Computer Science Department,
Princeton University,

Independent Work (CS397,398,497,498)

(Answers to Frequently Asked Questions)

 
  1. Who needs to do independent work?

    2. AB candidates are automatically enrolled for independent work in each semester of their Junior and Senior years. BSE candidates are required to enroll for one semester of independent work in their last two years (they may choose to enroll for additional semesters of independent work, one which can be counted as one of their eight departmental courses).
  2. What do I need to do as part of independent work?

    3. Find an advisor before the semester starts, or at the latest by the second week of the semester and decide upon a problem you want to solve, or a thing you want to build (piece of software, piece of hardware, etc.). Next, decide how you will approach the problem, what tools you will use, etc. Then solve the problem. At the end of the semester, write a report describing what you did, and give a talk describing your work. The talk will be scheduled by the faculty member in charge of independent work that semester. (He/she will send you email about it.)
  3. How do I find a topic?

    4. The department seeks to involve undergraduates in cutting edge research. Click here for research projects that our faculty have advertised. If none of these appeal to you or if you already have a topic in mind, determine a few faculty members whose interests are similar to yours, and check if one of them agrees to supervise your research.
    In any case, talk to at least three or four faculty members before deciding who you want to work with. Hearing about their current projects should prove to be an interesting experience!
  4. How often should I meet with my advisor?

    5. As often as you need to. Send them email or go to their office hours. Some advisors may prefer to set up a regular (weekly or biweekly) meeting time.
  5. What does the written report look like?

    6. The written part of independent work is important; it provides training in effective communication. A good report should be a piece of scholarly writing, with adequate references to past work in the area. Your intended audience for the report should be your peer group (i.e., CS majors who have completed basic CS courses).
    Often students who built a piece of software complain that they cannot think of what to include in the report. Here are some suggestions. The report could describe the algorithm, the design of the software (i.e., its main components) and why you chose that design over other alternatives. It could describe what you learnt from the process, what the pitfalls were, how you tested the software, what are the inadequacies of existing software tools with respect to your project, and the ways in which your work could be improved in future. Your advisor can suggest other things to include. Most advisors agree on one point, however: pages upon pages of code do not belong in the report! (Instead, you should send the advisor email about how to access the code online, and possibly demo the software sometime.) 
    Typically a report on a semester's work is between 7 and 12 pages, and a thesis is around 20-25 pages.
  6. What should the oral presentation involve?

    7. In 10-15 minutes, you are expected to present the problem you were trying to solve, the approach you took to solve it, and the final results/lessons. You should keep your peer group in mind as your intended audience, and try to be brief and clear. We encourage you to use overhead transparencies.
    Knowing how to communicate your ideas briefly and clearly is an important skill!
  7. Connection between department honors and independent work

    8. Decisionmaking within the department on honors, fellowships, etc. for undergraduates gives a lot of weight to the quality of independent work. An AB thesis is weighted as four courses, and each semester of BSE independent work (or each semester of AB junior independent work) as one course
  8. What is the connection between independent work and senior thesis?

    9. A thesis involves two semesters of independent work in the senior year. It is required for AB candidates, and optional for BSE candidates.
    BSE seniors who wish to write a thesis should plan early in the fall semester of Senior year and consult with their advisor (some special paperwork is required; see the next question).
    AB seniors are required to "defend" their thesis in a public presentation in May; this also constitutes the "senior departmental exam" for them. BSE thesis-writers do not need to defend but are welcome to do so.
  9. I am a BSE candidate and want to do a thesis. What do I need to do?

    10. You need to decide upon a two semester project with your advisor at the start of Fall semester of your senior year. You enroll for COS497 in Fall and COS498 in Spring. You will receive in "incomplete" on COS 497 in Fall, and receive a grade for it in Spring (along with your grade for COS 498).
  10. Can I do independent work with a professor outside the CS department?

    11. Yes. Sometimes you will be asked to also find a secondary advisor within the department. The professor in charge of independent work may be able to suggest a secondary advisor.
  11. It is time for me to write my paper/thesis. Any suggestions?

    12. Most research papers are structured as follows: In many scientific areas, researchers use the Latex document preparation system for their articles. You may wish to consider it. Latex is installed on the department computers and freeware distributions are available for PCs and MACs. See Yahoo's page on tex . You "compile" a latex file and then view it using a program called "xdvi."

    Style issues:
    Your scientific article differs from your English term paper in at least one way: there is no room for literary flourishes. Simple declarative sentences work best. Also, avoid passive voice. (I was tempted to write: "Passive voice should be avoided." :)) Simplify word constructions.

    Most of us could use periodic reminders on correct English usage. The classic and succinct Elements of Style is now on the web.  

Created by Sanjeev Arora, 1997-98