CE 321
Sections: 001 and 002
Spring 2012
LABORATORY INFORMATION PACKET
SECTION 001:
SECTION 002:
Tuesday, 12.40 – 2.30 P.M, 1538 EB
Thursday, 3.00– 4:50P.M, 1538 EB
INSTRUCTORS:
Kyle Paulson, Teaching Assistant
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
OFFICE HOURS:
see website
EMAIL:
paulson7@msu.edu
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE:
You must attend all lab sessions for which your group is
scheduled. If you know in advance that you will not be able to
attend, you must inform your lab partners and myself at least one
day in advance. Accommodations will then be made to make-up
the missed lab session. If an emergency arises and attendance is
not possible, please contact me at the earliest possible
convenience.
One will not receive a grade for a lab report if he/she failed to
attend the scheduled lab session and failed to make it up.
Obviously, these policies do not cover every possible scenario. If
you plan to be absent or you are just generally concerned about
these policies, please consult with me.
GRADING:
Your lab grade will be based upon the following:
2 reports @ 40% each (the 2 n d report will count
for 80% if significant improvement is
shown between 1 s t and 2 n d reports)
1 memo @ 20% each
1 f i n a l ex a m @ 2 0 %
The overall grading process of any writing assignment is quite
subjective and is based on overall quality and ability to clearly
communicate important concepts in a professional manner.
Your lab ‘grade’ will be reported to the class instructor as a
percentage of 100 based on how many point you received out of
the total possible. This percentage will then be used to calculate
how much the lab portion of the class will contribute to your final
CE 321
Sections: 001 and 002
Spring 2012
LABORATORY INFORMATION PACKET
grade. (See class syllabus for total value of lab with respect to
overall class.)
ASSIGNMENTS:
Each laboratory experiment will have associated with it a set of
pre-lab questions to answer and a report or memo. You will be
notified well in advance as to which type of assignment will be
required for a specific lab exercise. Pre-lab questions are due on
the day of the lab, before the laboratory session begins. These
questions are available on the course website. The answers must
be typewritten or computer-processed and must be on a separate
sheet of paper that is stapled to the original question sheet. Each
student must submit his or her own answers to these questions. A
five-point penalty will be assessed for not completing the
questions before the laboratory session.
The writing assignments will generally be due 1-2 weeks from
their assignment. The specifics of each assignment, including
required submittals and submittal procedures, will be discussed in
the lab.
LAB GROUPS:
Lab groups will be determined based upon class, major and other
information provided to the TA.
DISPUTES: If you are having problems with your lab partner, my
first suggestion is that you communicate the problem informally to
that individual. However, if the problem persists, if you do not
think your action will help, or if you are afraid to confront your
partner, please come and see me immediately. Your concerns will
be confidential and we will work together to remedy the situation.
FEEDBACK:
I (TA) welcome your feedback at any time during the semester. If
you have any suggestions to improve my teaching, the lab, the
atmosphere of the class, anything, just let me know. You may
make your suggestions by e-mail, ‘classical’ mail, personal
meeting, telephone, fax, etc. I will only accept feedback from
which I can identify the person. If you wish your feedback to be
anonymous, you should get in touch with the class instructor or the
department chairperson. They will then give me the message.
You will also obviously be given the chance to make anonymous
feedback at the end of the semester through standard SIRS forms.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: If you need special accommodations for the class,
first contact MSU’s Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.
They will then arrange for the best, most prompt, and certified
assistance.
CE 321
Sections: 001 and 002
Spring 2012
LABORATORY INFORMATION PACKET
WRITING REQUIREMENTS AND TIPS
TRANSMITTAL LETTER: Each lab report (not memos) will have attached to it a
transmittal letter.
More information about this will be
forthcoming.
STYLE:
It is important not only to have good content in your writing, but to
also present it clearly. To do this, the writer must be consistent
with his or her use of fonts, headings, titles, etc. Therefore, you
are free to choose the formatting style for your report. If you have
not yet developed a style of your own, you may use these
formatting ideas. However, no matter your style of choice I expect
consistency throughout your documents and throughout the
semester (i.e. – I would be disappointed to see a well formatted lab
report followed two weeks later by one of different format that is
obviously sub-standard.)
REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM: You may use any in-document-referencing
format you like. At a minimum, parenthetical references must
contain the author’s last name and year. Include a bibliography of
all works consulted during writing and a references section of only
those works that are directly reference in your document. You are
discouraged from looking at lab reports from years past. If you do
examine old lab reports, you must include them in your
bibliography. Keep in mind that many things concerning CE 321
have changed in the past couple of years - be wary of mistakes and
inappropriate sections in them. You may not copy from old lab
reports, even if you have obtained permission. You are being
graded on original work.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: More writing tips and info will be provided during
the first laboratory session.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
TA’s OUT-OF-TOWN: It is only fair that I let you know ahead of time when I am
planning to be out of the Lansing area. If I become aware of any
dates that I will be out of town, I will inform you immediately.
LAB SAFETY:
We don’t deal with a lot of dangerous equipment specifically in the
lab, but EB 1530 is filled with many opportunities for accidents.
Do not touch items that are not related to the lab. Be wary of water
on the floor as it can become very slippery. Also watch out for any
electrical cords and/or devices that may be in proximity to the
hydraulic benches or other water.
CE 321
Sections: 001 and 002
Spring 2012
LABORATORY INFORMATION PACKET
LAB SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2012
Date
Section
Experiment
Required for
Jan 10/12
1/2
NO LAB
n/a
Jan 17/19
1/2
Introduction
All students
Jan 24/26
1/2
Fluid Statics
Group A
Jan 31 / Feb 2
1/2
Fluid Statics
Group B
Feb 7/9
1/2
Fluid Statics Writing
Group A
Feb 14/16
1/2
Fluid Statics Writing
Group B
Feb 21/23
1/2
Bernoulli
Group A
Feb 28 / Mar 1
1/2
Bernoulli
Group B
Mar 6/8
1/2
NO LAB SPRING BREAK
n/a
Mar 13/15
1/2
Bernoulli Writing
Group A
Mar 20/22
1/2
Bernoulli Writing
Group B
Mar 27/29
1/2
Computational Lab
Group A
April 3/5
1/2
Computational Lab
Group B
April 10/12
1/2
Computational Lab Writing
Group A
April 17/19
1/2
Computational Lab Writing
Group B
April 20
1/2
Lab Quiz – In Class
All Students
April 24/26
1/2
NO LAB
n/a
May 1 / 3
n/a
FINALS WEEK
n/a