048961 Topics in Reliable Distributed Computing

Requirements and Grading

• Reading the papers.
  
  This is a reading group. This means that you should read each paper before it is being discussed. You are expected to read the entire paper, and be familiar with all of its content. However, you do not need to understand everything, check previous work, or memorize details.

  Note: Most of the papers will be conference papers (8-16 pages long).
  

• Handing in short paper summaries - 20%.
  
  Every student should hand in a short summary of the paper that will be discussed (unless you are the one presenting it) by e-mail to me by 8:00am the morning of the lecture.

  The paper summary should be between half a page and a page long, and should be organized as follows:

  • Paper overview - A succinct one paragraph summary of the paper. What question is the paper is trying to answer? What are the main results?
  • Experience reading the paper - What did you learn from the paper? What didn't you understand?
  • Opinion - Did you like the paper? What are its main strengths and weaknesses?
  • Future directions - Can you think of interesting questions that may be explored in later research?
  
  
• Participating in class discussions - 10%.
  
  
• Presenting one of the papers - 70%.
  
  Each student will present one paper during the course. When you present a paper, you are expected to fully understand it, be familiar with previous work, and be able to compare the paper with relevant related work.

  Since all the students read the paper, your presentation should provide some added value beyond what can be easily found in the paper. Please -

  • provide background about related work, and put the paper in context;
  • prepare to explain techincally difficult issues in the paper;
  • prepare topics and questions for class discussion.

  It is highly recommended to discuss your presentation with me before you give it.