SMCE

📚 SMCE201 – Seminar & Technical Report Writing for Engineers

Guidelines for Student Tasks

Welcome to SMCE201!
This course focuses on building your presentation skills, technical writing abilities, and research documentation through structured, real-world tasks.

Below are the three core tasks you will complete this semester.

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💡0. Early Stage – Topic Orientation & Selection (Week 1–2)

Click here for guidance on choosing a topic.

Guidelines

• Each student must finalize their topic with faculty approval.
• Use the provided Topic Selection Template or form.
• Ensure the topic:
  • Is relevant to civil engineering.
  • Has novelty and aligns with current research interest.
  • Has sufficient literature and data available for review.

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Topic Selection Template:

• Title
• Objectives
• Scope
• Expected Outcome

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📝 1. Preparation of Presentation

Goal: Deliver a clear, engaging, and well-structured presentation on your chosen topic.

Guidelines:

• Duration: 8–10 minutes
• Slides: 8–12 (concise, not overloaded with text)
• Use diagrams, charts, and visuals wherever possible
• Follow a logical flow:
  Title → Introduction → Problem/Objective → Methodology → Findings → Conclusion → References
• Practice your delivery to maintain clarity, confidence, and timing
• Give credit to sources for any data, images, or quotes

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Item	Details
Purpose	Develop confidence in delivering technical content to an audience.
Duration	8–10 minutes
Format	PowerPoint or similar presentation tool
Content	Based on your chosen technical/research topic
Audience	Classmates & faculty
Evaluation	Clarity, depth, visuals, delivery, and audience engagement

✅ Presentation Checklist

• Topic approved by faculty
• Title slide with name, roll no., topic
• Clear structure (Intro → Body → Conclusion)
• Relevant diagrams, images, or charts
• Proper references cited
• Practiced for time management
• Avoid overloading slides with text

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📄 2. Structured Report Submission

Goal: Submit a professional, well-organized technical report on your topic.

Structure:

1. Title Page – Title, your name, roll number, course, date
2. Abstract – 150–200 words summary
3. Table of Contents
4. Introduction – Background, objectives
5. Main Body – Methodology, discussion, results, and analysis
6. Conclusion – Key takeaways and recommendations
7. References – As per IEEE/APA format

Formatting:

• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 1 inch (all sides)
• Number all figures and tables with captions

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Item	Details
Purpose	Train in preparing well-organized technical reports
Word Count	1500–2000 words
Format	MS Word / LaTeX
Sections	Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results/Discussion, Conclusion, References
Submission	Printed copy + soft copy (PDF)

✅ Report Writing Checklist

• Title page with course code, title, student details
• Abstract summarizing the report
• Logical section flow
• Correct technical language
• Figures & tables with captions
• Proper citation style (IEEE/APA/Harvard)
• Proofread for grammar and formatting

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📑 3. Writing a Technical Article / Review Paper

Goal: Write a scholarly document in one of the following formats:

• Technical Article – Focused on a specific engineering problem or solution
• Review Paper – Summarizing and analyzing existing literature
• Bibliometric Analysis – Data-driven study of research trends
• Comprehensive Review – Broader scope, integrating multiple research findings
• Systematic Review – Structured method to collect and synthesize literature

Key Points:

• Word Limit: 2000–3000 words
• Include abstract, keywords, and references
• Cite minimum 10 quality sources (journals, conference papers, books)
• Maintain academic integrity – no plagiarism
• Use professional language and maintain technical accuracy

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Type	Description
Technical Article	A concise, factual write-up on a technical topic
Review Paper	Summarizes and analyzes existing literature
Bibliometric Analysis	Uses statistical tools to analyze publication trends
Comprehensive Review	Covers all aspects of a broad technical theme
Systematic Review	Follows a structured methodology to review research

✅ Research Writing Checklist

• Select a focused topic
• Collect minimum 10–15 credible references
• Create an outline before writing
• Use appropriate academic tone
• Include diagrams/tables for clarity
• Ensure originality (plagiarism < 10%)
• Conclude with future scope or recommendations

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📆 Suggested Timeline

Week	Task
1–2	Topic selection & faculty approval
3–5	Literature review & initial draft
6–7	Presentation preparation
8	Presentation delivery
9–10	Report writing & submission
11–12	Technical article / Review paper submission

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🏆 Evaluation Criteria

Your performance will be assessed on:

• Content Quality – Relevance, accuracy, depth
• Structure & Formatting – Adherence to guidelines
• Presentation Skills – Clarity, confidence, audience engagement
• Originality – Proper citations, avoidance of plagiarism

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Task	Weightage
Presentation	30%
Structured Report	30%
Technical Article / Review	40%

Note: Late submissions will attract penalties unless prior approval is obtained.

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💡 Tips for Success

• Choose a topic early so you have enough time for research
• Use credible sources – Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar
• Keep backups of your files
• Seek feedback from peers and instructors before final submission
• Choose a topic that genuinely interests you
• Start early—avoid last-minute rush
• Use authentic sources like journals, conference papers, standards
• Seek faculty feedback at each stage
• Practice your presentation multiple times

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Prepared by: Dr. Yuvraj Singh Department of Civil Engineering
Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana