CM3215 Fund of ChemE Lab

What goes in the appendix, what does not go in the appendix .. . .

Friday, Nove,ber 13, 2014:55:08 PM

From:	fmorriso@mtu.edu
To:	cm3215-l@mtu.edu
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Reply To:	fmorriso@mtu.edu
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Class,

Here is the rule of thumb for the appendix:

1. Really anything can go in the appendix, but it must be labeled correctly
2. I should be able to rip the appendix off the back of the report and destroy it and still understand the report.

That second point is important. Often when reports are copied or circulated, the appendices are removed. This is because appendicies are often enormous, due to the first point.

Note: If you put something into the appendix that is critical, for example all the figures, then your report becomes worthless if the appendices are removed. Another thing that is mistakenly put into the appendix are the references. If I separated these from the report, the report would be diminished and sometimes also worthless.

Therefore, do not put anything into the appendix that you need to make your point in your report. And label everything in your appendix.

A detailed discussion of appendicies is available on the web at this link: www.chem.mtu.edu~/fmorriso/use_of_appendices.htm

The most common contents of the appendix are 1) a table with raw data and calculations of the most relevant calculated data and 2) details of your error propagation and error analysis. Error analysis is a very detailed calculation often, and the reader usually wants to assume you have done it right. In this class, I need to teach you to do error analysis, so I need you to document your error analysis for me to check. This goes in the appendix. In "real life" reports, you should also consider putting the raw/calculated data and the error analysis in the appendix, so you can remember what you did and why, in case you need to do follow up work

best wishes,
Dr. Morrison