CPE6010-11

MSc Research Project Report Guideline

The outline in the following pages is given in the form of a typical project report, with associated
sections and chapters. Remember this is only here for help. You can modify the sections, add or
remove them as you think appropriate. You can do better than the minimum suggested. However, you
must have a cover page, one-page abstract, a list of contents and a set of references which are
identified in the text either like this [Smith, 2001]. Also check the assessment criteria available online.

It is suggested you write your report in Ariel font of size 11, with larger for main headings, with a 1.5
line spacing and more between paragraphs. If you use another font, it should be legible and of size 11,
or 12.

Maximum number of words is between 10,000 to 12,000 words [including abstract and excluding
references, diagrams, tables, graphs, figures and appendix.].

You may include work by other members of the group such as diagrams or spreadsheets providing
you clearly acknowledge it by stating the source where the diagram or spreadsheet appears, or in the
text where you inferred from the work carried out by others.

References should be given in the text e.g. [Felder & Rousseau, 2000] Harvard style and full details in
the list of references at the end. References to websites must have the name of the document as well
as the web address (and if necessary a bit of explanation, e.g. lecture notes, or company brochure if it
is not obvious).

Direct quotations must be in quotation marks (quotes) and should normally be limited to 30
words.
Images should have the source given adjacent to the image itself.

Submission
Include MSc Research Project title page (available to download online) as your report cover page.
You must submit an electronic copy of your dissertation in MS Word format (doc or docx file) to
TURNITIN on BlackBoard. You will have only one attempt.

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 Cover Page

You can download it in MS Word format from MOLE CPE6010-11

Title of your research project

Your Name (First name plus surname)

Your Main Academic Supervisor Name

Your Course (MSc Environmental & Energy Engineering

or MS Biological & Bioprocess Engineering)

Your Theme Name

Date

Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering

University of Sheffield

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Abstract
Must be limited to maximum one page.
Explain both the general problem and what you did to tackle it in not more than one page. This must
be self-contained – that is, the reader could understand it without having to refer to any other pages or
documents.

If you have worked in a group, acknowledge the other group members.

Indicate your main aim and objectives, what method you have done, what measurements you have
carried, what you have achieved, and any principal/major conclusions.

It may not have been possible to achieve your original aims, but try to be positive in this abstract – do
not make it seem like excuses.

It is not usual to cite references in the abstract (they will be given in the body of the report) unless you
make a direct quote.

Don’t put any table or graph in your abstract.

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Table of Contents
Section Page
1. Introduction
5
1.1 Background
5
1.2 Project aims and objectives 5
2. Summary of literature review (maxim 5 pages) 6
3. Research Methods 11
3.1 Overview 12
3.2 Main tools/methods 13
3.3 Data collection methods and procedure 14
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.5 Data verification methods
3.5.1
3.5.2
3.5.3
3.6 Data analysis methods
3.7
3.8
4. Results 20
4.1
4.2
5. Discussion 25
5.1
5.2
5.3
6. Conclusions and recommendations 30
References 32
Appendices
Appendix 1 Title
Appendix 2 Title

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 (Each chapter starts on a new page)

1. Introduction (max 5 pages)

1.1 Background
State the industrial application or academic interest which gives a reason for this research. Assume the
reader is not familiar with this area, and explain any basic terms or techniques which may be needed
later.

1.2 Project Overview

Give the reader the overall story. For example, there was previous work carried out in the department,
and you were asked to try a new line of investigation with the same equipment. The group decided to
do something, but it was not successful, so they changed to something else. The group worked
together and produced the data shown in section… Eventually you split up. The others did this and
that. You did the following…

1.3 Aims and Objectives

Clearly state the aim and objectives of your project.

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2. Summary of literature review (max 5 pages)
This is your literature review summary, in your own words of the technical review you submitted, so
that the reader can understand your theory and hypothesis and other topic without having to read the
whole technical review report. You are being tested on your ability to extract, summarise and present
information. Simple copying will count as plagiarism, though you may include appropriate diagrams
and tables, correctly acknowledged. Use subsections as appropriate. Also you may want to add new
information or literature you have found. So this is the appropriate chapter to update your literature
review.

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3. Research Methods
3.1 Overview
Explain what was done, how and by whom. For example, you may have taken samples, but some-one
else analysed them. You may indicate any difficulties, changes of plan, or how the work was divided
among the group.

3.2 Main Apparatus

If you have a main piece of equipment, describe it here. If there are two or three, use sub-sections. A
photograph does not constitute a description. However, a photograph and labelled drawing together on
the same page can be helpful. Give dimensions and materials of construction (but do not go to
ridiculous detail).

3.3 Other Equipment

This is for items such as analytical equipment. Be specific. Do not just say ‘a pH meter’ but give the
manufacturer, model and type if relevant.

