% Engr 694-06, Research Methods \
  Assignments, Fall 2017
% H. Conrad Cunningham
% 27 September 2017

# Assignment: Final Paper & Presentation \
Paper Due Date: Wed., 29 Nov., 2:00 p.m. \
Presentation: Mon., 4 Dec., 4:00 p.m.


## Final Paper

For this assignment, you are required to produce a *final paper*:

-   Choose a computer science topic you wish to investigate. Ideally,
    this should be in an area that you are considering for a possible
    dissertation, thesis, or other research project. It may be (but is
    not required to be) the same topic that you chose for the 
	[annotated  bibliography ](<694hw06.html>) assignment.

-   Select three or four important papers on your chosen topic. (Some
    or all of these may be among those you selected for your annotated
    bibliography assignment.)

-   The papers you choose should be scholarly papers of reasonable
    length published in reputable computer science journals or refereed
    conference proceedings (or post-proceedings). The journals,
    transactions, and conference proceedings published by ACM and IEEE
    are good sources for papers. But you may choose other reputable
    publishers of scholarly papers with significant computer science
    content.

-   Read and study the papers carefully.

-   Using what you have learned this semester, write a 5-to-6 page
    (approximately 2500-word) summary (and critique) of the selected
    papers. Your summary should be an integrated overview of the papers,
    not just independent summaries of each paper concatenated together.
    You may reference additional papers, books, or other materials as
    needed.

-   Your paper must be your own work. Be sure to include appropriate
    quotations, citations, bibliography, and acknowledgements as we
    have discussed in this course. Use the
    [IEEE citation style ](<../notes/694lectureNotes.html#ref_styles>)
    and *IEEE Transactions* template. Do not include annotations in the
    reference list.

-   Format your paper using either LaTeX, Pandoc Markdown, or a word
    processor that produces a document that is compatible with
    Microsoft Word.

-   You are encouraged to use a reference management tool compatible
    with your text formatter or word processor (e.g., BibTex,
    Citeproc, Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, etc.).
	
-   Submit all your source files and a PDF of your paper electronically via
    Blackboard by the paper's due date.

## Final Presentation

For this assignment, you are also required to give a *final
presentation*:

-   Be ready to present a 12-15-minute talk on your paper for the
    instructor and your classmates during the period set for your
    presentation. Your instructor plans to schedule all presentations
    for the final exam period (4:00-7:00, Monday, 4 December). He
    expects you to attend all presentations and to submit an
    evaluation form on each student presentation (except your own).

-   Design your presentation to fit within the allocated time budget.
    Practice the delivery as needed. Be prepared to answer questions
    from your classmates or instructor.

-   Try to resolve all technical issues with your presentation in
    advance. If you plan to use the Windows computer, projector,
    document camera, and/or speakers in the classroom, make sure that
    appropriate hardware, software, fonts, etc., are available and that
    you can operate the equipment as needed. If you plan to bring your
    own computer, make sure you can connect it to the projector
    expeditiously. If you need to use files on a server or web pages,
    may sure you can access them from the classroom.

-   If you produce slides, handouts, or web pages to support your
    presentation, please submit the materials electronically to
    Blackboard.