TIDEE
Transferable Integrated Design Engineering Education
________________________________________________________________________
Communication
Section 5: Written Reports
This section includes:
• Defining Criteria for Formal Reports
• Planning a Conceptual Design Report
• Planning a Detail Design Report
• Preparing Design Drawings
• [IR] Providing Feedback on Formal Reports
As an engineer you will be called upon to draft written reports. This section will
familiarize you with the structure and content typical of formal reports. The goal is
to prepare you to create logically organized, informative reports for a variety of
audiences.
The initial activity, Defining Criteria for Formal Reports, stimulates your thoughts
about what constitutes a high quality written report. You and your team members
will define attributes of a well conceived report along with the needs of the target
audience. A sample report structure is included to help you organize the
document into relevant sections.
The second activity, Planning a Conceptual Design Report, focuses on the
elements required to create a persuasive conceptual design report. You will
identify the content needed to convince your project sponsor of the merit of your
team’s idea.
Planning a Detail Design Report will assist you in understanding and developing
guidelines for a detail design report. The activity helps you rate the importance of
specific content in order to decide on the emphasis given to individual points.
Engineers often communicate via drawings. The activity, Preparing Design
Drawings, offers the opportunity to critically evaluate the use of visual
representations (e.g. systems, components, processes, etc.) to support project
goals.
This section concludes with an instructor resource titled, Providing Feedback on
Formal Reports. It is an aid for assessing students’ strengths and areas for
improvement in regards to formal report writing.
_____________________________________________________________
Activity: Defining Criteria for Formal Reports
Formal written reports become major communication tools for design teams. They declare project
status at a point in time, present details of design processes and decisions, and support project
continuation decisions. Design teams must prepare effective written reports to complete project
requirements and achieve success. In this activity, your team will define criteria for high quality
written design reports.
Objective: Establish criteria for high quality formal written reports presenting design team
activities, products, and proposals.
Tasks
1. Assign team members roles to support this activity.
2. As a team, review the list of final design report sections presented in the Written Reports
worksheet table. For each section, mark the types of people likely to skim (S) or carefully
read (R) its contents.
3. As a team, list attributes of written technical reports that make them attractive, satisfying to
read, and of high quality. Examples may include quality layout and illustrations, articulate and
accurate writing, etc. List attributes that fit all or some of the report sections on the worksheet.
4. Review the Criteria for Written Reports handout. Identify any missing factors needed to
represent quality in the eyes of readers of a final design report.
Deliverables
1. Team Reporter presents:
Any report sections that should be added or removed for a final design project report
Any necessary revisions your team identified for the Criteria for Written Reports table
2. Team Reflector reports:
a) Any quality factors (in Criteria for Written Reports) that concerned team members
An insight gained from this activity
3. Team homework (due in next class): Edited Performance Criteria for Written Reports
worksheet with estimates of your team’s performance now and at the end of your project.
Criteria for Success
•
•
•
•
Teams recognize attributes that make written reports of high quality.
Teams are able to distinguish quality desired by varied audiences.
Teams are able to recognize levels of performance in themselves.
Teams learn about performance criteria for written reports.
Resources
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•
•
•
•
Personal experience with written technical reports and performance criteria
Worksheet: Written Reports
Handout: Criteria for Written Reports
Worksheet: Performance Criteria for Written Reports
20 minutes of team discussion time
Worksheet: Written Reports
Readership for Report Sections
The following table lists common sections included in a final design report for a capstone
engineering design course. For each report section (row), mark its importance for each reader
(column) by using “S” to indicate “skim only”, “R” to indicate “read carefully”, or blank to indicate
“not read.” Add any other report sections you believe are missing.
