• IEEE LaTeX and Word Style files
• Elements of Technical Documents, Mayfield

(4: Very Good, 3: Good, 2: Fair, 1: Poor)

1. Appropriate title, clear, specific, and not overly wordy; author, Computer Systems Research, Year? ___
2. Abstract, with the following elements:
   • Does the Abstract clearly state specific purpose(s) of the research (as in Poe's singleness of effect for story writing)
   • There should be a brief elaboration on the method of research and results expected or achieved.
   • Score: ____
3. Introduction:
   • Expand upon the subject and purpose of the project as clearly as possible. Is the reader given a good idea of what to expect? Is there substance to be expected in this paper?
   • Introduce and begin detailing the research being addressed and the approach to this project's problem or research.
   • Is there a relevance as to why this problem, application, or research is important?
   • Clarify the scope of this project; how far are you intending to go with this paper?
   • Score: ____
4. Background
   • In order for the reader to understand the specific research being addressed, provide necessary and relevant background information to your project.
   • Provide a context for this particular project and describe other examples of projects or research that pertain to your area. (Most likely, you're not the first to be working on this idea.) Discuss how these provide a basis for your project.
   • Be clear, concise, and as thorough as possible in summary of this previous work and background information.
   • Is there relevant theory or algorithms that pertain to this project? Explain these to the reader.
   • Score: ____
5. Your actual program/project: Research Theory and Design criteria
   • Are this project's methods, theory, and algorithms presented clearly and thoroughly? Expand upon in detail the processes for this project and the development of a research topic(s).
   • Is a sufficient level of difficulty, complexity, and quality represented?
   • Explain in detail the types of tests conducted in this project. (You're doing more than just writing a program and seeing if it works or not).
   • How thorough and clearly explained and analyzed are the tests that are run?
   • In addition to portraying your information with words are there visual representations of the project's structure or test results or algorithms?
   • Score: ____ (This section is weighted more than the Abstract/Introduction/Background - this is your actual work you've done this year.)
6. Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Recommendations
   • You need to be thinking alot about your project and what it all means. You should provide thorough and extensive analysis of procedures you've experimented with and tests you've done.
   • Expound upon the results you've seen and what you've learned through this project's development.
   • Provide specific, detailed, concise yet thorough discussion of your results and what you've learned.
   • What are your conclusions and recommendations? Be specific. Are these conclusions superficial (maybe not much was done this year) or are the conclusions of substance (this is an academic year's worth of work and study)?
   • Score: ____ (this section is also weighted more highly)
7. End matter
   • References and Bibliography. You need to have accumulated a significant number of references (at least 10). In this style of research paper, you don't need to have referenced a resource in order to list it in the bibliography.
   • Appendixes Supplementary material, program code, other notes of progress through the year. ___, ___
   • Index (Optional)
   • Score: ____