CIS 4914: Senior Project - Fall 2003

Coordinator: Dr. Mark Schmalz (ph: 352-392-6831, email: mssz@cise.ufl.edu)
Department of Computer & Information Sciences
University of Florida

This document is an aid to understanding your responsibilities as a graduating senior taking CIS 4914. You should carefully read this document and provide a copy to your advisor for his or her information regarding your responsibilities.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Paul Fishwick for providing the original HTML source (Fall Semester, 1994) upon which this document is partially based. Additionally, Dr. Ralph Selfridge made valuable comments and furnished documentary support.

Email Message Archive for Fall 2003

What's News:

• Senior Project Registration Procedure for Spring 2004
  
• Senior Project Registration Form for Spring 2004

• Citation Format for Midterm and Final Presentations: at this link

• Time Management and Presentation Skills writeup (HTML format)

• Final Presentation: (Attendance Required)
  Thursday 4 December, Friday 5 December 2003: 09:00am - 06:25pm, Room CSE/E404
  Signup sheets posted on Dr. Schmalz office door (CSE/E446)

• Second Midterm Presentation: (Attendance Required)
  Wednesday 5 November 03: 05:00pm - 10:40pm, Room CSE/E404
  Thursday 6 November 03: 03:00pm - 09:30pm, Room CSE/E404
  Signup sheets posted on Dr. Schmalz office door (CSE/E446)

• First Midterm Presentation: (Attendance Required)
  Tuesday, Wednesday 07,08 October 2003
  at 5:00 pm to 8:35pm, Room CSE/E404
  Signup sheets posted on Dr. Schmalz office door (CSE/E446)

• Second Meeting: (Attendance Required) Thursday 25 Sep 2003 at 6:00pm, Room CSE/E119 (or E121 if E119 is occupied)

• First Meeting: (Attendance Required) Thursday 28 Aug 2003 at 7:00pm, Room CSE/E119 (or E121 if E119 is occupied)

• Idea List: This link leads to a database of contacts and ideas for Senior Projects

A. Overview. An overview of the course is given in the following four links. Read these carefully before choosing an advisor or project.

• Goals - What this course is about, and Why we are doing this
• Supervision - Who you will interface with during this course
• Steps to Success - What to do, and When to do it
• Evaluation Criteria - Where and How your grade will be assigned
• Course Grades - What grades were earned last semester
  

B. Written Reports. A clear, understandable written report is absolutely essential to successful project completion. The following links outline the two written documents required for this class, with details of preferred report format.

1. Project Planning Document -- Email that you send to advisor and supervisor during first week of class

2. Project Final Report -- Hardcopy that you submit to advisor and supervisor during final week of class
   • TitlePage
   • Abstract
   • Introduction
   • Problem Domain
   • Literature Search
   • Solution
   • Results
   • Conclusions
   • Acknowledgements
   • References
   • Appendices
   • Biography
     
     
   • Grading Criteria
     
     
   • Example Final Report for Fall 1999, more examples TBA

C. Oral Presentations. Additionally, three oral presentations are required, as follows:

• Midterm Oral Presentation #1 - A planning report

• Midterm Oral Presentation #2 - A progress report

• Final Oral Presentation - A summary of work and results

For your benefit, the following suggestions for a good presentation are provided:

• General Comments - What to do or not do

D. Miscellaneous Guidelines. There are a few simple things you can do to make your project a pleasant, successful experience.

First, get started early, and keep up a steady, aggressive pace on the work. Don't implement a crash effort for the midterm and final presentations, with little or no work in between. This virtually ensures a shoddy result, as well as a (possibly) poor grade from your advisor.

Second, make each paragraph that you write shine with clarity and conciseness. In the future, you will be known in your professional life by your written communications. These products should portray you as a well organized, clear-headed thinker and achiever.

Third, make your presentations clear, understandable, and on time. Also, pay attention to your personal appearance at the final presentation, where business attire is required for each presenter (suit or jacket (with shirt and tie) for the men; dress, skirted suit, or trouser suit (with blouse) for the women; closed shoes and stockings for both men and women).

Please avoid wearing cologne or perfume, as there may be people in the room with allergies that tend to be aggravated by the stress of giving a presentation.