Body
Executive summary
Background and research
Objectives for project
Concepts considered
Decision making process
Conceptual design description
Detail design description
Justification of design features
Cost and business issues
Development/implementation plan
Conclusions
Appendix – Supporting materials
Engineering analysis
Business analysis
Detail drawings, photos
Testing of prototype (experiments)
Research reports, client surveys
Gantt chart (timeline) for project
Team credentials
Other – add items as needed
Attributes of Quality Reports
Course
Instructor
Technical
Advisor
Business
Advisor
General
Public
Other
Students
Handout: Criteria for Written Reports
Quality of Writing
Factor
Organization
& Structure
Language &
Mechanics
Appearance
& Format
Confidence
& Persuasion
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Lacks rational flow; parts
not reasoned, not
connected to whole
Poor word choice; spelling
& syntax errors; poor
sentences
Shoddy work; implies lack
of quality; poor visuals
Organization moderately
effective; useful parts; good
flow
Good word choice; few
errors in mechanics; good
sentences
Good quality presentation;
nice visuals; respectable
work
Proposals/positions
presented clearly;
reasonable case presented
Superb organization & flow;
parts clearly support whole;
labeling effective
Excellent word choice and
sentences; no distracting errors
in mechanics
Excellent presentation, visuals,
overall appearance;
communicates top quality
Positions, proposals, requests
stated strongly; supported well;
persuasive case presented
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Information presented
tentatively; arguments
missing or weak
Quality of Design Process
Factor
Low Level (1)
Problem
Scope and
Definition
Few, weak design criteria;
Adequate design criteria,
Diverse, measurable criteria,
lacks key technical and/or
technical & nontechnical*
technical & nontechnical*
nontechnical* constraints; constraints; considers client
constraints; focus on client
little concern for client
needs & costs
needs, societal issues
Concept
Few ideas & sources;
Several ideas & sources;
Many, creative ideas & sources;
Generation &
selection with minimal
decisions made from
decisions based on multiple
Selection
analysis, few factors
established criteria and
well-defined criteria and
considered in decisions
some analysis
thorough analysis
Analysis &
Little or no analysis in
Adequate analysis for
Careful analysis to support all
Decision
decision making; scarce
decisions; adequate use of
critical decisions; skillful use of
Making
use of engineering tools
tools and analysis
proper tools and methods
Product
Single design, model, or
Model or prototype made
Model or prototype refined
Development
prototype made; no
with few or only minor
repeatedly; distinct generations
significant refinements
refinements
produced
Testing and
No or minimal testing; no
Some experimentation;
Effective experiments; data
Experiments
structured experiments;
data variability recognized;
variability addressed ; results
results only stated
results casually interpreted
carefully, correctly interpreted
Business
Little attention to cost
Costs considered and
Life cycle costs minimized in
Issues
issues; no cost analysis
reflected in solution; low
solution; time-value of money &
done for solution
initial & operational costs
business issues addressed
*Include most of these: Economic, environmental, sustainability, manufacturability, ethical, health and safety, social, and political.
Quality of Design Solution
Factor
Technical
Soundness
Societal
Acceptance
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Meets few expectations of
clients; significant flaws
prevent implementation
Has significant drawbacks
to society or does not
make business sense
Performs to meet most
expectations of clients; can
be made and supported
Meets societal norms; may
be competitive with existing
solutions
Performance highly impresses
clients; quick transition for
fabrication and support
Highly attractive to society;
offers significant potential as a
competitive business solution
Worksheet: Performance Criteria for Written Reports
Edit this table to reflect changes in factors or descriptions of performance at different levels. Also
place an “O” along the left-to-right level scale to indicate your team’s estimated current level for
each factor and an “X” to indicate your target for the end of this project.
