Portfolio 4: What difficulties do you have writing in your engineering classes? How do you resolve the difficulties? How will you continue to improve?

As a year-1 engineering student, the few writing tasks I have are the lab reports and a General Elective Module project report. These writings are significantly different from the writing I have done in my secondary school and junior college. My difficulty is I do not know how to organize this kind of writing.

The GEM module I take is GEK1514, "microelectronics revolution - from sand to integrated circuits". Last week, I did a project report with my friend on the topic “The emergence of ICs and the impacts on entertainment and the ways we communicate". We had an adequate number of points but we found it is hard to put them into the report. This is because some of the points did not agree with others. In the end, we decide to put our r thesis statements in the paragraph first. Then I sort the points to supporting details and counter-arguments. After that, it is slightly easier for us to write. However, we do not really find this is a good organisation because we do not have an overall approach to the topic. It is like sometimes we find ICs make our ways of communication better while sometimes not. Thus, in the end, it is hard for us to give a conclusion. In the introduction, we did not have a clear stand as well. Therefore, my problem with my current university writing is whether I need a clear stand. By the way, thanks for EG1471, now I can do APA style citation and it really helps me a lot in the report because we need to do reference for the report.

To overcome my problems I need to discuss with my lectures about the objectives o f the reports. Moreover, I can read science journals to learn how they approach the reports generally. I believe my EG1471 lectures also have a lot of ideas in organizing a report. Thus, I can consult them next time.

Summary 2(Sequester That Carbon Dioxide)

Scientists have discovered a new usage for the underground reservoir. That is to store the greenhouse gas. A team from University of Texas has already store carbon dioxide underground into the reservoir. To store carbon dioxide underground is also known as carbon sequestration. It has become the spot light of various industries and governments all over the world. Greenhouse gas is believed to be the main cause of global warming. It will lead to higher sea level, unpredictable weather and disastrous storms. Texas is one of the largest greenhouse emitter; however, it also has the best technology to sequester the carbon dioxide. The coast regions of Gulf of Mexico is estimated to be able to contain 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide. However, there are also a lot of obstacles in terms of money and technology for the carbon sequestration to become a feasible business . Carbon dioxide was actually able to be pumped into underground since 1970 to increase the output of oil. However, now carbon dioxide needs to go deeper into the ground and pipeline network has to be built.

"Sequester That Carbon Dioxide" www.wired.com 27 Nov. 2004. Retrieved 3 Oct. 2008 from
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/11/65852

Summary 1（Storing CO2 a ways off)

US had put a lot of effort in carbon sequestration technology, yet they still need more time and money. They are already able to store carbon dioxide; however, the methods to collect the gas before it is released to the air are still not mature. Some workable methods are not economically feasible, however. Half of US's power comes from coal-fired power plants. To collect and store carbon dioxide from those plants can reduce the greenhouse gas significantly. It is also the US government's main approach to tackle global warming. Another problem is where to store the greenhouse gas. The feasibility of storing carbon dioxide underground is questioned. There might be some unforeseen problems after carbon dioxide is pumped underground. Sufficient preparation and research need to be done before making the first move.

Gale. (2008). Official: Storing CO2 a ways off. Retrieved October 08, 2008, from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodld=OVRC&docld=CJ165700547&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=nusself&version=1.0