Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

Faculty of Engineering and the

Built Environment
Department of Civil
Engineering & Surveying

Project Brief
(30 % of total subject weighting) Due date: 16 May 2022

General Instructions:
1. This project should be carried out in a group of 3-4 students per group. This will allow you to
learn how to work in a team environment, developing communications skills, encouraging
discussions, developing individual strengths, learn to meet deadlines, plan effectively and
improve your confidence level in the subject matter.
2. Due date: 16 May 2022 (See Learner Guide on late submissions).
3. Submission via Blackboard - to facilitate a plagiarism check (see Learner Guide of Plagiarism).
4. Reference all sources. Make sure to reference your sources (using the Harvard method) and
do in-text referencing that includes the referencing of images, etc
5. This is a report and your format should indicate this.
6. Your report should be no less than 10 pages.
7. Attach your signed declaration (see Learner Guide).

Background:

With the current advancement in technology, engineers can challenge the impossible,
making their dreams a reality. As a team, engineers have given society a new sense of
amazing experiences, showing them, anything can be achieved.
With the current advancement in technology, engineers can challenge the impossible,
making their dreams a reality. As a team, engineers have given society a new sense of
amazing experiences, showing them, anything can be achieved.
With the current advancement in technology, engineers can challenge the impossible,
making their dreams a reality. As a team, engineers have given society a new sense of
amazing experiences, showing them, anything can be achieved.
With the current advancement in engineering technology, engineers and technicians can
challenge the impossible, showing society that almost anything can be achieved. This
includes the construction of structures such as the Golden Gate bridge, the Panama
channel, the Honguagu Glass Bridge in China, the Hoover dam, Palm Islands, the Lake
Pintchartrain Causeway and closer to home, the Bloukrans bridge and Hugenot tunnel.

Project Outline:

You will form part of a team that will select and research ONE unique engineering
structure. You may choose anything that you find interesting that is not found in everyday
life. Examples of possible projects include impressive structures built of pre-cast concrete
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

(e.g. Sydney Opera House), concrete dams (e.g. Gariep Dam), bridges (e.g. cable stayed,
suspension bridge like the one mentioned above in San Francisco, concrete arch bridge),
tunnels (e.g. the Seikan tunnel under the sea), sports stadiums (e.g. Cape Town Soccer
Stadium) or any other interesting engineering marvel. You may even choose an unfamiliar
structure such as one of the many buildings in China that are built on springs to absorb
shocks and prevent failure due to earthquakes.

You will investigate the design, construction (methods and materials) and sustainable
features that has been incorporated into the structure. In other words, HOW it was design
to e.g. withstand earthquakes, WHAT special materials or construction methods were
used, what makes your chosen structure to stand out as an engineering marvel? Present
your findings in the form of a report, oral presentation, and poster.

Project Section A:
Project report:
 Your report format should follow report format learnt in Communication Skills.
 No less than 10 pages.
 Make use of CLEAR pictures/images/graphs but be sure to reference each one
(a picture speaks a thousand words).
 Report may consist of: Title page (names and student numbers, subject, etc),
Terms of reference, Synopsis, List of Illustrations, Glossary, Contents Page,
Introduction, Background, Research Methods, Findings, Conclusions,
Recommendations, Bibliography and Appendices.
 At least FIVE different credible academic sources – Harvard method of
referencing (COMPULSARY). References are to be from reputable sources; not
from sources that can be edited (Wikipedia etc.), In-text referencing is to be
evident throughout the document demonstrating that the references have in fact
been used and the work not plagiarised. Also, Safe Assign reports cannot reflect
a ‘zero’ percent result as this is again evidence of plagiarism based upon how
the submission was constructed.
 Signed declaration by all the group members
 The final submission is subject to a plagiarism report. Where it exceeds
15% as per black board reports, a student's final mark will be an
immediate zero. This is in keeping with the institutional plagiarism policy.
Further Safe Assign reports must have a plagiarism result. Zero implies that the
electronic submission has been intentionally tampered with (e.g. document with
pictures which is pdf’d).

Project Section B:

Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello

 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

PowerPoint Presentation
While the group summits a single Technical report, the oral presentation is individual
submission. All members of the team must participate in the oral presentation of the
project. Each team member based on their interpretation and understanding of the
project, design and submit a PowerPoint slide.

Secondly, prepare, record and upload on Blackboard a 10-minute presentation of their

understanding of the project. Note that the use of power point slides is mandatory but
additional visual aids may however be used. Professional formal dressing is strongly
advised.

Due date …## on the Blackboard

Project Section C:
Project Poster
You will also be required to submit a poster as a summary of your report and
presentation. Please follow guidelines into what makes a good poster as given in class.
Some guidelines are also available at https://guides.nyu.edu/posters. Your poster should
be in A4 size (even though this will not be printed out).

