CIS 4914: Senior Project - Spring 2001

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.

Registration Directions for Summer-C 2001

Email Message Archive for Spring 2001

What's News:

• Second Midterm Presentation: Tuesday 20 Mar 2001 6pm to 10:40pm, Wednesday 21 Mar 2001 5pm to 10:00pm, Thursday 22 Mar 2001 7pm to 10:50pm - All presentations in Room CSE/E404

• Third Meeting: (Attendance Optional) Thursday, March 01, 2001, at 7:30pm, Room CSE/E119

• Notes on Time Management and Presentation Skills posted Tuesday 30 Jan 2001

• Second Meeting: (Attendance Required) Thursday, February 01, 2001, at 7:30pm, Room CSE/E119

• First Meeting: (Attendance Required) Thursday, January 18, 2001, at 7pm, Room CSE/E119

• Registration for Spring 2001 is closed as-of Fri 19 Jan 2001

• 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 in this 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.