Quality of Writing
Factor
Organization
& Structure
Language &
Mechanics
Appearance
& Format
Confidence
& Persuasion
Low Level ( 1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Lacks rational flow; parts
not reasoned, not
connected to whole
Poor word choice; spelling
& syntax errors; poor
sentences
Shoddy work; implies lack
of quality; poor visuals
Organization moderately
effective; useful parts; good
flow
Good word choice; few
errors in mechanics; good
sentences
Good quality presentation;
nice visuals; respectable
work
Proposals/positions
presented clearly;
reasonable case presented
Superb organization & flow;
parts clearly support whole;
labeling effective
Excellent word choice and
sentences; no distracting errors
in mechanics
Excellent presentation, visuals,
overall appearance;
communicates top quality
Positions, proposals, requests
stated strongly; supported well;
persuasive case presented
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Information presented
tentatively; arguments
missing or weak
Quality of Design Process
Factor
Low Level ( 1)
Problem
Scope and
Definition
Few, weak design criteria;
Adequate design criteria,
Diverse, measurable criteria,
lacks key technical and/or
technical & nontechnical*
technical & nontechnical*
nontechnical* constraints; constraints; considers client
constraints; focus on client
little concern for client
needs & costs
needs, societal issues
Concept
Few ideas & sources;
Several ideas & sources;
Many, creative ideas & sources;
Generation &
selection with minimal
decisions made from
decisions based on multiple
Selection
analysis, few factors
established criteria and
well-defined criteria and
considered in decisions
some analysis
thorough analysis
Analysis &
Little or no analysis in
Adequate analysis for
Careful analysis to support all
Decision
decision making; scarce
decisions; adequate use of
critical decisions; skillful use of
Making
use of engineering tools
tools and analysis
proper tools and methods
Product
Single design, model, or
Model or prototype made
Model or prototype refined
Development
prototype made; no
with few or only minor
repeatedly; distinct generations
significant refinements
refinements
produced
Testing and
No or minimal testing; no
Some experimentation;
Effective experiments; data
Experiments
structured experiments;
data variability recognized;
variability addressed ; results
results only stated
results casually interpreted
carefully, correctly interpreted
Business
Little attention to cost
Costs considered and
Life cycle costs minimized in
Issues
issues; no cost analysis
reflected in solution; low
solution; time-value of money &
done for solution
initial & operational costs
business issues addressed
*Include most of these: Economic, environmental, sustainability, manufacturability, ethical, health and safety, social, and political.
Quality of Design Solution
Factor
Technical
Soundness
Societal
Acceptance
Low Level ( 1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Meets few expectations of
clients; significant flaws
prevent implementation
Has significant drawbacks
to society or does not
make business sense
Performs to meet most
expectations of clients; can
be made and supported
Meets societal norms; may
be competitive with existing
solutions
Performance highly impresses
clients; quick transition for
fabrication and support
Highly attractive to society;
offers significant potential as a
competitive business solution
_____________________________________________________________
Activity: Planning a Conceptual Design Report
Formal written reports describing conceptual designs are pivotal for gaining approval to initiate
detail design efforts. This report presents to decision makers the design team’s proposed solution
concept to address an important client or societal need. The team must convince project
sponsors of the concept’s merits and their ability to produce a high quality final solution. In this
activity, your team will specify the purpose and content of each part of a written conceptual
design report.
Objective: Develop specifications for a written conceptual design report prepared for a
capstone engineering design project.
Tasks
1. Assign team members roles to support this activity.
2. As a team, state and prioritize your goals for a written conceptual design report. Record this
information on the Conceptual Design Report Planning worksheet.
3. For each report section listed in the worksheet table, rate its importance and identify report
goals that it addresses. Identify those sections that are most important to a written conceptual
design report.
Deliverables
1. Team Reporter presents:
a) A list of your team’s prioritized goals for a written conceptual design report
The most important sections of a conceptual design report
2. Team Reflector reports:
a) A strength of the team in this activity and how it improved team performance
b) An area of improvement proposed for the team and a step toward that improvement
An insight gained from this activity
3. Team homework (due at next class): Prepare a 1-to-2 page set of guidelines for a conceptual
design report. Identify necessary report sections and content appropriate to each section.
Also identify any important quality features (e.g., crispness of writing, strength of arguments)
that should be exhibited in each section.
Criteria for Success
•
•
•
Teams identify a comprehensive set of important goals for the conceptual design report.
Teams identify the most important sections of conceptual design reports based on goals they
help achieve.
Teams evidence understanding of quality conceptual design reports.
