I am requesting you to do research on a complex topic: biomimetic
anti-corrosion coatings inspired by lotus leaf structure.
anti-corrosion coatings inspired by lotus leaf structure.
In the Technical Report instructions pdf, you will see that our instructor gave us 2 options and I chose to do option (2) which is biomimicry. I have already selected the topic as I mentioned it at the beginning, and I want you to follow the instructions below. I have also attached a sample for a different topic. That should help you in formatting the paper. Include pictures and diagrams to help illustrate your points and include a caption underneath each figure. There is also a topic memo that I made to help you direct the contents of the paper. I found 3 credible sources about this topic already and I also summarized them for you. You can access these in the memo.docx
Option 2: Biomimicry
Biomimicry refers to designs or innovations—technological or architectural—that emulate
designs, patterns, processes, or strategies found in nature. A widely reported example of a
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biomimicry application is based on the fins of the humpback whale. These whales have large
bumps, or tubercles, on their fins that increase the whales’ aerodynamic efficiency. Today,
research is being done to develop scalloped blades modeled on the fins of the humpback whale
that can improve the efficiency of wind turbine blades, airplane wings, and other types of fans.
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A good starting place to find other examples of biomimicry in action is The Biomimicry Institute.
I have put links to other biomimicry resources on the course web site.
If you choose this option, your report should do three things, although not necessarily in this
order:
• Explain the technology or concept. What is it? How does it work?
• Explain how the technology or concept is inspired by nature
Essential Requirements of the Report
The best reports tend to be between 2500 and 4000 words in length (7-12 single-spaced
pages including figures and graphics, but not including the list of references, the glossary, and
any other appendices). Concise writing is a virtue, so do not think that you will impress me if you
submit a significantly longer report. The document should include the following features:
pages including figures and graphics, but not including the list of references, the glossary, and
any other appendices). Concise writing is a virtue, so do not think that you will impress me if you
submit a significantly longer report. The document should include the following features:
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Appropriate Sections in the Body of the Report each beginning with a heading or
subheading
subheading
• Conclusion
• References Page (At least 10 scholarly, credible sources are required)
• At least two clearly-labeled and captioned visuals (figure, table, equation, photo, etc…)
• A glossary that provides definitions of technical terms (used more than once).
• Statement Concerning Use of AI
Report Format and Organization
Below is a summary of key features of each section of your report. The format and
typography of the final proposal should be polished and professional, and there should be no
errors in grammar, spelling, or syntax.
typography of the final proposal should be polished and professional, and there should be no
errors in grammar, spelling, or syntax.
Front Matter Guidelines:
The report should include a title page that presents your report title, you name and
department, your instructor’s name, the name of the course, and the date of submission. The
title is an important phrase and should clearly identify the specific topic and purpose of the
report. It must include the word “Report” in order to identify your document as fitting this
particular genre of writing. In addition, include a Table of Contents, and a List of Figures and
Tables if you use more than four (4) visuals within the report. Otherwise, simply list the figures
in the Table of Contents.
department, your instructor’s name, the name of the course, and the date of submission. The
title is an important phrase and should clearly identify the specific topic and purpose of the
report. It must include the word “Report” in order to identify your document as fitting this
particular genre of writing. In addition, include a Table of Contents, and a List of Figures and
Tables if you use more than four (4) visuals within the report. Otherwise, simply list the figures
in the Table of Contents.
Main Body Notes:
Begin the report with a short introduction that identifies your topic and purpose and that
engages your reader in that topic. While one crucial aspect in my assessment will be how you
structure and organize the rest of the material for the reader, the structure and exact layout of
the main body section will vary from report to report.
engages your reader in that topic. While one crucial aspect in my assessment will be how you
structure and organize the rest of the material for the reader, the structure and exact layout of
the main body section will vary from report to report.
In the body of the report, judiciously use headings and subheadings to identify the
divisions of information. These tools do important work. First, they orient your reader to the
logical structure you are developing in your report. Second, they help readers focus on the
portions of the report of most interest to them. Readers can skim certain portions of your report,
and carefully read the ones they want. When inserting headings and subheadings, use consistent
formatting to clearly show a difference between the levels of information you are presenting (to
create a logical hierarchy). For instance, your main headings should all be of a particular font,
size, style, and formatting, which should be different in at least one of those aspects from the
subheadings. You want your reader to easily and clearly know when a heading is a main heading
or a sub-heading.
divisions of information. These tools do important work. First, they orient your reader to the
logical structure you are developing in your report. Second, they help readers focus on the
portions of the report of most interest to them. Readers can skim certain portions of your report,
and carefully read the ones they want. When inserting headings and subheadings, use consistent
formatting to clearly show a difference between the levels of information you are presenting (to
create a logical hierarchy). For instance, your main headings should all be of a particular font,
size, style, and formatting, which should be different in at least one of those aspects from the
subheadings. You want your reader to easily and clearly know when a heading is a main heading
or a sub-heading.
