Teacher Comment: Student writing serves many purposes

Derek Lyle, Electrical Engineering Professor: I'm not so sure that our students are aware of the need to communicate well. In industry they almost take for granted the technical content is there when they are hiring someone from a school that has a reasonable reputation. They're looking for the other things. Writing skills, oral presentation skills, team skills, leadership skills.

Carmen Menoni, Electrical Engineering Professor: The writing is a very important aspect because sometimes, when you are writing you realize that your experiment is not right. Putting together your thoughts in writing is when you realize if you've made any mistakes and then you go and do it again.

Derek Lyle: You can also realize whether there are holes in the experiment, or if there is something missing.

Carmen Menoni: It's helpful to do the writing ahead of time even if you don't have all the results together.