HCTC Assistant Director
What You Need to Do

Read “Failure Is Always An Option,” a short
essay by civil engineer Henry Petroski.

Draft and revise your own essay on a structural
and ethical failure for an audience of curious
but non-technical readers.
How to Write
a Successful Essay (1)

Choose a structural failure (buildings, bridges,
dams, tunnels, etc.) that can be used to explain
Statics to a general audience.

Explain how the structure failed by
incorporating your knowledge of Statics
concepts like equilibrium, moments, and
forces.
How to Write
a Successful Essay (2)

Discuss the ethical factors that contributed to
the failure (for example, undetected design
flaws or an absence of safety regulations).

Reflect on the broader ethical challenges
engineers face in the design and maintenance
of structures.
How to Write
a Successful Essay (3)

Use clear, straightforward language
(“The cables lift the deck of the bridge,
causing a downward force…”).

Include at least one figure (with caption and
citation) to illustrate statics concepts.

Cite at least three credible sources (not
Wikipedia) in APA format.
Helpful Resources

Petroski Article

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Case Study

Engineering Case Studies Online

NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers

Assignment, Evaluation Sheet

Sample Essays
Logistics
Due Date: Friday, June 17, 5:00 pm
Submit To: ICON Dropbox
Questions: jennifer-ambrose@uiowa.edu
Writing Appointments: Main University Writing Center
110 EPB
http://writingcenter.uiowa.edu/
Thank You
“What is written
without effort is read
without pleasure.”
Samuel Johnson