Your task for this assessment is to write a 2,000 word essay on the subject stated below.
This is the first of two essays which form the
basis for the assessment of COMP516 `Research Methods in Computer Science' and
accounts for 15% of the module mark. Failure on this assessment can be compensated
by higher marks on the other assessment(s).
The topic of your essay is
Google's 10th birthday: The Rise, Present State and Future of Google
You can use the following questions to guide your essay,
but you do not need to limit yourself to their consideration:
- What is a web search engine?
- Who were Google's predecessors? How and why did Google become No. 1?
- How does Google make money? What does their income stream depend on?
- Google is no longer just the operator of a web search engine.
What other fields have they moved into? Why?
- What does the future hold for Google and Google's users? (You can look at this question from an economical, technological, and/or regulatory perspective)
- Google's motto is `Do no evil'. Is Google's success indeed a blessing?
You should spend a total of 30 hours over four weeks on this task.
Your essay should be about 2,000 words in length, using a 12 point size font,
1.5 line spacing, with on outer margin of at least 3.0cm. The essay must be written
in your own words (see the
University guidance on plagiarism and collusion, which can be found at
http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~ullrich/adm/GuidelinesforPlagiarism.pdf, for additional information). Quotes
are allowed if appropriate, limited in their extent, and clearly indicated as such.
A list of references should be included and does not count towards the word limit.
General information on essay writing can be found at
http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~ullrich/COMP516/assess.html#essay_writing.
Do not indicate a name, student id, or other information which could
identify you in your essay. When submitting your essay, it will be assigned a
unique number, and a list mapping that number to your
name will be compiled. The intention is to mark essays anonymously.
Submission proceeds in two steps:
- Submit an electronic version of your essay (either PDF format, which is the preferred format, or MS Word 97-2003 format, but NOT MS Word 2007 format) either
via the departmental electronic submission system which can be found at
http://cgi.csc.liv.ac.uk/cgi-bin/practical.pl?module=comp516 or
via VITAL->COMP516->Assessment.
Your submission will be checked for collusion/plagiarism by TurnitinUK.
The VITAL submision system should allow you to see a so-called `originality report'
which indicates whether TurnitinUK believes that there are indications for plagiarism
in your essay.
- Submit a printout of your essay together with a completed
declaration
on plagiarism and collusion
to Janet Lowry in the Student Office.
The deadline for the first essay is
Thursday, 30 October 2008, 15.30
Earlier submission is possible, but any submission after the deadline
attracts the standard lateness penalties. See
http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/department/regulations/practical.html for details. Regarding lateness, the later
of the two submission steps will be considered as the date/time by which the essay
has been submitted.
This assessment is intended to primarily address the following learning outcomes of the
module:
- have a conceptual understanding sufficient to: (i) evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in Computer Science, and (ii) propose possible alternative directions for further work;
- be able to deal with complex issues at the forefront of the academic discipline of Computer Science in a manner, based on sound judgements, that is both systematic and creative; and be able to communicate conclusions clearly to both specialists and non-specialists;
- make use of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: (i) the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, (ii) decision making in complex and unpredictable situations and (iii) the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development;
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have the skills set to be able to continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level, with respect to continuing professional development as a "self-directed life-long learner" across the discipline of Computer Science;
while the activities involved in the assessment will also indicate that you
- have an understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to extend, create and interpret knowledge in Computer Science.
- demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems within the domain of Computer Science, and be able to act autonomously in planning and implementing solutions in a professional manner;
- be able to define and plan a programme of independent research.
Finally, conformance with the University guidelines on plagiarism and collusion indicates
that you have basic understanding of how to
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participate within the professional, legal and ethical framework within which they would be expected to operate as professionals within the IT industry.
Detailed
information on how the essay will be marked can be found at
http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~ullrich/COMP516/marking.html.