Course Syllabus: PETE 615

PETE 615 Course Syllabus, Spring 2023

Course Information
Course Number: PETE 615
Course Title: Junior Student Paper Contest
Sections: 501
Time: Saturday, January 28, 2023. Attendance and participation are required for a satisfactory grade.
Credit Hours: 0, Lecture 0 hr/wk, Lab 0hr/wk, participation 6 hrs on competition day

Instructor Details

Instructor: Dr. John Lee Co-Instructor: Dr. Gia Alexander

Office: RICH 501P Office: RICH 916G
E-Mail: [email protected] Via ZOOM: https://tamu.zoom.us/my/sarmah
Office Hours: See Dr. Alexander E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: (979) 847-8855
Office Hours Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00
and by appointment.

Course Description

“Presentation of a technical petroleum engineering topic judged by petroleum professionals at the

junior level department student paper contest.”

Course Prerequisites

Current enrollment in the PhD program in Petroleum Engineering.

Course Learning Objectives and Alignments to Student Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to perform the following objectives in alignment with
program outcomes (Table 1):

Objective Description Alignments

1. Outline in detail an introduction for your proposal on a petroleum 1,3,7
engineering problem consisting of problem statement, review of
previous work presented in the literature, and study objective(s)
2. Outline in detail a methodology section for your proposal including 1,2,3,6,7
planned tasks, data and methods you plan to use, and any
assumptions you made in the study
3. Gather and organize information, make calculations and/or analyze 1,3,6,7
data to achieve the specific objectives set in your proposal for an
independent study of a petroleum engineering problem
4. Summarize the results of your project or those you found in your 1,3,6,7

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 Course Syllabus: PETE 615

Objective Description Alignments

research in a meaningful visual way consistent with Society of
Petroleum Engineers professional writing style and presentation
practices
5. Prepare a detailed discussion of results, including your analysis and 1,3,6,7
interpretation of those results
6. Draw appropriate conclusions from your study consistent with your 1,3,6,7
project objective(s) and properly supported by data, calculations
and/or analysis
7. Identify limitations of your work and propose steps for further work, 1,2,3,6,7
supported by evidence presented in the results and discussion of your
study
8. Prepare Microsoft PowerPoint slides for your proposal that can be 1,3,6,7
used in an oral presentation to persuade others that the results,
conclusions and supporting data are correct and useful (400 words)
9. Present the proposal orally to your peers and instructor in 10-15 1,3,5,6,7
minutes, using PowerPoint slides, and provide constructive feedback
to your peers as they present their work
10. Write a concise proposal for an independent study based on your 1,3,6,7
research (800 words)
Table 1—Course Learning Objectives and Alignments to Student Outcomes.

Student Outcomes

Petroleum engineering graduates must have the following abilities upon graduation (Table 2):

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying

principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with
consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social,
environmental, and economic factors
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and
make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global,
economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership,
create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet
objectives
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data,
and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning
strategies.
Table 2—Expected outcomes for petroleum engineering graduates (Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology, 2021).

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 Course Syllabus: PETE 615

Course Objectives/Topics Covered

Specific objectives for your coursework in PETE 615 include the following:

1. Write, prepare, and deliver an effective visual presentation video based on your research on a
relevant engineering problem in the petroleum industry.
2. Prepare to answer questions from an audience with directness and clarity.
3. Analyze and give constructive feedback on other oral presentation videos.

Textbook and/or Resource Materials

The following course materials are provided in Canvas:

McKinney, M., Pattison, K., LeMire, S. et al., eds. 2020. Howdy or Hello?: Technical and Professional
Communication. College Station: Texas A&M University. Licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise
noted.

Society of Petroleum Engineers. 2019 SPE Style Guide.

https://www.spe.org/authors/docs/SPE_Style_Guide_2019.pdf

SPE Student Paper Contest Judging Rubric for Juniors

SPE Student Paper Contest Rules

Course Completion and Grading Policy

This course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You must complete ALL of the items below
to earn a satisfactory grade in this course. The assignments and points possible are as follows:

1. Delivery of Your Presentation at the Student Paper Contest: 100 points

2. Your All-Day Participation at the Student Paper Contest: 100 points
3. Completion and Submittal of Feedback Form: 100 points

Special Alert: If the judges at the Student Paper Contest deem your performance unsatisfactory because
of time, content, or delivery, you will need to repeat the presentation to me and other faculty members
to pass this course. Lack of effort on your part will result in an unsatisfactory grade.

