Four submissions. One structural argument.

Observe a system, isolate a variable, diagnose a failure, then defend a design.

Total assessment100%

  1. Observe
  2. Isolate
  3. Diagnose
  4. Synthesise

Evidence load increases across the semester.

  1. 01

    Sandwich Field Log

    Document the assembly. Record what is there.

    15%

    Observe

    Prepared byWeek 1Week 3

    Due12 March 2027end of Week 3

    Read the brief

    OBSERVATION SHEETITEMDATESKETCHNOTESCONDITIONSOBSERVER
    Record four specimens, separating what was observed from what was inferred.

    What a marker checks

    • four specimens are recorded, each with an annotated photograph or diagram
    • every entry names a structural classification and the criterion it rests on
    • every entry separates Observed, Inferred and Unknown as three statements

  2. 02

    Component Test

    Test one component. Control the conditions.

    20%

    Isolate

    Prepared byWeek 4Week 6

    Due9 April 2027end of Week 6

    Read the brief

    TEST BENCHCONDITION ACONDITION BCONDITION CONE DECLARED VARIABLE · THREE CONDITIONSLOG SHEETCOMPONENTDATEOPERATORNOTES
    Isolate one structural variable and test it under at least three conditions.

    What a marker checks

    • one variable is declared, and it is the only thing that changes between conditions
    • at least three conditions are tested, with a control where the question supports one
    • the protocol is written so a second person could repeat the test unaided

  3. 03

    Failure Autopsy

    Reconstruct the sequence. Keep the doubt.

    25%

    Diagnose

    Prepared byWeek 7Week 11

    Due14 May 2027end of Week 11

    Read the brief

    EVIDENCE BOARD — CASE 11PROBABLEUNRESOLVEDCOMPETING EXPLANATION REQUIRED
    Reconstruct the most defensible failure sequence from incomplete evidence.

    What a marker checks

    • the evidence inventory states what the pack contains and what it does not
    • every causal claim is traceable to a numbered item in that inventory
    • at least one competing explanation is tested against the same evidence

  4. 04

    The Sandwich Must Hold

    Design to a declared load. Defend the result.

    40%

    Synthesise

    Prepared byAll twelve weeks

    Due28 May 2027end of Week 12

    Read the brief

    LOAD-CASE BRIEFDECLARED USEDURATIONHANDLINGCONSTRAINTSEXPLODED DIAGRAMITERATION RECORD01 DECLARE02 TEST03 FAIL04 REVISEDEFENDEDA DOCUMENTED FAILURE IS EVIDENCE
    Design, test, revise and defend one system against a declared load case.

    What a marker checks

    • one load case is declared before the first test, and the design answers that case
    • the protocol, its evidence and at least one documented failure are all present
    • one revision is justified by the failure it responds to, with evidence either side

Standard

What counts as evidence.

  • An annotated diagram — with its labels tied to what was observed.
  • A measurement — with the condition and the time it was taken under.
  • A comparison table — with the variable declared and the constants named.
  • An observation record — separating observed, inferred and unknown.
  • A failure sequence — in the order the evidence supports, not the order that reads well.
  • A stated limitation — what this method cannot establish.
  • A justified revision — the change, and the evidence that prompted it.

The method definitions and recording sheets are in the Field Manual.

Excluded

What is not assessed.

  • Taste.
  • Ingredient expense.
  • Culinary skill.
  • Whether the specimen was consumed.
  • Visual attractiveness, in the absence of evidence.

A failed physical test can receive strong marks when it is well designed, honestly documented and carefully interpreted. A successful-looking specimen with no evidence cannot.

Fabricated measurements and undocumented claims do not count as evidence. The rules are in assessment fairness.

Before you start any of them

Every practical task in this course can be completed with a physical specimen, a non-food analogue, or the supplied evidence pack. All three routes assess the same learning outcome and are marked against the same criteria. No student is required to prepare, purchase, handle or consume food.

SLOP2895 / assessment / 100% declared