Instructions for Readings

Each time that we will discuss a paper together in class, you will be assigned to read that paper in advance. Say, for example, that on Wednesday we are going to discuss the paper On Spectral Clustering: Analysis and an Algorithm by Ng, Jordan, and Weiss.

1. First, at the end of the previous class meeting (Monday, in our example), I will assign the reading:
   • I will provide each person in class with a hard copy of the paper.
   • I will also assign each person in the class into a three-person reading group.
2. In the following day or so, you will meet with your group to read the paper together:
• Each person will take their own notes and mark up their own copy of the paper.
• You are required to write, in the margins, a short summary (just a few words) of every group of 1–3 paragraphs. A brightly-colored pen would be useful for this task.
• I encourage you to use two additional different colors of pen or highlighter to mark passages (just a few words at a time) in the paper: one color for important things, another for confusing things.
• I also encourage you to take other notes in the margins, writing clarifications, questions about confusing or unclear things, or challenges to parts you think merit critique.
• If you take more extensive notes, you should do so on separate sheets of paper or digitally.
• Sign your name at the bottom of the back page of the paper, and also of any notes that are entirely your own work. Do not put your name anywhere else.
3. Before noon on the day of the in-class discussion (again, Wednesday, in our example), your group will write a response to the paper and post it on Moodle:
   • The response must be at least 250 words, and shouldn't be more than 500. It must be written in a formal style: complete sentences, good grammar, the works.
   • The response will have the name of all group members at the top, as well as the title, author, and journal for the paper.
   • The response will begin with a broad summary of the paper. Things to consider including (which may not apply to all papers) are the problem it poses, the contribution it makes, how it demonstrates its contribution, and how it relates its contribution to the work of others.
   • The response will then ask questions or propose challenges or follow-ups to the paper. There must be a total of at least three of these. A bulleted list is encouraged.

   After the main response is posted by one member of the group, the other members of the group will just post something like “I'm also a member of that group”, so they can read all the other writeups.

4. At the beginning of class on the day of the discussion (Wednesday, in our example), you will turn in your hard copy of the paper, attached to any separate notes you took. I will redistribute your work to another student in the class, who will mark it for completion and sign their name on the mark.
5. Then we'll spend most of the rest of the class period discussing the paper. It may be useful for you to have a copy of your group's response on hand.