Dreaded work term reports

The first place to look for information about work term reports would be that section in the CECS student manual. However, it may not be applicable to you, depending on whether it is your first report or not, and which department you are in. The next place to look for guidelines would be your faculty’s webpage since each one has different requirements for a report. For example, the ECE department has a stringent checklist that the report has to pass before it can be marked on technical content. There should be an example of the layout of a typical report for each section.

When it comes to choosing a topic, they are not clear on what is considered “technical”. The following are some suggestions for a good topic:

Basically, anything that involves some calculations, analysis, comparison between two different ideas would be feasible. Don't forget that your topic has to reflect your current level of undergraduate study. In addition, if your report contains information about company resources or finances, you may have to consider submitting your report as confidential. Please check to see if your department accepts confidential reports and if co-op will accept them from that employer before you begin writing your report.

For those of you that are worried about the content or format of your report, go visit the Outstanding Work Term Report Repository at the EngSoc website (engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/www/) under the work term report section. You have to login using your engmail ID and password. Hopefully you didn't ask for a refund of EngSoc money, because you might not be able to get in!

Work reports are typically due a week after school begins. Submissions have to be made by 4:30pm on that day to either the co-op office, or your department office. For first year students (except for those in ECE, and Software) your field coordinator will be marking them and typically, they will be available for pickup around midterm time. Be sure to read over the marker’s comments to improve the next report.