3.4 Materials
List with as many sub-sections as necessary any materials you used. The aim is that some-one else
could replicate your experiment, so be as specific as possible, and include any preparation. For
example:

3.4.1 Water
Deionized water of conductivity < 8 μS cm-1, filtered through a Millipore 10 μm membrane, was used
throughout.

3.4.2 Peas
Birdseye frozen peas were allowed to come to room temperature overnight prior to testing. A fresh
pack was used each time.

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3.5 Test Methods
Now you give sufficient detail so that someone else could carry out the same Experiments. Use as
many sub-sections as you need. You may need some on preparation, some on sampling and some on
analysis.

3.6 Calibration
Briefly note how you checked the calibration of any instruments and how you made sure that your
experimental measurements were valid and reproducible. For example, did you repeat a known
sample ten times to see how the results varied?

3.7 Heading
Any other section relevant to your project.

3.8 Heading
Any other section relevant to your project.

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4. Results
Here is where you present your results. For example in clearly labelled graphs, with explanation, or in
short tables with complete column headings (meaning, units etc).

Large tables of raw measurements should be put in an appendix.

Statistical tests and trends are useful. Be realistic in your precision.

Remember that ‘proportional’ means increasing linearly from zero. For example if the relationship is
y = ax2 + c then y increases with x but is not proportional to it.

If you can change the plot to get a straight line, this can be a good indication that you understand the
phenomenon and can demonstrate the quality of the results. For example, if plotting y against x 2 gives
a nearly straight line with acceptable scatter, you may argue support for the equation above.

Remember that negative results are disappointing but scientifically are equally valid.
If your supervisor believes that there is a relationship between A and B, and you find A does not
depend upon B, then this is an acceptable result.

Don’t forget to add errors of your data.

4.1 Group Results

If you have worked in a group there may be some data in common.

4.2 Individual Results

Your individual experimental work.

4.2.1
In appropriate sections and sub-sections.

4.2.2
Like this.

4.2.3
And this.

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5. Discussion and analysis
Explain how your results and data do or do not fit in with your initial hypotheses, or literature or
general theory. Compare your results, explain them scientifically and discuss them critically.

5.1 Topic 1
Discuss.

5.2 Topic 2
Discuss.

5.3 Topic 3
Discuss.

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5. Conclusions and recommendations (about 2 pages)
Brief statements including what was not found out. Possibly be critical of your experimental plan, and
state what you should have done. You may wish to make recommendations for future work.

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References
This is an important part. It is not a bibliography (list of things you have read).
It is a list of sources of information which may be checked if necessary. You should refer to the
source in the text in square brackets either by number like this [14] or by name like this [Smith &
Jones 1998] then give full details here. While some journals use superscripts like this 1 the bracket [1]
is easier to notice.

You may either have one list of references or you may group them by report sections, e.g. 5.1
References to Section 1; 5.2 References to Section 2 etc.

Here are some examples.

Cheresources.com (2006) http://www.cheresources.com/vcm.shtml VCM from
Ethane Becomes Profitable
Felder, R. M., & Rousseau, R. W., (2000) Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes,
3rd ed pp 579-584
Lakshmanan, A., Rooney, W. C., & Biegler, L. T., (1999) Computers and Chemical
Engineering, vol 23 no 4-5 pp 479-495 “A case study for reactor network synthesis:
the vinyl chloride process”
Perry, R. H., & Green, D. W., (1998) Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook, 7 th ed pp
10-141 – 10-142.
US Patent 6,909,024 (2005) Process for the conversion of ethylene to vinyl chloride and novel
catalyst compositions useful for such process.
Please note that Wikipedia and related resources are not allowed. If information is available in
standard textbooks, you are expected to use that in preference to Internet sources. Internet references
must give the title and author if stated, as well as the url.

It is not good enough just to give a web-page address from the top of your search page. You must
identify the document source and content.

If you refer to the same book several times, you can just have one reference but give the page
numbers in your text.

For example:
Data from [Perry & Green1998 p 2-202]. According to [Perry & Green 1998 pp 10-101 – 102], etc.
Data from [7, page 12-14].

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Instead of referring to the same source many times in a few paragraphs, make a statement at the
beginning. For example:

The calculations in this section follow the method suggested by [Smith 2005 pp 565-587] and use the
graphs and data from this source.

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Appendices
A.1 Title
Perhaps a particularly relevant publication which has been a major source.

A.2 Title
Perhaps detailed specifications of some complex materials.

A.3 Title
Tables of experimental measurements.

A.4 Title
Tables of experimental measurements.

A.5 Title
Perhaps a set of calculations.

A.6 Title
Perhaps computer programs and results.

A.7 Title
Any other material which you think should be included but would make the text too long.

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