Homework Assignment for Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics Graduate Seminar Fall 2008
20 AEEM 972

For this assignment you will research a topic by finding materials in the library and its online resources, and write a short paper (a page or so) on your topic. References cited in the text must be included in proper format in a list of references following the paper. Satisfactory completion of the assignment by first-year graduate students is required for seminar credit. This assignment is due Friday, October 17, 2008 in the Aerospace Department office.

You will need the UC Library Catalog and library databases to complete the assignment. Access the resources from

• five PC workstations in the Engineering Library (Baldwin 8th floor), or
• sixteen PC workstations in the Engineering Information Commons, or
• the Engineering computer labs , or
• from off-campus using the VPN client or Off-Campus Access proxy server
• your own computer

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1. Select a specific topic you are considering for your research or thesis. See bottom of page for topic ideas, if needed. Make your topic as focused as possible, for example by limiting to a particular application. You should explore the literature first to help decide what specific area you will focus on if necessary.
2. Begin your paper with an introductory paragraph describing your topic, including the key terms for the specific aspect or application you are researching.
3. Search for information on your topic in the following sources. Keep track of which source your information came from. Each source you use will be cited in your list of references. Each reference should be unique.
   1. Find one book. Use the Library Catalog. Locate the book on the library shelves or online. You may also use Knovel, Referex, OhioLINK's EBC or other online book collections listed in the Engineering Library website under Books Online. Read pages relevant to your topic. In your list of references, provide a complete citation for the book according to the prescribed format. Provide page numbers if appropriate.
   2. Find one reference book. Use the Reference Guides on the Engineering Library homepage. Refer to the section of the guides called HANDBOOKS and ENCYCLOPEDIAS. Find the book in the Reference area, or online. When citing the reference book in your list of references, include the specific pages of the book containing relevant information.
   3. Find one journal article using one of the following comprehensive databases. Read the article.
      1. Compendex . Limit the publication type to journal articles. Use the "Find It!" link to locate the article. OR
      2. Academic Search Complete
      3. SCOPUS
   4. Find one article using Aerospace & High Technology Database or Mechanical and Transportation Engineering Abstracts .
   5. Find one journal article using one of the following specialized databases.
      • AIAA Electronic Library OR
      • Applied Mechanics Reviews OR
      • Civil Engineering Abstracts OR
      • IEEE Xplore OR
      • Materials Research Databases OR
      • NTRS: NASA Technical Reports Server
   6. Find a patent using the USPTO Web Patent Database (Issued Patents) or Google Patent Search (less current but easy to view and print) . Read the patent and cite it in your list of references.
   7. Find an article citing an author or article you have already found, using Science Citation Index (SCI). Click on Web of Science and then Cited Reference Search. If finding a cited author or article is not possible, find an article written by the author of an article you have already found. Use the Find It! button to locate the article.
   8. Search the web using Google Scholar Advanced Scholar Search, or Scirus (for scientific information) to search. Make use of search tips. For example limit to the .edu domain, or to subject categories in Google Scholar. Put phrases in quotes. Limit to title to narrow your search, etc. Find a substantive, authoritative site relating to your topic. Cite it in your list of references using the format provided.
4. Based on the information you have read in the above eight sources, add a few paragraphs to follow your introductory paragraph (Step 2 above). Use your own words. DO NOT cut and paste information from the abstracts or articles you found. Improper citing of quoted or paraphrased material constitutes plagiarism.
5. Conclude the paper with a list of the eight complete references in AIAA format. Do NOT attach printouts or simply copy the citations from the sources.
   1. Each reference cited in your paper should be identified by a superscript corresponding to its number in the list of references.
   2. References should be numbered in the order they appear in your paper. However for my benefit, preface each reference with the source by which you found the reference, as exemplified below:
   1. Library Catalog (book):
   2. Reference book from Guide:
   3. Compendex, Academic Search Complete or SCOPUS (identify which):
   4. Aerospace & High Technology Database or Mechanical and Transportation Engineering Abstracts (identify which):
   5. AIAA, Applied Mechanics Reviews, Civil Engineering Abstracts, IEEE Xplore, Materials Research Databases, NASA Tech Report server (identify which):
   6. USPTO or Google Patent Search (identify which):
   7. Science Citation Index [state the name of the cited author after the reference]:
   8. Google Scholar, or Scirus [name which search engine]:

Make sure your paper has your name!

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Need a general subject area from which to develop a specific topic?

aerodynamics
aeroelasticity
air traffic control
airbreathing engines
aircraft design
attitude control
combustion
composite materials
computational fluid dynamics
engine design
flight control
flight mechanics
flow control
fluid mechanics
gas dynamics
gas turbines
jet engines
jet noise
nondestructive evaluation
orbital mechanics
propellers
space propulsion
spacecraft design
spacecraft dynamics
structural mechanics
supersonic flow
turbomachinery
turbulent flow

10/3/08
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