MME9642 - Building Systems Engineering

GENERAL NOTES

• For help, contact Lise Doucette, MME Librarian - ldoucet@uwo.ca or 519-661-2111 x81554
• If you are not on campus, start by logging in for off-campus access (to the left).

OUTLINE

• 1. DEFINING YOUR PROJECT TOPIC AND CONCEPTS
• 2. FINDING INFORMATION ON YOUR TOPIC
• 3. READING THE INFORMATION
• 4. WRITING ABOUT THE INFORMATION
• 5. CITING PROPERLY AND AVOIDING PLAIGIARISM

1. DEFINING YOUR PROJECT TOPIC AND CONCEPTS

Take a few minutes to fill out a Search Strategy Worksheet and discuss it with a classmate.

Some tips on describing each concept:

• use synonyms or related terms for each of the concepts - an online dictionary (like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary or the Free Dictionary) and background reading (like Wikipedia) can help you get started
• also try the thesaurus feature of databases (like Compendex)
• scientific vs 'common' language (may need to use both)
• variant spellings (eg.  British versus American)
• singular and plural forms
• truncation of terms (e.g. treat* will find treat, treated, treatment, etc.)
• quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g. “sound insulation”)

2. Finding information on your topic

If you are new to your topic or would like to start by reading some more general background information, here are some good places to start:

• ENGnetBASE - a collection of 1000+ online handbooks - search by topic, and also take a look at the titles in the ‘Structural Engineering’ and 'Mechanical Engineering' > 'HVAC' categories
• Library Catalogue - find books by searching by topic (keyword), title, author

A review paper can be really helpful in getting started - it synthesizes key research in your topic.  Some databases let you limit to review papers; e.g. in Ei Compendex you can limit to 'treatment type' of 'General Review' or 'Literature Review'

 You can find articles and conference papers in the following databases:

• Ei Compendex - articles from all areas of engineering
• Scopus - articles from engineering, science, business, and social sciences
• More MME databases listed here
  

Some articles and handbooks will provide you with data to work with.  Other times, you will need to find data on you own.  We list a few websites to try on our Finding Engineering/Science Data and Statistics page.

Standards may also be useful.

What if the library doesn't have an article or book you want?   Use the Interlibrary Loan / RACER system to request it from another library (generally free of charge).

3. READING the INFORMATION

Taylor Library’s tutorial on reading articles:
http://www.lib.uwo.ca/researchmodules/physicalsciences/readingaresearcharticle/

4. writing about the information

• Literature Review Overview and Examples [PDF file]
• Taylor Library’s tutorial on writing your own paper: http://www.lib.uwo.ca/researchmodules/physicalsciences/writingyourownpaper/index.shtml
• Writing the Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix: http://www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center/writespeak/PDF%20Handouts/synthesis%20matrix.pdf

Example of a Synthesis Matrix: Efficiency of solar cells made of various materials

• Writing Help: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/writing/

5. citing properly and AVOIDING Plaigiarism

• Use Western Library’s Style Guides page for citing papers in your report.  Use APA for this project.
• Cite properly to avoid plagiarism (Western’s definition).