ME452
Progress report grading criteria and format

Oral Progress Reports (presentations)

Format: 10 minutes long using PowerPoint (required). If you are NOT using your own computer, you must email Dr. Wang the presentation at least 12 hours in advance of the presentation (you will be sent a confirmation email when received).

The presentation should contain the following information:

• Title Slide (including current reporting period)
• Forward
• Introduction
• Current Period Objectives
• Current Period Major Accomplishments
• Potential/Anticipated difficulties
• Work Plan for Next Period
• Summary/Conclusion

Content: With your presentation, you are trying to show that you deserve to continue the project. If you are not making sufficient progress, managing the project poorly, or are deviating from the original goals you are in danger of having your project cancelled.

Your goal is to convince the reviewers/sponsors that you:

1. Are on schedule (or have a good reason for being behind and have a plan to get back on schedule).
2. Are within the budget.
3. Have exercised your technical knowledge.

Written Progress Reports

Format: Submit three copies of each proposal. Proposals are limited to a maximum of fifteen 8.5" x 11" pages (minimum type size is 10 pt., double spaced, 1" margins), stapled at the upper-left-hand corner of the package (no fancy covers). This includes all elements of the proposal (text, graphics, exhibits, appendices).

The format should generally be as follows:

• Title page (clearly identify the reporting period, i.e. what dates does the progress report cover).
• Summary/abstract
• Introduction
• Current period objectives and their relation to the overall objectives
• Current period major accomplishments (both what you did and how you did it)
• Potential/Anticipated difficulties
• Work plan for next period and how this fits into the overall work plan
• Conclusions

Content: Just like the presentation, your goal is to convince the reviewers/sponsors that you:

1. Are on schedule.
2. Are within the budget.
3. Have exercised your technical knowledge.

Hints:

• Figures are a must (and always number and caption all figures).
• The most common mistake is the lack of technical content.
• It's okay to modify your work plan, just don't change the objectives of the project..
• Timeline should be detailed enough that someone can tell if you are on schedule (but not too much detail).
• Remember what the goal of the report is and what the objectives of the project are.
• You should write the summary last.
• Proof read your report!!!!

More information

If you want to see some more information, you can view Dr. Wirtz's PowerPoint presentation on progress reports (given to ME150 in the Fall 1996)