Laboratory Write-Up and Submission

CSC 262 - Computer Vision - Weinman



Summary:
Information about expectations for laboratory exercises and methods for preparing to submit them.

Contents

1  Overview
2  Laboratory write-ups
3  Laboratory programs: scripts and functions
    3.1  Lab script
    3.2  Functions
4  References and Academic Honesty Certification
5  Submitting your work
6  Notes on grading
    6.1  Requirements
    6.2  Style

1  Overview

This course features weekly laboratory exercises, as listed on the course schedule.
Unless otherwise stated: Laboratory submissions will generally consist of two parts: These are to be written and submitted using the guidelines below.

2   Laboratory write-ups

Matlab features a convenient way to integrate writing and code via a function called publish, which you will use to create a write-up for each lab. For the specific contents of a lab writeup, please follow the directions within that lab on what is to be included. In general, your write-up must consist of: Because most of our labs are tightly focused, the overall text you may need to write will likely be small, though the reports may seem longer due to the inclusion of many images.
You must also submit your write-up as a PDF file. Submissions are processed by scripts and will not open or read any other format.
DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAMES unless otherwise directed. Because your submission will be graded anonymously, you must not place your name in any file except the references/honesty file, below. Failure to heed this guideline will result in a one-letter grade deduction penalty.

3  Laboratory programs: scripts and functions

In preparing any scripts or programs for the course, please follow these formatting guidelines.

3.1  Lab script

The first line of your Matlab lab file should be comments giving the title of the lab as a section header. For example,
%% CSC 262 Lab: Hough Transforms
You should read and bookmark the Publishing Markup guide on how to format inline comments for integration in your write up.
Inline comments are expected for explaining your code, but these should not be included in as part of your writeup. For example
%% E. Section Header
% This text is included with the narrative
 
% This comment is for the code, but is not published
plot(sin(linspace(0,2*pi,50)); % This plot *is* published!
 
%%
% This comment is published without a new section header in a paragraph 
% immediately below the plot.
Note that the Matlab editor will auto-format (i.e., line wrap) your comments with the keyboard command Alt+Q, and will auto-indent your code with the keyboard command Ctl+Alt+/.
The file houghlab.m gives an example of a Matlab script for an imaginary lab conforming to these guidelines. You can run and publish the script on the MathLAN.
Publish your file to PDF but do not include the code in the report:
publish('labfilename.m','format','pdf','showCode',false);
This creates the file html/labfilename.pdf under the folder containing labfilename.m.

3.2  Functions

In addition to the corresponding course lab title, formal documentation is required for every definition of a Matlab function, stating in English what that program unit is supposed to do. Documenting before you write a procedure can help you plan and clarify the requirements of your implementation. For example,
function N = estimateNoise(X,Y,Z)
% ESTIMATENOISE Estimates the noise in a sequence of three images
%
% N = ESTIMATENOISE(X,Y,Z) where X, Y, and Z are grayscale images 
% (all of the same dimensions) and N is a matrix of the same size 
% containing the noise estimate -- a standard deviation
% of the values at each pixel in the sequence.
%
%
% CSC 262 Lab: Image Formation

4  References and Academic Honesty Certification

Each and every lab write-up must include a single file, references.txt, with the following information (sources, help, certification) completed.
Academic honesty certification:
  Written/online sources used:
    [include textbook(s), CSC 262 labs or readings;
     use complete citations for Web or other written sources;
     write none if no sources used]
  Help obtained
    [indicate names of instructor, class mentors
     or evening tutors, consulted according to class policy;
     write none if none of these sources used]
  Our initials below confirm that the above list of sources
  is complete AND that I/we have not talked to anyone else
  (e.g., CSC 262 students) about the solution to this problem
  Initials:  ABC, DEF

5  Submitting your work

You will have multiple files to submit (at the very least a PDF and a Matlab file). One group member should submit your files online to the corresponding assignment on PioneerWeb by the due date. Submit each file individually; do not create an archive or zip file. Type the complete e-mail addresses of all the individuals named on the lab into the Comments box. For example
starjane@grinnell.edu, cooljoe@grinnell.edu
This will enable the grader to provide automated responses. Failure to match this format may result in receiving no feedback about your grade.
Only one submission per project group is required. However, all group members are jointly responsible for ensuring a submission is made. For example, if your partner told you she/he/ze would submit the project but forgets to do so, all group members will incur late penalties. For this reason, I recommend submitting work while you are sitting together.
The assignment drop-box is configured to accept re-submissions. Only the last submission will be downloaded, but if you repeat a submission all required files must be re-uploaded (even if only one changed). The timestamp of the last submission will be used to determine when the assignment was completed (for assessing any late penalties).

6  Notes on grading

6.1  Requirements

When a lab write-up is submitted according to the format specified above, it should be understood that the images and figures accurately reflect the output from the accompanying program. Anything otherwise may raise questions of academic dishonesty; and, by College policy, any evidence of academic dishonesty must be turned over to the Academic Standing Committee for action.

6.2  Style

Every programming task should yield readable and tested code. Because code maintainability is an important part of development, your labs' code will be graded in part on style, as well as correctness. After all, if I cannot understand your code (or it takes me too long to), I cannot give it a grade regarding its correctness.
Some style matters I care about: Failure to incorporate these style considerations will lower your grade.

Acknowledgments

Adapted from Assignments for Computer Science 213, Henry Walker; and CSC213, Fall 2006 : Laboratory exercises, Janet Davis. Some of the style considerations were adapted from Marge Coahran's.