Explain the difference between an explanation and a justification
the role of explanation (technical expertise) in an engineering justification
the role of ethics (normative expertise) in an engineering justification
the role of a normative principle in an engineering justification, and the argument core of your justification
This course has been designed to give you the understanding your need for the WA; conversely, the WA serves as a capstone assessment for this course.

The first step is to choose a topic for your WA. That is, you must choose an engineering problem and a solution to that problem which you will argue is best.

Since your justification will have to include technical expertise your topic should be one in which you have at least some expertise, or one you are willing to do some research for. Expertise means knowing more than the non-expert. E.g. knowing that solar panels generate electricity from sunlight is not expert knowledge; but knowing how solar panels generate electricity from sunlight is. Expert knowledge means having if-then knowledge about more of the entities and their activities than just: solar panel, light, generate electricity.

Your topic can come from a hobby or interest you have, an engineering class or topic you’ve enjoyed, a job, a project, a lab assignment. In all cases I recommend highly that you run your topic by me before you get too far so that I can offer you advice, help you choose the details for your problem and solution, etc.