 Students are encouraged to be innovative, realistic and imaginative when doing

their posters.
 Due date: on Blackboard
 Be creative

h the current advancement in

technology, engineers can
challenge the impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
engineers can challenge the
impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

engineers can challenge the

impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
engineers can challenge the
impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
engineers can challenge the
impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

engineers can challenge the

impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.
With the current
advancement in technology,
engineers can challenge the
impossible,
making their dreams a reality.
As a team, engineers have
given society a new sense of
Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello
 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

amazing experiences,
showing them, anything can
be achieved.

Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello

 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND GEOMATICS

CMK151S Research Report Marking Grid /100

2022

Assessment for GA 6: : Professional and Technical Communication

Student Name: Number

Student Name: Number

Student Name: Number

Student Name: Number

TERMS OF REFERENCE /6 Marks

 terms of reference: who, why, when = 3 marks
 General content = 1 mark
 Language =2 Marks
Synopsis /10 Marks
7 -10 Provides an accurate, clear summary of entire report (including main conclusions and
where applicable, recommendations)
4-6 Provides a partial summary of entire report – certain aspects missing
0-3 Unacceptable as a synopsis as it does not provide a summary of the report
CONTENT- Introduction to Conclusions /25 Marks
0-3 Title: problematized and well connected to the content of the report

Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello

 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

0-7 INTRODUCTION: contains the main elements of an introductory section/ clear and
appropriate plan of argument/ contextualised the topic and hold-down the readers’
attention.
CONTENT
9-10 Accurate, detailed, no errors; excellent, original, insight shown
7½-8 Very good, interesting, subject well-covered, a few points left out
6-7 Fairly accurate and detailed; few errors; material/subject well covered, but not
remarkable
4½-5½ More accurate than inaccurate; acceptable but superficial; only obvious points present
3½-4 More inaccurate than accurate; unacceptable, thin, insufficient material/information,
unconvincing
0-3 Did not understand the topic; many inaccuracies

0-5 CONCLUSION: summative/no previously unexplored ideas/ gives a general overview

on the topic of discourse/insightful and well linked to the report findings.
Language /15 Marks
13-15 Clearly expressed; very few errors
10½ -12 Mostly clearly expressed; a few grammar and spelling errors
8½ -10 Fairly clearly expressed; good use of grammatical structures and vocabulary. Spelling
and vocabulary could be improved
5½-8 Understandable; acceptable grammar and spelling
3½ -5 Difficult to understand; restricted use of grammar and vocabulary; weak grammar and
spelling
0-3 Not understandable; very weak grammar and spelling
Structure and logical organisation /20 Marks
17-20 Clear and systematic use of topic sentences to head up arguments, Unity in
paragraph with one main idea explored in each, well planned, logical, Links clear,
relevance of idea clearly shown and related to the topic, well-integrated introduction
and conclusion.
12- 16 Good use of topic sentences to head up argument, relevant supporting sentences to
sustain and develop focus of paragraph, suitable use of linking words with minor
faults; almost totally coherent with few exceptions, Introduction and conclusion
functional.

Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello

 Communication Skills CMK150S Diploma of geomatics 2022

8-11 Acceptable. Some planning, some logical structure. Despite shortcomings, one can
still follow. Some incoherence. Key ideas somewhat supported. Introduction and
conclusion still acceptable but not quite well integrated.
0-7 Difficult to understand. Not acceptable. Organisation needs much attention. Links
infrequent and not always meaningful. Frequent incoherence. Key ideas usually not
supported. Introduction and conclusion unacceptable and/or missing.
Accuracy and Relevance of Referencing /10 Marks
8-10 Correct application of Harvard system format in bibliography (punctuation, spelling of
surname, order, italics, etc) , Bibliography contains all in-text references
6½--7½ Errors/inconsistencies only minor
5-6 A few obtrusive errors/inconsistencies in bibliography/in-text references
3-4½ More incorrect than correct entries; in-text reference/bibliography missing
0-2½ Referencing required but not provided/adequate
Referencing incorrect/inconsistent
Illustrations /10 Marks
8 -10 Numbering followed by colon, Captions bold, font size 10, and single-line spaced?
Neat presentation, with graphic centred and details appropriately spaced
Figure relevant and well integrated-positioned at relevant point in text
Neat presentation, with graphic centred and details appropriately spaced
Figure referenced when necessary?
5½ -7 Figure relevant and well integrated-positioned at relevant point in text
Neat presentation, with graphic centred and details appropriately spaced
4-5 Figure relevant and referred to in paragraph above,
1-3 Haphazardly pasted table /figure with no caption or no source
Presentation /4 Marks
3- 4 Professional appearance; Pre-pages included, neat writing/typing and spacing; hardly
any typing errors. Correct numbering

1½- 2 Neat with all pre-pages but not quite professional in appearance; typing/spacing/
numbering inaccurate but not obtrusive; minor errors/omissions in formatting

0-1 Acceptable but not impressive in appearance; some untidiness; a few

typing/spacing/numbering errors; errors/omissions in formatting

Designed by Ms C. Theron and Edited by Dr. B. Bello