In this course, each student will work on either a term paper or a term project over the course of the semester

Project Choice

Every student must complete either a term paper or a term project for this course. You have the option to work on a topic of your choosing, or you can get involved in one of the instructor’s ongoing research projects.

  • Term Paper: More appropriate if you are the “researchy type.”
  • Term Project: More appropriate if you enjoy a more hands-on approach.

A strong term project has the potential of being extended into a published conference paper or MS thesis. If you are unsure which path to take, please discuss it with the instructor. The instructor is available to help guide your efforts, especially if this is your first attempt at a serious technical paper.

Deliverables and expectations

All submissions (paper or project) must be technical in nature and appropriate for an audience knowledgeable in computer security at the graduate level.

Term Paper Deliverable

  • Report Length: Approximately 5,000 words.
  • Submission Format: PDF.

Term Project Deliverable

  • Report Length: Approximately 2,000 words in PDF format.
  • Demonstration: You must give a live demonstration of the project to the instructor and class.
  • Code Submission: All source code must be submitted as a single archive file.
    • The archive must include clear instructions for compiling and executing the code (in a README).
    • Specify the platforms on which the programs are expected to run.
    • Warning: If your program fails to compile properly on the specified platform, you may receive a failing grade for the project.

Requirements for Instructor-Led Research Projects

If you choose to participate in an instructor-led project, the deliverable requirements might be different and will be discussed and agreed-upon by you and the instructor within the first three weeks of the semester. These projects generally require:

  • Collaboration with other students and colleagues.
  • Weekly meetings and progress updates.
  • A commitment to providing sufficient project documentation before the semester concludes.

Minimum Requirements for Term Paper Organization

The final term paper must follow a standard technical format and include the following sections:

  1. Abstract (approx. 300 words): Summarizes (i) the motivation for the work and (ii) the contributions made.
  2. Keywords: A list of relevant keywords.
  3. Introduction:
    • Elaborates on the motivation.
    • Provides an overview of your work.
    • Summarizes the contributions made.
    • The last paragraph must describe how the rest of the term paper is organized.
  4. Related Work: This required section should describe published works on the same topic.
  5. Body Sections: Detailed technical content of your research/work.
  6. Conclusion:
    • Summarizes the entire paper.
    • Indicates avenues for future work.
  7. References: A set of citations for all referenced material.

Project Option

Your report, although more brief, will need to follow a similar technical format if you choose the project option. There is more flexibility on the format if you choose this option, so please reach out to the instructor if you have any questions:

  1. Introduction:
    • Elaborates on the motivation.
    • Provides an overview of your work.
    • Summarizes the contributions made.
  2. Related Work: This required section should briefly describe published works used as the basis of the work.
  3. Methodology: Detailed technical content of your research/work.
  4. Conclusion: Summarizes your work’s contributions.
  5. References: A set of citations for all referenced material.

Technical Writing Resource

If you are new to technical writing or would like to brush up your skills, resources that you can use for this are available on Canvas.