CSM06: Information Retrieval

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CSM06 Information Retrieval

• Notes about writing coursework reports, revision
  and examination

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Coursework Reports

• For this coursework you should aim to increase
  and demonstrate your understanding for one idea
  to do with information retrieval
• Your report should briefly explain how the idea
  your group investigated relates to information
  retrieval in general. There should then be three
  main sections in your report relating to
  (i)-(iii)
• (i) Reviewing some relevant literature about the
  idea you investigated
• (ii) Implementing one part of an information
  retrieval system based on that idea AND
• (iii) Experimenting with your implementation in
  order to evaluate the idea

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Coursework Reports

• The word limit (1500-2000 words) should encourage
  you to focus on reporting / discussing the most
  important and interesting points of your work
• It should help to focus and organise your report
  if you start with a clear statement and
  explanation of the AIM of your groups work
• Each person must submit an individually written
  report of 1500-2000 words. Although the report
  will be based on shared work, it is important
  that it reflects your personal understanding of
  what was done and what was found out.
• HOWEVER, you should share data sets, graphs,
  system screenshots, etc. between the group. (It
  may save paper to submit one copy of data sets
  for the whole group individuals can then
  reference this).

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As a guide for revision

• SEE THE LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE END OF EACH
  LECTURE

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As a guide for revision

• For the depth of understanding required for a
  topic, consider (as a rough guide)
• The amount of lecture time spent on it did it
  feature in more than one lecture?
• Were there any in-class / set exercises
• Was there any related set reading

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Revising Set Reading

• I suggest that you use the lecture notes to guide
  you through the Set Reading, i.e. use the set
  reading to give you a deeper understanding of
  what was in the lecture.
• It might not be helpful to try and remember every
  detail from the set reading, especially if we
  didnt cover it in the lecture

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About the Examination

• 2 hours long you are required to answer two out
  of three questions
• Rubric Attempt two questions. Each question
  carries 50 marks. (If more than two questions
  are attempted then only the two best answers will
  be counted)
• Question 1 will relate mainly to the content of
  Lectures 1-3
• Question 2 will relate mainly to the content of
  Lectures 4-6
• Question 3 will relate mainly to the content of
  Lectures 7-8

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Kinds of Questions

• Questions often take the following style
• How does X effect Y
• Why is A used for B
• Calculate using algorithm / formula
• In your opinion what are the advantages of
• Discuss how X and Y are similar / different
• The question NEVER says write down everything you
  can remember from the lecture notes / textbook

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Past Exam Papers and Solutions

• Available from the module webpage
• The content of the module is updated and revised
  each year so some of these past questions refer
  to topics that were not part of the module in
  2005.
• The solutions are written in a style to help with
  the marking of the exams this does not
  necessarily reflect how you would be expected to
  write your answers, e.g. solutions are sometimes
  given in note form, whereas you would normally be
  expected to write full sentences.

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NEXT WEEK

• REVISION LECTURE
• Please email me before next Tuesday with your
  requests for topics to revise!!