Learning Resources

Workshops

We will have several voluntary workshops prior to the competition. Please see the schedule under
Modules in Canvas.

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The University Writing Center

The mission of the University Writing Center (UWC) is to help you develop and refine the
communication skills vital to success in college and beyond. Currently, you can choose to work with a
trained UWC peer consultant via web conference or email. You can schedule an appointment to discuss
any kind of writing or speaking project, including research papers, lab reports, application essays,
or creative writing. Our consultants can work with you at any stage of your process, whether
you're deciding on a topic or reviewing your final draft. You can also get help with public speaking,
presentations, and group projects. To schedule an appointment or to view our handouts, videos,
or interactive learning modules, visit writingcenter.tamu.edu. Questions? Call 979-458-1455 or email
[email protected].

Class Civility and Communication Policies

Civility

Throughout our preparation and the upcoming competition, we will behave like the engineering
professionals we are in accordance with our Aggie value of having a Community of Respect on our
campus. We will remember that ours is a global industry, and we will respect cultural differences. If
you disrupt class, I will log you out for the day and ask you to login and explain your behavior to me
during office hours.

Communication

This course is dedicated to teaching you to communicate professionally. As such, you should approach
correspondence with me and others in the course in a professional manner. All emails to me should
include the course and section number in the subject line.

Social Media Policy

Please respect the following boundaries:

1. I will not be LinkedIn Contacts with you until after you have completed at least one course with
me.
2. I will not be Facebook Friends with you as long as you are still in university.

University Policies

Attendance Policy

The university views class attendance and participation as an individual student responsibility. Students
are expected to attend class and to complete all assignments.

Please refer to Student Rule 7 in its entirety for information about excused absences, including
definitions, and related documentation and timelines.

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On your third unexcused/undocumented absence, you will have missed the equivalent of three weeks
of class, and I will send your advisor an Excessive Absences report through Howdy.

You may attend the other section of this course if needed. For example, if you feel ill on Monday, you
may log in on the Wednesday link instead. Conversely, if you know you have an interview on Wednesday
afternoon, you may log into the Monday section. So that you get the correct credit for your Weekly
Activity, please email me ahead of time whenever you need to swap logins.

Makeup Work Policy

Students will be excused from attending class on the day of a graded activity or when attendance
contributes to a student’s grade, for the reasons stated in Student Rule 7, or other reason deemed
appropriate by the instructor.

Please refer to Student Rule 7 in its entirety for information about makeup work, including definitions,
and related documentation and timelines.

Absences related to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 may necessitate a period of more
than 30 days for make-up work, and the timeframe for make-up work should be agreed upon by the
student and instructor” (Student Rule 7, Section 7.4.1).

“The instructor is under no obligation to provide an opportunity for the student to make up work missed
because of an unexcused absence” (Student Rule 7, Section 7.4.2).

Students who request an excused absence are expected to uphold the Aggie Honor Code and Student
Conduct Code. (See Student Rule 24.)

Academic Integrity Statement and Policy

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

“Texas A&M University students are responsible for authenticating all work submitted to an instructor. If
asked, students must be able to produce proof that the item submitted is indeed the work of that
student. Students must keep appropriate records at all times. The inability to authenticate one’s work,
should the instructor request it, may be sufficient grounds to initiate an academic misconduct case”
(Section 20.1.2.3, Student Rule 20).

You can learn more about the Aggie Honor System Office Rules and Procedures, academic integrity, and
your rights and responsibilities at aggiehonor.tamu.edu.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy

Texas A&M University is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all
students. If you experience barriers to your education due to a disability or think you may have a
disability, please contact Disability Resources in the Student Services Building or at (979) 845-1637 or
visit disability.tamu.edu. Disabilities may include, but are not limited to attentional, learning, mental

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health, sensory, physical, or chronic health conditions. All students are encouraged to discuss their
disability related needs with Disability Resources and their instructors as soon as possible.

Title IX and Statement on Limits to Confidentiality

Texas A&M University is committed to fostering a learning environment that is safe and productive for
all. University policies and federal and state laws prohibit gender-based discrimination and sexual
harassment, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, dating violence, and
stalking.