Even though headings and subheadings will alert your readers to the next topic or
subtopic under review, transitions are still needed to help readers understand the connections
between the sections you discuss in the paper. Do not use the headings or subheadings as
transitions. This means that if you removed the headings and subheadings, the writing would
still clearly flow from topic to topic. Appropriate transitions are tricky, but essential to creating
a readable, and useful technical document. Often when transitions are lacking, it is a sign that
there are underlying problems with organization or development of a topic or point. Your main
goal in composing a technical report is to make it as easy as possible for your readers to
understand your work: transitions are key to that goal.
subtopic under review, transitions are still needed to help readers understand the connections
between the sections you discuss in the paper. Do not use the headings or subheadings as
transitions. This means that if you removed the headings and subheadings, the writing would
still clearly flow from topic to topic. Appropriate transitions are tricky, but essential to creating
a readable, and useful technical document. Often when transitions are lacking, it is a sign that
there are underlying problems with organization or development of a topic or point. Your main
goal in composing a technical report is to make it as easy as possible for your readers to
understand your work: transitions are key to that goal.
Likewise, when integrating tables and figures, be sure to discuss their use or meaning in
the text; do not simply drop them in without reference. Explain their content and their
importance to what is being discussed. Also, if the table or figure is not your own work, cite it in
text the same way you would cite quoted text. Label and caption your tables and figures to be
able to refer to them in your text and the Table of Contents or List of Table and Figures.
the text; do not simply drop them in without reference. Explain their content and their
importance to what is being discussed. Also, if the table or figure is not your own work, cite it in
text the same way you would cite quoted text. Label and caption your tables and figures to be
able to refer to them in your text and the Table of Contents or List of Table and Figures.
Even though I am not asking you to draw any conclusions or make any recommendations
in this report, you need to neatly wrap up your discussion for your reader at the end of the body
of the report. Don’t just stop after you have covered all of your topics. Provide a summary of
the report and then “open up the discussion” in some manner, perhaps by providing a question
for future consideration, a thought-provoking observation, or a prediction about where this
technology might take us. In other words, gracefully wrap up the report.
in this report, you need to neatly wrap up your discussion for your reader at the end of the body
of the report. Don’t just stop after you have covered all of your topics. Provide a summary of
the report and then “open up the discussion” in some manner, perhaps by providing a question
for future consideration, a thought-provoking observation, or a prediction about where this
technology might take us. In other words, gracefully wrap up the report.
Back Matter Guidelines:
Each report should contain a bibliography of at least eight (8) different cited sources. My
experience is, however, that good reports draw upon more sources than that, most of which are
from peer-reviewed or well-respected technical, government, or science publications.
Outstanding reports often refer to many more sources. Your references page should use APA or
IEEE formatting; check it over carefully for formatting or spelling problems. You do not need to
provide annotations for any sources.
Finally, include a glossary that defines technical terms. If you want to include additional
information about your topic that is somewhat tangential or extraneous to your report
discussion, you may create an appendix for that type of information, but don’t put information
that is crucial to understanding your topic in an appendix. Begin the Glossary and each Appendix
on a separate page, labeling or titling each item appropriately. While I’m requiring a glossary,
I’m not requiring an appendix and few students provide one.
experience is, however, that good reports draw upon more sources than that, most of which are
from peer-reviewed or well-respected technical, government, or science publications.
Outstanding reports often refer to many more sources. Your references page should use APA or
IEEE formatting; check it over carefully for formatting or spelling problems. You do not need to
provide annotations for any sources.
Finally, include a glossary that defines technical terms. If you want to include additional
information about your topic that is somewhat tangential or extraneous to your report
discussion, you may create an appendix for that type of information, but don’t put information
that is crucial to understanding your topic in an appendix. Begin the Glossary and each Appendix
on a separate page, labeling or titling each item appropriately. While I’m requiring a glossary,
I’m not requiring an appendix and few students provide one.