Overview
As a culminating activity in this class, each student has the choice to either take a self-scheduled final exam, or to independently research a topic of current interest relating to the internet. If you choose to write a research paper, then you will present the fruits of your research as a 5-8 page paper and in an oral presentation to the class. (Note that 5-8 pages is a guideline, and assumes several figures. Choose the scope of your topic accordingly.) All research topics must be approved in advance; if a student has not submitted an approved topic by the second week of the course then she must take the final instead.
Dates
- 9:00 AM on Wednesday, 29 October: Choice of topic, and partners chosen if any
- 9:00 AM on Wednesday, 19 November: Turn in rough outline and list of 3-5 references
- 9:00 AM on Monday, 8 December: Written paper due
- Week of 8 December: Oral presentations to class
Submit all written work to 102a@cs.smith.edu.
Possible Topics
A good topic will focus on a specific aspect or application of the internet, and will include some discussion of technical material in addition to social aspects. You may explain how some technology works, discuss the current state of development and/or current uses, comment on where research advances may lead in the future, and discuss possible societal consequences of this technology (which are likely to be both good and bad in each person's point of view) A non-exhaustive list of possible topics is:
- Blogs
- Wikis
- Social networking
- Social bookmarking
- Internet access in the developing world
- Internet censorship
- IPv6
- Virtual private networks
- Internet voting
- Spam prevention
- Bot-nets
- Rootkits
- Massively multiplayer online games
- Online communities
- Internet gambling
- Cloud computing
- Wimax
- OLPC wireless network
- Distributed transient network
- Video-on-demand
- Internet telephony
- Alternate reality games
- Online privacy laws
- Internet commerce & regulation
Paper Structure and Guidelines
Your paper should adhere to the conventions of good expository writing. Include an introduction that prepares the reader for the ideas that you will present, and end with a conclusion that puts them into perspective. Organize your paper so each idea flows logically to the next idea, with connecting phrases as required. Please use formal and correct English. If you have trouble with any of these points, please seek help either from the instructor or from the Jacobson Center.
Your paper must do more than simply summarize what you read in the references. While most of the facts you include will necessarily be summarized from your research, you should also think about the topic on your own. Develop your own ideas about where research may lead in the future, potential applications for the technology, and the possible societal consequences. Since you are not an expert in the topic you have selected you are not expected to contribute a lot of original thoughts for the topic. Nonetheless, you should synthesize some of the ideas you read, talk about with others, and think through on your own, into at least one or two new ideas for your paper.
For the presentation, please try to construct a narrative from your paper that you think the class will find interesting and informative. Students are encouraged to prepare visual aids that will enhance their presentation.