Resources
•
•
•
Personal experience in design and preparing technical reports
Worksheet: Conceptual Design Report Planning
15 minutes of team discussion time
Worksheet: Conceptual Design Report Planning
Goals of Written Conceptual Design Report
Priority
Goal Statement
Importance of Report Sections
Identify importance (H/M/L) and goals addressed by each section of the report. Leave blank
sections that are not relevant. Add important sections that are missing.
Body
Executive summary
Background and research
Objectives for project
Concepts considered
Decision making process
Conceptual design description
Detail design description
Justification of design features
Cost and business issues
Development/implementation plan
Conclusions
Appendix – Supporting materials
Engineering analysis
Business analysis
Detail drawings, photos
Testing of prototype (experiments)
Research reports, client surveys
Gantt chart (timeline) for project
Team credentials
Other – add items as needed
Importance
Goals Addressed (priority no.)
_____________________________________________________________
Activity: Planning a Detail Design Report
The design phase of an engineering design project ends with a formal written detail design report,
which documents the design solution and its supporting information. Design teams must
communicate their designs effectively to provide those who implement the solutions all
information needed for the next steps. In this activity, your team will consider the goals of details
design reports and prepare report guidelines that support these goals.
Objective: Develop guidelines for preparing formal written detail design reports for a
capstone engineering design project.
Tasks
1. Assign team members to roles that support this activity.
2. As a team, define the goals for a formal written detail design project report. List and prioritize
these on the Detail Design Report Planning worksheet.
3. For each report section listed in the worksheet table, rate its importance and identify report
goals it addresses.
4. Identify those sections that are most important to a formal detail design report. What content
and qualities should each of them exhibit? Record this on the second page of the worksheet.
Deliverables
1. The team Reporter presents:
a) Your team’s priority goals for a written detail design report
b) The most important sections of the report, their content and quality attributes
2. The team Reflector presents:
a) The most challenging section of the detail design report to prepare, and why
An insight you gained personally from this activity
3. Team homework (due next class): A 1-to-2 page set of guidelines for preparing a written
detail design report for capstone design projects. Identify sections, content of each, and
qualities that support its purpose.
Criteria for Success
•
•
•
Teams identify a comprehensive set of goals for the detail design report.
Teams identify important sections of detail design reports with content and quality attributes
that support report goals.
The team recognizes challenges to the preparation of quality detail design reports.
Resources
•
•
•
Experiences with design and preparing technical reports
Worksheet: Detail Design Report Planning
20 minutes of team discussion time
Worksheet: Detail Design Report Planning
Goals of Written Detail Design Report
Priority
Goal Statement
Importance of Report Sections
Identify importance (H/M/L) and goals addressed by each section of the detail design report.
Leave blank sections that are not relevant. Add important sections that are missing.
Body
Executive summary
Background and research
Objectives for project
Concepts considered
Decision making process
Conceptual design description
Detail design description
Justification of design features
Cost and business issues
Development/implementation plan
Conclusions
Appendix – Supporting materials
Engineering analysis
Business analysis
Detail drawings, photos
Testing of prototype (experiments)
Research reports, client surveys
Gantt chart (timeline) for project
Team credentials
Other – add items as needed
Importance
Goals Addressed (priority no.)
Worksheet: Detail Design Report Planning (continued)
Content and Qualities of Important Sections in a Detail Design Report
Report Section
Content
Qualities
_____________________________________________________________
Activity: Preparing Design Drawings
Drawings are important to engineering design projects to communicate spatial and relational
information. Drawings of systems and components, processes, or representations of phenomena
enable viewers to visualize information that supports achievement of project goals. In this activity,
your team will explore the roles of drawings in capstone design reporting and develop guidelines
for quality drawings.
Objective: Develop guidelines for preparing drawings to support achievement of important
capstone design project goals.
Tasks
1. Assign team members to roles that support this activity.
2. As a team, compile a list of types of drawings that could be useful in your capstone design
project. Prioritize them for your project. Record this on the Drawing Features worksheet.
3. For your three or four top priority drawing types, define the function of those drawings and the
features that make the drawing attractive and useful for the intended function. Include
features such as line weight, colors, dimensions, tolerances, and definitions of notation.
