CS5704: Guidelines for Written Critiques


    Reading

    You should expect to read for about two-three hours for each discussion session and to write and think for additional one hour to produce a crituqe for each assigned paper.

    Content

    • Write one to two pages that reflect on what you learned and thought about the paper.
    • The document should be written using the critique template.
    • Set the stage. Begin with no more than a quarter page (5-8 sentences) that states the problem the paper addressed, the solution, and the meaning.
    • State the strength(s) of the paper in one to three sentences.
    • State the weakness(es) of the paper in one to three sentences.
    • The remainder of your critique will include two of the following:
      • What questions remain open?
      • What experiments are missing?
      • How does it really relate the previous research?
      • Future directions.
      • Some examples for which it will or will not work.
      • Ideas or thoughts it provoked.
      • Other interesting commentary.
      For each of the analysis, please provide enough details to explain your thoughts and ideas. For instance, if you think an experiment is not sufficient, please explain why it is not sufficient, what additional experiments should be done, and how to design and conduct the experiments. If you suggest a new idea to solve a problem, please also describe how to design and implement the approach based on the idea, and potential ways to evaluate the approach.

    Grading

    We will evaluate critiques on a ten-point scale. There is one bonus point available, and will be given only to critiques that are beyond my expectations.

    • 8 points for the required sections: 1 point each for summary, strengths, and weaknesses; 2.5 point each for analysis discussion one and two
    • 1 point for grammar and spelling.
    • 1 point for clarity and grace, i.e., clear, well organized arguments in well organized paragraphs.
    • 1 bonus point for deep analysis and/or surprising TA or me with a really interesting idea.

    Late policy

    Critiques are due at the beginning of the class for the assigned papers. No late critique is accepted, except in the case of illness.

    Acknowledgement

    This webpage is created based on Dr. Kathryn S. McKinley's course requirements on written critiques. I sincerely appreicate Kathryn's great effort of compiling the detailed requirements.