1. Getting Started

First Things First - Assignment Requirements

Before you begin work on any research project, examine the assignment for requirements.

Q. How long is the PowerPoint presentation?

This could be a slide length, a word count, presentation time limit etc.

Q. How many sources?

How many total sources does your instructor ask for; are they all outside sources or does your textbook count as one of your sources?

Q. What kind of sources?

Does your instructor specify certain types of sources? Are there other requirements such as how current/old the sources can be, or where the source should come from - the library, a database, a book/ebook, a peer-reviewed journal, etc.?

Q. How do you cite sources?

For this assignment, you will use MLA format for your citations. You may want to remind yourself what information you need to create the MLA Works Cited page and in-text citations.

Q. When is it due?

How long do you have to work on this team project? Working in a group can be challenging. Plan out your time, divide the work equally so one person does not get stuck doing all the work at the last minute. Plan extra time in case you have problems, team conflicts, or get stuck.

Selecting an Industrial Process Topic

The first thing you need to do before you begin this group project is to select a topic that you're going to research and present. Here are a few suggested topics from your assignment:

Warehouse Humidity Controller
Controller of Relative Humidity in a Textile Moistening Process
Thermistor Control of Quench Oil Temperature
Edge Guide Control for a Strip Recoiler
Solid State Logic Circuit for the Conveyor / Classifying System
Automatic Tank Filler using a Clock and One-Shots

Teamwork Tips

Communicate frequently -

Create a communication plan early. How will team members communicate? In person, by email, regularly scheduled meetings?

Stay organized -

Review the assignment, divide the work, hold team members accountable, create clear goals, and set deadlines.

Plan group meetings -

Discuss the project, responsibilities of each team member, deadlines, etc.