Record these on the worksheet.
4. Review the drawing tips and the two example figures on the Drawing Tips and Examples
handout. Identify suggestions for improving each drawing.
Deliverables
1. The team Reporter presents:
a) The primary types of drawings expected in your design project reports
b) Three essential features of drawings used in a design project report
2. The team Reflector presents:
a) A strength of the team in this activity
b) An area for team improvement, and how this can be achieved
c) An insight you gained personally from this activity
3. Team homework (due next class): A 1-page set of guidelines for design report drawings,
indicating overall guidelines and those specific to selected types of drawings.
Criteria for Success
•
•
•
Teams are able to identify several drawing types important to design reports.
Teams recognize quality features associated with different types of drawings.
Team members gain new insights about the preparation of drawings for design reports.
Resources
•
•
•
•
Experiences with technical reports and drawings
Worksheet: Drawing Features
Handout: Drawing Tips and Examples
15 minutes of team discussion time
Worksheet: Drawing Features
Types of Drawings in Capstone Design Projects
Priority
Drawing Type
Functions and Features of Drawings
Drawing Type and Function
Features for Function and Quality
Handout: Drawing Tips and Examples
Tips for Preparing Project Drawings
• Establish drawing standards before starting; this will avoid redoing drawings later.
• When work is divided among individuals, define interface requirements to ensure that parts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
will be compatible.
Use the correct tools for a job; if necessary, learn how to use new tools.
Use “light” versions of software when possible, shortening learning curve and reducing cost.
Backup work frequently so valuable effort is not lost.
Make drawings available to team members to keep them informed and to enable them to use
drawings for their work; web access is convenient.
Label and date drawings so that progress can be documented and ideas can be recalled.
Text included in drawings should be sized to be readable in the intended use of the drawing.
Use line weight, colors, shading, orientation, labels, etc. to focus attention where desired.
Drawings used as figures in written reports should be labeled with figure number and title to
make references to drawings explicit.
When presenting data graphically, show all data necessary to give a true picture of the
conditions represented by the data. If mean (average) data is used, include “error bars” to
depict the standard deviation (or other measure of variability) for the mean.
Example Drawings
Cum ulative Net Revenue
$300,000
Amount ($)
$250,000
$200,000
Figure 1. Estimated cumulative net
revenue for XYZ System after
$10,000 initial purchase cost.
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0
-$50,000 0
2
4
6
8
10
Years
C
C
C
P
P
P
P
i
i
i
i
t
t
t
t
#1
#2
#3
0
2
4
2
Figure 2. Camera positions and
image planes in relation to target
points.
_____________________________________________________________
[IR]: Providing Feedback on Formal Reports
Report writers benefit from timely, focused feedback on their design reports. The many sections
of design reports, varied outcomes being assessed in the reports, and subjectivity of report
assessments present challenges for giving quick and useful feedback. This set of materials
provides you tools to help you provide valuable feedback to guide student improvement in
preparing formal written design reports.
Objective: Explore and refine a tool for giving students valuable feedback on design team
formal written reports.
Tasks
1. Identify your goals for design team formal written reports:
• Develop student skills for preparing professional quality written reports
• Document students’ achievement of program educational outcomes (written
communication, design graphics, use of tools)
• Communicate to external audiences the engineering capabilities of students
• Obtain sponsor/client approval of design project continuation and support
2. Define your intent with regard to providing students feedback:
• Individual or team or class feedback
• Overall performance or feedback on detailed factors of performance
• Performance ratings or suggestions for improvement
3. Adopt a standard format that makes your feedback effort efficient and provides students
valuable information. Begin by reviewing the Example Written Report Feedback handout
(attached) and determining its strengths and areas needing refinement to meet your needs. A
blank form is attached as well for your revision and adoption.
Deliverables
1. Create an Written Report Feedback Form to fit your needs.
2. Begin using your feedback form to give students valuable feedback on their written reports.
3. Identify an insight you gained from this process of preparing to give feedback on written
design reports.
Criteria for Success
•
•
•
You identify what is most important as feedback to students regarding their written reports.
