You have to write one research paper of about three pages length on a subject related to
computing. Each student is
assigned a topic from the list below. You have to tell me which topic
you have chosen, give me a first draft two weeks after you
have chosen the topic, and the
paper two more weeks later, so overall you have four weeks for the whole
project.
For most of the topics you need sources. Please cite and quote correctly and completely, also internet sources.
A good but brief introduction for writing research papers (based on the MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers) can be found here.
List of topics available:
- Critics of Microsoft claim it uses a so-called "Embrace, extend and
extinguish" strategy. Describe what this means, and investigate whether
this strategy can be seen in internet technology (HTML, CSS) or Java.
- Eric Steven Raymond's discusses on his famous 35 pages paper "The
Cathedral and the Bazaar" what he considers to be a new paradigm in
software engineering. Explain his main thesis about the superiority of the
"bazaar" model over the "cathedral" model, and critically
evaluate it.
- Parallel Computing. Describe the concept and the difficulties.
What are the advantages.
Find out where existing parallel computers are used.
Do you think parallel computing is worthwhile and should be pursued further?
- A comparison of the programming languages Java, Javascript, PHP, and C++.
- Compare ASP and PHP .
- Problems in Chip Design.
- Webpage test. What is webpage usability. Compare thoroughly three e-commerce websites.
- Compare different technologies available to create small home computer
networks.
- The concept of open source software.
- What are the most recent trends in web page design beyond HTML?
The grading will be based on
- Content
- Organization (Are the ideas presented in a logical and structured way? Is there an appropriate introduction and conclusion?)
- Mechanics (This addresses spelling, grammar, word choice, citing
correctly, and so on)
- Originality (Does the student show original and independent thoughts on
the topic? Is he or she maybe discussing generalizations? You can get 5
extra credit points here.)
