (effective thesis and topic sentences), logical, and thoughtful
Due dates:
Thesis and outline due Feb. 16
Rough Draft due Feb. 25
Final Draft due Mar. 2 (include 3 annotations from credible sources on a separate sheet.)