With the exception of some medical and mental health providers, all university employees (including full
and part-time faculty, staff, paid graduate assistants, student workers, etc.) are Mandatory Reporters
and must report to the Title IX Office if the employee experiences, observes, or becomes aware of an
incident that meets the following conditions (see University Rule 08.01.01.M1):

• The incident is reasonably believed to be discrimination or harassment.

• The incident is alleged to have been committed by or against a person who, at the time of the
incident, was (1) a student enrolled at the University or (2) an employee of the University.

Mandatory Reporters must file a report regardless of how the information comes to their attention –
including but not limited to face-to-face conversations, a written class assignment or paper, class
discussion, email, text, or social media post. Although Mandatory Reporters must file a report, in most
instances, you will be able to control how the report is handled, including whether or not to pursue a
formal investigation. The University’s goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options
available to you and to ensure access to the resources you need.

Students wishing to discuss concerns in a confidential setting are encouraged to make an appointment
with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Students can learn more about filing a report, accessing supportive resources, and navigating the Title IX
investigation and resolution process on the University’s Title IX webpage.

Statement on Mental Health and Wellness

Texas A&M University recognizes that mental health and wellness are critical factors that influence a
student’s academic success and overall wellbeing. Students are encouraged to engage in proper self-
care by utilizing the resources and services available from Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).
Students who need someone to talk to can call the TAMU Helpline (979-845-2700) from 4:00 p.m. to
8:00 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours on weekends. 24-hour emergency help is also available through the
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255) or at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

COVID-19 Temporary Amendment to Minimum Syllabus Requirements

Campus Safety Measures

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To promote public safety and protect students, faculty, and staff during the coronavirus pandemic,
Texas A&M University has adopted policies and practices for the Fall 2020 academic term to limit virus
transmission. Students must observe the following practices while participating in face-to-face courses
and course-related activities (office hours, help sessions, transitioning to and between classes, study
spaces, academic services, etc.):

• Self-monitoring—Students should follow CDC recommendations for self-monitoring. Students

who have a fever or exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should participate in class remotely and
should not participate in face-to-face instruction.
• Face Coverings—Face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) must be properly worn
in all non-private spaces including classrooms, teaching laboratories, common spaces such as
lobbies and hallways, public study spaces, libraries, academic resource and support offices, and
outdoor spaces where 6 feet of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain. Description of
face coverings and additional guidance are provided in the Face Covering policy and Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) available on the Provost website.
• Physical Distancing—Physical distancing must be maintained between students, instructors, and
others in course and course-related activities.
• Classroom Ingress/Egress—Students must follow marked pathways for entering and exiting
classrooms and other teaching spaces. Leave classrooms promptly after course activities have
concluded. Do not congregate in hallways and maintain 6-foot physical distancing when waiting
to enter classrooms and other instructional spaces.
• To attend a face-to-face class, students must wear a face covering (or a face shield if they have
an exemption letter). If a student refuses to wear a face covering, the instructor should ask the
student to leave and join the class remotely. If the student does not leave the class, the faculty
member should report that student to the Student Conduct office for sanctions. Additionally,
the faculty member may choose to teach that day’s class remotely for all students.

Personal Illness and Quarantine

Students required to quarantine must participate in courses and course-related activities remotely and
must not attend face-to-face course activities. Students should notify their instructors of the
quarantine requirement. Students under quarantine are expected to participate in courses and
complete graded work unless they have symptoms that are too severe to participate in course activities.

Students experiencing personal injury or Illness that is too severe for the student to attend class qualify
for an excused absence (See Student Rule 7, Section 7.2.2.) To receive an excused absence, students
must comply with the documentation and notification guidelines outlined in Student Rule 7. While
Student Rule 7, Section 7.3.2.1, indicates a medical confirmation note from the student’s medical
provider is preferred, for Fall 2020 only, students may use the Explanatory Statement for Absence
from Class form in lieu of a medical confirmation. Students must submit the Explanatory Statement
for Absence from Class within two business days after the last date of absence.

Operational Details for Fall 2020 Courses

For additional information, please review the FAQ on Fall 2020 courses at Texas A&M University.

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College and Department Policies

Please note that successful completion of this course is a requirement toward your Bachelor of Science
in Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University as included on your degree plan.

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