You establish an efficient but effective tool for providing feedback on written design reports.
You learn from your preparation efforts.
Resources
•
•
•
Your experience with technical report writing and providing feedback
Handout: Example Written Report Feedback
Handout: Written Report Feedback form
Handout: Written Report Feedback
The following is feedback provided to a team after submittal of their detail design written report.
_________
Detail Design Draft Report Feedback
Team/Project:
XYZ Widget Project
Date Received: 3/10/2003
Quality of Writing
Factor
Organization
& Structure
Language &
Mechanics
Appearance
& Format
Confidence
& Persuasion
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Lacks rational flow; parts
not reasoned, not
connected to whole
Poor word choice; spelling
& syntax errors; poor
sentences
Shoddy work; implies lack
of quality; poor visuals
Organization moderately
effective; useful parts; good
flow
Good word choice; few
errors in mechanics; good
sentences
Good quality presentation;
nice visuals; respectable
work
Proposals/positions
presented clearly;
reasonable case presented
Superb organization & flow;
parts clearly support whole;
labeling effective
Excellent word choice and
sentences; no distracting errors
in mechanics
Excellent presentation, visuals,
overall appearance;
communicates top quality
Positions, proposals, requests
stated strongly; supported well;
persuasive case presented
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Information presented
tentatively; arguments
missing or weak
Quality of Design Process
Factor
Low Level (1)
Problem
Scope and
Definition
Few, weak design criteria;
Adequate design criteria,
Diverse, measurable criteria,
lacks key technical and/or
technical & nontechnical*
technical & nontechnical*
nontechnical* constraints; constraints; considers client
constraints; focus on client
little concern for client
needs & costs
needs, societal issues
Concept
Few ideas & sources;
Several ideas & sources;
Many, creative ideas & sources;
Generation &
selection with minimal
decisions made from
decisions based on multiple
Selection
analysis, few factors
established criteria and
well-defined criteria and
considered in decisions
some analysis
thorough analysis
Analysis &
Little or no analysis in
Adequate analysis for
Careful analysis to support all
Decision
decision making; scarce
decisions; adequate use of
critical decisions; skillful use of
Making
use of engineering tools
tools and analysis
proper tools and methods
Product
Single design, model, or
Model or prototype made
Model or prototype refined
Development
prototype made; no
with few or only minor
repeatedly; distinct generations
significant refinements
refinements
produced
Testing and
No or minimal testing; no
Some experimentation;
Effective experiments; data
Experiments
structured experiments;
data variability recognized;
variability addressed ; results
results only stated
results casually interpreted
carefully, correctly interpreted
Business
Little attention to cost
Costs considered and
Life cycle costs minimized in
Issues
issues; no cost analysis
reflected in solution; low
solution; time-value of money &
done for solution
initial & operational costs
business issues addressed
*Include most of these: Economic, environmental, sustainability, manufacturability, ethical, health and safety, social, and political.
Quality of Design Solution
Factor
Technical
Soundness
Societal
Acceptance
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Meets few expectations of
clients; significant flaws
prevent implementation
Has significant drawbacks
to society or does not
make business sense
Performs to meet most
expectations of clients; can
be made and supported
Meets societal norms; may
be competitive with existing
solutions
Performance highly impresses
clients; quick transition for
fabrication and support
Highly attractive to society;
offers significant potential as a
competitive business solution
Comments to Guide Report Improvement
General Comments
The report was received on time and complete. All key sections are provided.
Strengths of the report and impacts of these strengths:
Your report has the appearance of a professional document. The cover and contents are
attractive; the report is easy to follow. Visuals are clear, well constructed to make a point, and
effective. Sentence structure and mechanics are good, not detracting from the report. These
qualities communicate professionalism to the reader. This lends credibility to your project in the
eyes of the reader.
Your executive summary was especially well written. This grabs the reader’s attention and
provides strong incentive to read on. You also set their expectations that the design solution does
indeed meet their needs. Great job!
