Researcher_D

ENGG 123 – Engineering Disasters – Assignment 2

Due Dates

Section 1: Oct. 20 at 6AM; Section 2: Oct. 21 at 6AM

Introduction

You will research an engineering disaster of your choice that has occurred in history

and write an informative research paper based on your findings. Please note that there

is a list of prohibited topics. When you are deciding which disaster to choose, be sure

that the disaster was related to an engineering failure (e.g. a flaw in the design) as

opposed to a poor ethical choice that caused the disaster (e.g. a company knowingly

does not fully disclose information that ultimately causes bodily harm). As well, be sure

to avoid disasters that were more accidental in nature (e.g. Japan nuclear accident in

2011 due to the tsunami – in this case, a severe natural event caused the disaster).

Prohibited Topics – Please do not write on any of the following:

- Space Shuttle Challenger or Columbia

- Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge

- 9/11 (World Trade Center collapse)

- Sinking of the Titanic

- Quebec Bridge (both collapses)

- BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak (2010)

- Hurricane Katrina

- Chernobyl Nuclear Accident

- Apollo 13

When you consider the disaster, be sure to focus on the engineering aspects related to

the disaster. You should be able to answer the following questions related to the

disaster:

How is it an engineering disaster?

Which particular aspects of the disaster are the result of a poor engineering choice or

practice?

How is it relevant to the study and practice of engineering?

Who was at fault? What caused the accident?

What future precautions are recommended?

Were any new laws, practices, or regulations implemented as a result of the disaster?

What was the overall impact on engineering practice?

Did the accident change engineering practice (either in general or in a particular field)?

e.g. The Challenger disaster lead to significant policy changes at NASA and ultimately

to Whistleblower legislation.

The majority of your paper should focus on the analysis of why the accident was an

engineering disaster, how it occurred, and how it is relevant to the study and practice of

engineering. Do not spend more than a couple of pages describing the actual disaster.

Your focus is not on describing the disaster, but rather, you are to focus on analyzing

the disaster as it relates to engineering and what the engineering cause was for the

disaster.

Sources

Use appropriate academic sources. Most engineering disasters have been officially

investigated, and thus, there are reports that are frequently published and available on

the Internet or through the library. Be sure to use credible sources and reference it

properly.

The book “When Technology Fails” is available at the library on reserve. You can sign it

out at the reserve desk. Additionally, there are several other books on engineering

disasters in the library.

Instructions

The result of this assignment, which you will submit through www.turnitin.com, will be a

formal research paper. It is expected that you will use the tools you have learned in

class that are related to: outlining, referencing, writing style, organization, and academic

writing expectations.

This paper is a research report, and not an essay. You are expected to demonstrate

your ability to critically think when analyzing the disaster as it relates to engineering.

The following outline is a guideline you may use in writing your report and it is

recommended that you include each of the sections. However, it is expected that you

will personalize it through sub-sections, additional sections, etc., in order to meet the

needs of your report.

- Title Page

- Abstract

- Table of Contents

- List of Tables (if required)

- List of Figures (if required)

- Introduction

- Relevant body sections

o sections and sub-sections might include: analysis of cause, impacts on

engineering practice, recommendations for future practice, etc.

- Conclusion

- References (using APA referencing format)

- Appendices (if any)

The body of the paper should be 10-12 pages in length, double spaced. This length is

for the content (from Introduction to Conclusion) and does not include the abstract, table

of contents, references, appendices, or list of tables and figures.

The font should be 12 point, Times New Roman. The margin should be one inch (or

2.54 cm) on top, bottom and both sides. It is expected that you number the pages, since

you will include a table of contents. Paragraphs should be separated from each other

with a blank line (i.e. double spaced between paragraphs). It is also expected that you

number your sections (and sub-sections) that are within the body of your paper (e.g. 1.0

Introduction... 1.1 Objective... 1.2 Scope of topic... 2.0 The Sinking of the Titanic... 2.1

The Design of the Titanic... 2.2 Impacts of the accident... etc.)

Grading

You will be graded based on the following:

- content

- thoroughness of analysis

- writing quality and style

- use of language and communication: clarity, grammar, spelling, etc.

- formatting

- originality

- appropriate use of references in the text (in-text citations) and reference list

- correct formatting of references

- quality of references (are they credible?)

You may wish to consult the University of Regina Undergraduate Calendar section on

Grading Descriptions for more information about performance criteria in each of the

following categories.

1) Outstanding performance (90-100%)

2) Very Good performance (80-89%)

3) Above Average performance (70-79%)

4) Satisfactory and Adequate performance (60-69%)

5) Barely Acceptable performance (50-59%)

6) Unacceptable performance (0-49%)