Topic selection takes the top spot among the various challenges students face when writing their essays. This article will highlight some engineering topics you ought to consider and highlight some crucial steps for writing the best engineering paper.  

What is an engineering paper? 

An engineering paper is an informative essay written to analyze developments in technology. These papers analyze an issue using the existing research as proof of the topic, therefore, criticizing or improving upon the existing research. 

These papers are great for students as they help them develop research skills and hone their critical thinking skills to investigate an issue and argue out their opinions based on the existing academic research. 

How to write an engineering research paper

The approach taken when writing an engineering research paper has a big impact on the quality of the finished product. We recommend that you follow the following guidelines for the best results: 

• Choose a credible subject

Choose a topic for your essay that captures your interest and provides you with a wide range of references to support your arguments. Moreover, make sure your topic is focused on a single issue to avoid utilizing overly complex arguments that can be challenging to accommodate inside the word limit. 

• Do a thorough research

After deciding on your topic and thesis statement, read a range of publications to determine the angles from which you might tackle your problem. When performing research, jot down the key points from each source so that you can utilize them to build an outline. 

• Create a plan

Before you begin writing, we suggest you prepare a plan for the many points you intend to provide in your paper. Your outline will help you identify any inconsistencies in your arguments and steer clear of concepts that can divert attention from your primary claims. 

• Write and revise

Compose the first draft of your paper, then edit it multiple times to make sure it complies with the standards established by your professor. If you have a tight deadline, you can consider hiring an editor to help you finish your paper on time without losing the quality of your writing. 

Engineering research paper topic ideas

Interesting engineering topics

1. Human immortality via genetic engineering
2. The concept of a motorized automatic wheelchair that can also be used as a bed
3. The boundary between hardware and software in cloud computing
4. Can biomedical implants be used to replace human organs?
5. Why our computers of today will require more RAM
6. Using genetic engineering to address human inadequacies
7. Designing structures and buildings that can resist seismic waves

Mechanical engineering research topics

8. How may the price of huge heat exchangers be reduced with a modern composite replacement?
9. How does mechanical engineering affect the medical industry?
10. How might new mechanical theories help businesses enhance their manufacturing processes?
11. Examining how the characteristics of sporting shoes affect both running efficiency and injury
12. Ceramic-coated pistons and liners for single-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines have been developed and tested
13. Investigation of mixing and combustion in scramjet engine combustion chambers through experimentation
14. Fueling a C, I engine with hydrogen and biodiesel

Research topics in software engineering

15. Software-defined networking and virtualization
16. Math software for high school students with disabilities
17. Software intellectual property rights and venture capitalist access
18. Development of business software and its application
19. The function of open-source database server software
20. Software project management’s relation to ethics
21. How computer software can be used as a teaching instrument
22. Software tools for enhancing underground mine access layouts

Genetic engineering research paper topics

23. The methods used to study DNA and RNA at the molecular level
24. Describe how genetics plays a part in the fight against Alzheimer’s illness
25. Talk about the ethics of developing human organs
26. Should parents be able to purchase children that are genetically perfect?
27. Should researchers be required to share the advantages and costs of their genetic engineering work?
28. Thorough evaluation of George W. Bush’s cloning speech from 2001
29. Eliminating sickle cell anemia through genetic modification

Controversial topics in engineering

30. Will humans eventually be replaced by artificial intelligence?
31. The application of nanotechnology to enhance elderly people’ mental and physical health
32. What will people do if robots and computers take over jobs?
33. Does technology have a negative impact on our social lives that is getting worse?
34. Should government organizations look into a suspect using social media platforms?
35. Are genetically modified foods superior to organic foods?
36. Human immortality via genetic engineering
37. Is disaster planning pointless in underdeveloped countries?

Software engineering research topics

38. What are the advantages of data mining technology for businesses?
39. Voting systems based on fingerprints—are they the future?
40. Do chatbots have a detrimental effect on customer service?
41. Are fingerprint-based cash dispensers secure to use?
42. The significance of computerized devices in the healthcare industry
43. A comparison of legacy storage models versus cloud storage
44. Wearable technology’s contribution to better healthcare
45. The impact of advanced technology on the environment

This post will highlight a variety of advice that should be helpful if you want to master your abstract. The objective of an abstract, its format, the distinctions between an abstract and an introduction, and finally the practical procedures for crafting a precise abstract for your work will all be highlighted in this article. 

What is an abstract in APA?

The dissertation abstract is a succinct summary of a lengthy academic document that highlights the objectives and findings of your research while also offering readers an overview of the main concepts in your work

The abstract is the first section of your research paper that readers will encounter, and as a result, it will have the greatest impact on how they perceive your work. This section should explain the goal of your research, the methodology you used, and the consequences of your findings.

Research paper abstract format

The commonly adopted abstract format is the IMRAD format which stands for the introduction, methods, results, and discussion. 

• Introduction

The goal of your research should be stated in the introduction, along with the research questions that your work attempts to address. This section, which should be written in the present or past simple tense, should also emphasize how pertinent your research question is to the subject.

• Methods

This area needs to be a showcase for the overall strategy you employed in your research. The methods section should not go into specifics like the benefits and drawbacks of the approaches because it is typically presented in the present simple tense. 

• Results

Only the most significant conclusions from your paper should be highlighted in the results portion of your abstract. Like the previous section, this one should be written in the past simple tense and avoid becoming sidetracked by irrelevant study results. 

• Discussion

The discussion should highlight your research’s findings and take notice of any significant research constraints. 

The difference between the abstract and the introduction of a research paper

The introduction and abstract have quite different purposes, even though both are designed to introduce the reader to the topic. First of all, with only 200 words compared to the introduction’s 15% of the entire word count, the abstract is far shorter. 

Also, the introduction delves further into the background knowledge of a topic to support the research questions you plan to address. In contrast, the abstract does not discuss the research gaps that call for your investigation; it only emphasizes the methodology, the thesis statement, and the main research questions.

Also, the abstract comes first, immediately following the title page, whereas the introduction comes after your literature review section.

How to write a dissertation abstract

Due to their lack of knowledge of the steps required in producing an abstract, many students produce abstracts of poor quality. Many students either write the abstracts too early, skipping through the article’s important arguments, or duplicate a piece of their paper and use it as the abstract.

We advise following the steps below when writing your scientific study abstract:

1. Examine the faculty’s policies

Take the time to educate yourself with the numerous guidelines supported by your faculty before beginning to write your abstract. Several of these recommendations concern the length of your abstract and the tenses you should utilize.

2. Making a reverse outline

Create a reverse outline of your paper when you’ve finished writing it, highlighting all the important concepts in each chapter. The reverse outline makes it simple for you to assess your research paper and highlights the key points for your abstract.

3. Creating an abstract outline

After gathering the main concepts from each chapter, arrange them in the areas of the abstract that the IMRAD system has designated. 

4. Writing and revising a dissertation 

Write your abstract, then read it over to make sure it follows all the instructions from your faculty. 

Final take

We hope that this article has answered any questions you had regarding the APA format abstract. We however suggest that you access an example of a research paper abstract to better acquaint yourself with the steps of writing an outstanding abstract.

Also, feel free to engage our team of experts for assistance with any challenging concepts you could encounter when going about your research paper.