Discussions based on current researches that are facilitated by students, faculty members, or industry representatives. Students are expected to provide a written summary of each discussed research paper and to participate in-class discussion. Each student facilitates the discussion at least once during the semester. The impact of the research in a global and societal context will be discussed.

Prerequisites: Senior level standing in Computer Science or consent of Instructor

CSCI 400 are typically taught in conjunction with CSCI 610 Graduate Seminar I and CSCI 611 Graduate Seminar II where the enrolled graduate students may be subject to different requirements and expectations.

Class Schedule

  1. 08/19/2016 General Introduction

    Syllabus:

    Download the CSCI400 Syllabus in a PDF file. CSCI 610/611 overlaps with CSCI400.

    Grading Rubrics:

    Grading rubrics are in Blackboard.

    Textbook:

    Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2008. The Craft of Research, Third Edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-226-06566-3

    Select papers from the following sources and post your selection in the discussion board by 09/02/2016

  2. 08/26/2016 Discussion On Research and Reading

    Reading Assignment:

    1. S. Keshav. 2007. How to read a paper. SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev. 37, 3 (July 2007), 83-84. DOI=10.1145/1273445.1273458 http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1273445.1273458
    2. How to Do a Technical Reading Program , Frederick Brooks , 4 February 2008, with minor amendments by Neil Dodgson , 4 October 2011.
    3. On "Nature of Paper" , an excerpt from the University of Cambridge's Reading Skills course material.
    4. "A way to read" papers , an excerpt from the University of Cambridge's Reading Skills course material.

    Student Presentation:

    R. Ghosh: on his experience and expectation
  3. 09/02/2016 Student Presentations

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Submit it in Blackboard

    Reading:

    Part I and II of the textbook.
  4. 09/09/2016 Discussion On Technical Presentation and Student Presentation

  5. 09/16/2016 Discussion on Writing and Writing Tools and Student Presentation

    Reading:

    Gopen, George D., and Judith A. Swan. The science of scientific writing. American Scientist (1990): 550-558.
    Chapters 12 and 13 in the textbook

    Resources and Additional Reading:

    The Reading Skills class, offered by the Computer Laboratory, the University of Cambridge
    Zobel, Justin. Writing for Computer Science. 3rd Ed. Springer, 2015.
    Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Made to stick: Why some ideas survive and others die. Random House, 2007.
    Check additional resource page for writing tools.

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Submit it in Blackboard
  6. 09/23/2016 Student Presentation and Revisiting "How to Read a Paper?"

    Student Presentation:

    Class Discussion:

    Discuss questions about "How to read a paper": S. Keshav. 2007. How to read a paper. SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev. 37, 3 (July 2007), 83-84. DOI=10.1145/1273445.1273458 http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1273445.1273458

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Submit it in Blackboard
  7. 09/30/2016 Student Presentations, Writing Exercises, and Discussion on Hypothesis and Evidence

    Student Presentation:

    Reading:

    Chapters 7, 8, and 9 in the textbook

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, October 7. Submit it in Blackboard.
  8. 10/07/2016 Student Presentation and Discussion on Graphing

    Reading:

    Chapter 15 of the textbook

    References on Graphing and Visualization:

    Cleveland, William S. Visualizing data. Hobart Press, 1993.
    Cleveland, William S. The elements of graphing data. Monterey, CA: Wadsworth Advanced Books and Software, 1985.
    Tufte, Edward R., and P. R. Graves-Morris. The visual display of quantitative information. Vol. 2, no. 9. Cheshire, CT: Graphics press, 1983.
    Young, Forrest W., Pedro M. Valero-Mora, and Michael Friendly. Visual statistics: seeing data with dynamic interactive graphics. Vol. 914. John Wiley & Sons, 2011.

    student presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, October 14. Submit it in Blackboard.
  9. 10/14/2016 Student Presentations

    Student Presentation:

    Reading:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, October 21. Submit it in Blackboard.
  10. 10/21/2016 Student Presentations

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, October 28. Submit it in Blackboard.
  11. 10/28/2016 Student Presentations

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, November 4. Submit it in Blackboard.
  12. 11/04/2016 Student Presentations

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, November 11. Submit it in Blackboard.
  13. 11/11/2016 Student Presentations

    Note:

    Dr. Joon Suk Lee will substitute me in this class. The presentations will be video recorded for me to review.

    Student Presentation:

    Assignment:

    Summarize one paper using the paper review template. Due 2PM, Friday, November 18. Submit it in Blackboard.
  14. 11/18/2016 Discussions on Local, Global, and Societal issues on Computing and on Design of Experiments

    Broadening Issues:

    Reiteration of a few important items in computing, including local, global, societal impact of computing on individuals, organizations and society (Examples: ethics, online privacy)

    Reading:

    Sacks, Jerome, William J. Welch, Toby J. Mitchell, and Henry P. Wynn. 1989. "Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments". Statistical Science 4 (4). Institute of Mathematical Statistics: 409–23. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2245858 .
    Zelkowitz, Marvin V., and Dolores R. Wallace. " Experimental models for validating technology. " Computer 31, no. 5 (1998): 23-31.
    Tichy, Walter F. " Should computer scientists experiment more?. " Computer 5 (1998): 32-40.
    Carroll, John M. " Human-computer interaction: psychology as a science of design. " Annual review of psychology 48, no. 1 (1997): 61-83.
    Denning, Peter J. " Is computer science science?. " Communications of the ACM 48, no. 4 (2005): 27-31.

    Assignment:

    Reflection Essays. (Request in Blackboard, Due 11/28/2016)
  15. 11/23 - 11/27/2016 Holiday

    Thanksgiving Holidays. University Closed. No Class.

  16. 11/30 - 12/05/2016 Final Exam Week

    Make-up Presentations:

    Make-up Presentations:

  17. 12/03 Final Grade

    Note:

    • Final grade to be posted by midnight, December 3, 2016 on Blackboard and in Banner. Any grievance must be received by the instructor by midnight, December 4, 2016.