CSC9Z*
Interim Stage

Interim Report Structure

You must submit two paper copies of an interim report on the project. See the separate note about formatting and printing reports. In addition, you must submit a digital copy to the project repository. The interim report should be about 3,500 words (i.e. about 14 pages). This is not an absolute target; discuss the contents with your supervisor.

If you use Microsoft Word to prepare your interim report, it is recommended that you use the interim report template. For more technical dissertations, you may prefer to use the LaTeX interim report template

The following structure is suggested for the interim report. This structure is not mandatory, but significant deviations should be agreed with your supervisor:

Cover Sheet

Give your project title, student name, student registration number and supervisor.

Introduction

Describe the problem that you are tackling. Explain the scope and objectives of the project. Define the expected results and how others will gain from the work.

State of the Art

Discuss the work of others in the same area as your project. Show critical awareness of what others have done, and how you hope to extend or complement existing capabilities.

Approach

Explain how you are tackling the project. Describe any special software or hardware that you are using. Discuss the techniques you have chosen, and the developments you are undertaking. Demonstrate how you are performing the project as a computing professional (i.e. application of systematic techniques, awareness of relevant professional issues).

Prototype

Describe the prototype you have implemented.

Interim Plan

Give an updated plan for the remainder of the project. This should identify the remaining pieces of work and when you plan to complete them. Update the remaining deliverables of the project. In particular, describe what you will demonstrate when the final report is due.

References

Cite any documents that your refer to within the report.

Interim Report Assessment

Work which is submitted for assessment must be your own work. All students should note that the University has a formal policy on plagiarism. Plagiarism means presenting the work of others as though it were your own. The University takes a very serious view of plagiarism, and the penalties can be severe. Specific guidance on computing assignments may be found in the Computing Science Student Handbook.

You are recommended to make a check for unintended plagiarism. Go to the Succeed module page, login using your University username and password, then click Interim Report. Now choose Submit Paper and provide a Microsoft Word or PDF version of your report. Check the TurnItIn response for anything that needs attention. For example you might quote from other sources when discussing state-of-the-art but forget to cite these, or you might use a diagram without acknowledging the source. Even if TurnItIn says the report is OK, check for other potential issues (e.g. using third-party code but forgetting to acknowledge this).

You should show a draft of the interim report to your supervisor before submitting it. The interim work is formally assessed and counts as 20% of the overall project mark. Two aspects of the interim work are assessed: the technical content of the work (weighted 70%) and its presentational standard (weighted 30%). The interim report will be returned to you after assessment.

Interim Poster

You are required to prepare and display a poster describing your project. The poster should describe your goals and what you have achieved so far. Training will be given during the Autumn on how to prepare posters. Poster files will be collected automatically. The Department will arrange to print and display your posters. You are then required to attend a poster session where you will stand by your poster and answer questions about your project. The poster session will be visited by staff, and possibly also by members of the Department's Industrial Advisory Board. The Department retains and displays your poster after the session. The poster session is not assessed in itself, but is taken into account when the presentational aspects of your work are graded.

Project Diary

Along with the interim report you are required to submit the original of your project diary; this will be returned to you. The diary is not assessed in itself, but is taken into account when the technical aspects of your work are graded. The diary will be returned to you after assessment.

Interim Demonstration

Along with the interim report you are required to demonstrate your prototype to your supervisor and second marker before the end of the Autumn semester. The demonstration is not assessed in itself, but is taken into account when the technical aspects of your work are graded.

Up one level to CSC9Z* (Honours Project)