CS 4960: Seminar in Computer Science

Welcome to CS 4960, Seminar in Computer Science

Course Description:
Presentation and discussion of selected topics in computer science from current literature.

• To explore aspects of computer science beyond what you have encountered in your previous course work,
  
  
• To benefit from similar research done by your fellow students, and
  
  
• To present an important body of work in both written and oral form.

Announcements and Upcoming Events

1/29/15	Welcome to CS 4960!
2/12/15	Office hours today are cancelled. I would be available for appointments on Friday, 2/13/15, between 2 and 4 pm. Please email if you would like an appointment. My apologies for any inconvenience.
2/23/15	Office hours this week only: Monday 12:30 - 2:30 pm Tuesday 12:00 - 1:00 pm Tuesday 2:00 - 3:00 pm Thursday 11:00 am  - 12:30 pm All will be held in N 375
3/3/15	New Office Hours below
5/5/15	Revised office hours below

Textbook: None.

Instructor: Dr. Melanie Martin                                  Office: Demergasso-Bava Hall 278 and Naraghi 375

Email: mmartin@cs.csustan.edu                               Office Phone: (209) 667-3787 or (209) 667-3269

Web Page: www.cs.csustan.edu/~mmartin

Office Hours: 
                          Monday        12:30 pm to 2:30 pm    Naraghi 375
                          Tuesday         1:00 pm to 3:00 pm    DBH 278                         
                          Thursday      12:00 pm to 1:00 pm    Naraghi 375
                          Friday           12:00 pm to 1:00 pm    DBH 278
                                               and by appointment.

Best way to contact Dr. Martin:  Email mmartin@cs.csustan.edu  Please put "CS4960" in the subject line of the email.

Prerequisite: Senior standing and consent of the instructor. (This course is for senior Computer Science majors.)

Warning: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus at any time during the term by announcing them in class and on my web page.

Grading and Policies

• Accept a presentation date assigned by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
  
  
• Choose a computer science topic to research and present to an audience. The audience will include, but not be limited to, the other members of the class.
  
  
  1. The topic must have significant scholarly, as opposed to merely technological, content.
     
     
  2. The research must draw on multiple sources, and embody concepts that may be expected to endure beyond any particular current technology.
  
  
• Propose the topic to the instructor (e-mail). The proposal must specify multiple reliable sources (at least two) from which you intend to draw. Include full citations in bibliograpic form: for details about the required form for citations see "Your List of References" and "When You Make Direct Use of a Source" below. Your proposal must also describe the nature of the scholarly content you will include in your presentation.
  
  
• To pass the course, you must turn in a satisfactory proposal. You must get the instructor's formal approval of the proposal by working out an agreement with the instructor. Your presentation must correspond to the agreed-upon proposal.
  
  
• Create a balanced and unbiased written report on your topic. Base it on a variety of solid sources, including the ones you listed in your approved proposal. Synthesize and summarize the knowledge you gained from the research. Infuse the exposition of the report with freshness and originality. The report must tell what you learned about the subject matter - what you think, feel, and wonder about it. What interesting questions did your research answer? What interesting questions remain unanswered?
  
  
• Turn in your written report one week in advance of your presentation date. Give a copy to the instructor and a copy to each member of the class so that all members can review the information before the talk. Reports must have wide margins, be double spaced, and use a font of size 12 or greater. Your report must inlude a reference page citing your sources, at least two of which must be books or peer-reviewed journal articles. More information on proper citation of sources.
  
  
• On your assigned date deliver a one-hour oral presentation of the content of your written report. (Seminar presentations will be publicly announced and will be open to visitors who may wish to attend.)
  
  
• Attend all the presentations of the other members of the class, and react to them by asking questions and by writing a short critique which will be collected and given to the presenter.

1. your grade on your written report,
2. your grade on your oral presentation, and
3. your participation grade.

1. you receive a a score of 60 or above in each of the three components, and
2. your average over the three components is 70% or above.

Academic Honesty: The work you do for this course will be your own, unless otherwise specified. You are not to submit other people's work and represent it as your own. I consider academic honesty to be at the core of the University's activities in education and research. Academic honesty is expected at all times in this course.

Important dates:

(See Schedule of Courses or Academic Calendar)