Advanced Techniques for Waste Treatment and Valorization

Detailed Evaluation Guide (projects and oral presentation)

5. Project (50% of final grade): Students will form groups of 3 members (the composition
of the groups is up to them). They will hand in a report of no more than 3000 words and
this will be the basis for the grade of this instrument. The criteria for grading will be both
degree of innovation of the project and accuracy of the solution. The grade of this instrument is
for the whole group (each member of the group will have the same grade).
The total points for this instrument are 100 and they are distributed as follows:
20 points are assigned to format: is the English correct? Is a coherent numbering system for
figures, tables, equations used? Is all the information prescribed contained in the report? In
general, is the presentation up to the standard of a final year design project? Note that a
threshold number of errors in this category will “cost” all the points (for example, more than 20
errors of expression in English will mean a grade of 0).
30 points are assigned to the degree of difficulty and/or innovation of the project: is the
project trying to solve a new problem with significance/impact? Does it concern a new or
surprising valorization method? How many variables and their influence to the solution have
been chosen? Was the problem realistically formulated? Was it ambitious (it included for
example a process design or a simpler, merely bibliographic problem).
50 points are assigned to the results obtained (if applicable) and the discussion/conclusions.
Please note that this does not necessarily mean that the absence of results implies a grade of 0.
If results have not been calculated a discussion/speculation as to what parameters are
important for the process proposed is expected. This part is equally divided (25 points each)
between the results obtained and the discussion provided and/or conclusions. What is sought is
the demonstration of the capacity to work with incomplete data, to judiciously make
assumptions, to correctly interpret results and to observe trends and tendencies in the results
that might be of engineering significance.

6. Oral test (25% of final grade): The last day of class the projects will be presented by the
members of the group to the instructors. There will be a maximum 20 minute presentation with
20-25 minutes dedicated to questions. The capacity to answer the questions will be given a
“grade” that will be individual for each student.
The total points for this instrument are 100 and they are distributed as follows:
50 points are related to the presentation and will be common to all the team. The
presentation will be evaluated both for format and content (equal “weight” i.e. 25 points each).
Items that will be evaluated under “format” are: duration (there will be penalisation if it is
shorter than 15 minutes or longer than 22), flow (all members of the team should present in a
coordinated fashion), clear transparencies with one idea per transparency, indicating clearly
what this idea is, transparencies that are “self contained” and elegant i.e. that can be read from
the end of the class, that have most of the information needed so the presenter can dedicate
themselves to discussion, etc., English (is the English correct), clarity in the presentation (clear
and loud voice, pronunciation, etc).
Items that will be evaluated under “content” are: is the important information included, is the
presentation made in a logical manner (so that someone who has not seen the report can
understand what the topic is about), are the results explained and justified, is an evidence-
based discussion/conclusion presented?
50 points are related to the defence of each student and will be individual. Although part of
these points might be assigned during the presentation, each student should answer 1-2
questions of the instructors. There will be at least two instructors present and each will grade
individually the answers. At the end of the session an average will be made for each student. If
individual instructors have more than 3 points (on the basis of ten) difference in their opinion a
consensus grade will be reached. From the total of 50 points, 30 will be assigned to capacity of
expression in English. The remaining 20 points will be decided on the capacity to answer or
reason correctly on the questions posed.

Advanced Waste Treatment and Valorization Techniques

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