B552 Knowledge-Based Computation - Fall 2009

For each presentation, one or more students will be assigned as a discussant. The discussant will make a brief presentation after the main presentation, giving ideas, raising questions, and responding to the points raised in the presentation. The discussant has two roles:

• To provide a brief alternative view to start questions and discussion of a paper. The discussant is responsible for doing a careful reading of the paper and going over the writeup that the presenters post to the web before the presentation. The discussant should independently analyze the paper (the points described in the presentation guidelines will be helpful for this).

  In the discussant's presentation, the discussant should raise points comparing and contrasting that analysis with the one presented and raising questions on the material covered. The discussant should feel free to play "devil's advocate" to spur debate!

• To provide the presenters with constructive feedback on strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions on their presentation. Each discussant will submit a short (about 250-word) writeup. This should include both (1) brief constructive comments and suggestions on the presentation, and (2) the discussant's assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the work presented. The discussant writeup should be submitted on Oncourse within 48 hours of the presentation, with a copy simultaneously emailed directly to the presenters.

  Points to consider in the writeup include the clarity of the presentation; how well the presenters did at clarifying difficult points, critically assessing the work and developing their own viewpoints, putting the work in perspective of additional relevant material, spurring discussion, etc., to make the presentation worthwhile to those who have already read the paper; and your own viewpoint on the area presented.