CS 10, Spring 1998
Final Projects
Project Descriptions
I encourage you to complete your final projects in teams of
two or three.
Each member of the team will receive the same grade on the project,
which is worth approximately one-fourth of your final grade. Use the final
project as an opportunity to explore in more depth an area of computer science
that you are interested in. Have fun! Your project may be one of the following types:
- A HyperCard stack with thorough documentation
of the code, including a supporting document. In the past,
students have written games (poker, connect4, and Jepoardy, for
example), a weekly planner/phone book, poetry generators, adventure
games, decision-makers... There are many possibilities here--
use your imagination and be creative! Your stack must include a
significant amount of scripting in Hypertalk. I encourage those of you
who are considering going on in Computer Science to undertake such a
project.
- A research paper.
This should be a thorough and critical discussion of some aspect
of computers and computing. There are lots of possible topics here
(areas of artificial intelligence, computing issues related to the internet,
advances in computer hardware, computers and music, and
computers and education, are some examples of past topics).
Research should focus on references within the past 2-3 years.
- Mix and Match. A combination of a Hypercard stack (or
web page) and a research paper. You can take advantage of
electronic
media such as
Hypercard and the web to present your research in more creative ways
than print media allows. For this option, you could write a shorter
research paper, and a Hypercard stack whose scripts illustrate a concept
presented in the paper. Another possibility is to design a Hypercard
stack and write a paper which locates the stack in a broader context,
as an example of applications used in business, industry, or research.
Spending some time looking around at what's on the web may help
give you ideas for final project topics.
Due Dates
Projects may be on a topic of your choice, subject to my
approval. During the last two weeks of the semester, each team
will give a 20-30
minute presentation to the class on their project.
- Due Thursday, March 19:
- A draft of your proposed project.
This should include the names of all the team members,
the type of project (program, paper, or both),
and a brief discussion of the proposed topic.
You may also want to include possible sources of information.
This will be returned to you with comments.
- Due Thursday, March 26:
- A revision of your proposal.
This version should reflect the comments made on the initial
draft and should provide more detail about the topic and how
the project will be accomplished.
You should include the planned division of labor for the team.
If you choose to do a research paper, you should also include a
preliminary reading-list.
- Tuesday, April 21 - Thursday, April 30:
- Student presentations.
- Due Thursday, April 30:
- Your complete project, in final form.