Areas of improvement for the report and ways to achieve them:
Writing style varies from section to section. This suggests that multiple writers have contributed
(which is good), but it is noticeable to the reader. You could alleviate this concern by having one
member of your team serve as the editor-in-chief to bring consistency. It also would help if, when
planning the report, you agree on the person from which the report is written, and you all write in
that person.
Your concept generation section is a bit brief. It does not show the scope of ideas you
considered, perhaps implying that you accepted the first good idea you found. A brief statement
about the number or range of ideas considered would give readers more confidence that you had
considered all relevant ideas.
Your economic analysis section leaves the reader wondering about the economic viability of your
solution. Data in the appendix shows that the project has significant economic benefit from the
start, but this is not clear from the report body. You would strengthen your case by adding a
prominent graph of projected expenses and revenues over time in the body of the report.
Remember that decisions are made by considering cost as well as performance.
Feedback on Written Design Report
Team/Project:
Date Received:
Report:
Note that X marks the level of your performance for each factor evidenced in your written report.
Quality of Writing
Factor
Organization
& Structure
Language &
Mechanics
Appearance
& Format
Confidence
& Persuasion
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Lacks rational flow; parts
not reasoned, not
connected to whole
Poor word choice; spelling
& syntax errors; poor
sentences
Shoddy work; implies lack
of quality; poor visuals
Organization moderately
effective; useful parts; good
flow
Good word choice; few
errors in mechanics; good
sentences
Good quality presentation;
nice visuals; respectable
work
Proposals/positions
presented clearly;
reasonable case presented
Superb organization & flow;
parts clearly support whole;
labeling effective
Excellent word choice and
sentences; no distracting errors
in mechanics
Excellent presentation, visuals,
overall appearance;
communicates top quality
Positions, proposals, requests
stated strongly; supported well;
persuasive case presented
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Information presented
tentatively; arguments
missing or weak
Quality of Design Process
Factor
Low Level (1)
Problem
Scope and
Definition
Few, weak design criteria;
Adequate design criteria,
Diverse, measurable criteria,
lacks key technical and/or
technical & nontechnical*
technical & nontechnical*
nontechnical* constraints; constraints; considers client
constraints; focus on client
little concern for client
needs & costs
needs, societal issues
Concept
Few ideas & sources;
Several ideas & sources;
Many, creative ideas & sources;
Generation &
selection with minimal
decisions made from
decisions based on multiple
Selection
analysis, few factors
established criteria and
well-defined criteria and
considered in decisions
some analysis
thorough analysis
Analysis &
Little or no analysis in
Adequate analysis for
Careful analysis to support all
Decision
decision making; scarce
decisions; adequate use of
critical decisions; skillful use of
Making
use of engineering tools
tools and analysis
proper tools and methods
Product
Single design, model, or
Model or prototype made
Model or prototype refined
Development
prototype made; no
with few or only minor
repeatedly; distinct generations
significant refinements
refinements
produced
Testing and
No or minimal testing; no
Some experimentation;
Effective experiments; data
Experiments
structured experiments;
data variability recognized;
variability addressed ; results
results only stated
results casually interpreted
carefully, correctly interpreted
Business
Little attention to cost
Costs considered and
Life cycle costs minimized in
Issues
issues; no cost analysis
reflected in solution; low
solution; time-value of money &
done for solution
initial & operational costs
business issues addressed
*Include most of these: Economic, environmental, sustainability, manufacturability, ethical, health and safety, social, and political.
Quality of Design Solution
Factor
Technical
Soundness
Societal
Acceptance
Low Level (1)
Intermediate Level (3)
High Level (5)
Meets few expectations of
clients; significant flaws
prevent implementation
Has significant drawbacks
to society or does not
make business sense
Performs to meet most
expectations of clients; can
be made and supported
Meets societal norms; may
be competitive with existing
solutions
Performance highly impresses
clients; quick transition for
fabrication and support
Highly attractive to society;
offers significant potential as a
competitive business solution
Comments to Guide Report Improvement
General Comments
Strengths of the report and impacts of these strengths:
Areas of improvement for the report and ways to achieve them: