[Mandatory] Written Paper Critiques

[Due] Before each class.
(e.g., the deadline for Monday's class papers is 11:59:59 AM on Monday.)

The required readings are posted on the course syllabus, and you need to write a critique for one out of the 2 papers per class. In the syllabus, you sometimes find [Bonus] papers, but you shouldn't choose them for this. Keep in mind that this is not light pleasure reading. You may require to read a few more relevant papers to understand the reading materials. After you are used to this reading, it may take 2-3 hours to read each paper.

Your critique for each paper MUST have the following fields:

• Summary of the paper
• Contributions (typically 2-3 for each paper)
• Strengths and weaknesses (2-3 for each)
• Your opinions

Please make your best effort to write concise and precise statements. For example:

• In the summary, it is better to write statements that are more summarizing than descriptive. A common mistake is to write "this paper proposed a methodology..." This isn't valuable for you later on; you can write "the key idea (or intuition) of this paper is XYZ."
• Contributions / strengths / weaknesses. You need to extract the essence---what the authors really want us to remember about the paper. For example, the fact that the research is well-evaluated is not a contribution; it's necessary for the authors to convey their ideas. Similarly, bad writing is not a weakness for our purposes. You can mention them in the "opinions" field.

In your critiques, I will look for evidence that you thought about the problem discussed in the paper; you incorporated personal experience, you looked for how the security issues of machine learning discussed in the paper are addressed today, and so on. Think critically about the paper and do not accept the authors' opinions as-is. It is the authors' job to convince you!

Here, I also share a sample critique of mine for reference [example].

Grading Policy

• 0 point: No submission before the deadline / a simple paraphrase of the abstract and introduction.
• 1 point: You made an effort to understand the papers / you also carefully think about the pros and cons of the papers.
• 2 points: You make an insightful comment.

Submission Instructions

Upload your critique to Canvas.

[Extra] Scribe Lecture Notes

[Due] one week after each class.
(e.g., the deadline for scribing Monday's class is 11:59:59 AM next Monday.)

You may opt-in for scribing a lecture note. Note that this is an opportunity to receive extra points (+5); you can sign-up only once throughout the term. You can understand and remember the lecture materials better, and the scribed notes will be useful for students who did not attend the class. Please use this Google Sheet [link] to sign-up for this opportunity (You need an ONID to access this sheet). Max. 2 students will be allowed to sign-up for each class. In this case, the write-up should be a joint effort; please schedule time to meet your co-scriber.

You MUST write-up:

• Outline: an outline of key topics covered in each class.
• Content: a summary of the contents for each class.

Please use this Latex template [link] for the notes. Note that I expected your note to be 3-4 pages long, at the minimum. I may ask for edits. As for your reference, I also share the scribe note that I did in the past [link]. Once approved, your notes will be publicly available on the course website.

Grading Policy

• 0 point: Sign-up; but no submission.
• 1 point: Submitted; but the lack of quality.
• 2 points: Submitted; but you missed more than one key content.
• 3 points: Submitted; but you missed one of the key contents.
• 4 points: Submitted without missing any key concepts (or contents).
• 5 points: You wrote an outstanding note.
• Late submission: You will receive 1-3 points depending on the quality.

Submission Instructions

Please email the scribed notes directly to me. You must include [CS499/599][Scribe Note] in the subject.

[Extra] In-Class Paper Presentation / Discussion

[Update] You can pick any paper relevant to our topics.

You may also opt-in for in-class paper presentation and discussion. Remind that this is also an opportunity to receive extra points (+5); you can sign-up only once throughout the term. You will require to present a paper as if the paper is yours and lead the discussion during the lecture.

Please use this Google Sheet [link] to sign-up (you need an ONID to access this sheet); max. 2 students will be allowed for each opportunity. You MUST sign-up at least two weeks before the class you will present. You MUST meet Sanghyun TWICE—1.5 weeks before the class for organizing your presentation and 0.5 weeks before to do a dry-run.

Your presentation and discussion will be tentatively 30-35 minutes.

• 20 min: Paper presentation.
• 10-15 min: In-class paper discussion.

Grading Policy

• 0 point: Sign-up; but no presentation.
• 3 points: Sign-up; but the lack of quality in your presentation.
• 4 points: Sign-up; you present a paper and lead the discussion.
• 5 points: You make an outstanding presentation and discussion.
• Miss meetings: If you miss each meeting, your final score will decrease by 1 point.