RESEARCH PAPER #1 CHECKLIST:

Here's a checklist that you should use in
the writing of your first Research Paper
for the USC SAE 574 Class. This is what
I use in grading papers.

This isn't meant to indicate a strict
FORMAT or an OUTLINE-- it's just a checklist.
Please refer to the class website and
lecture notes for detailed instructions
on formatting your paper.

( ) Title Page?
( ) Abstract (with a brief biography)?
( ) Introduction or Background or History?
( ) A general description of the system?
( ) Analysis using Lectures 1 through 5b?
( ) A summary or conclusion?
( ) References or bibliography or footnotes?

Analysis to be performed from Lecture #1:
( ) What benefits does the system provide
    to its users, due to its net-centric
    design? (At least one paragraph)

Analysis to be performed from Lecture #2:
( ) What is the fundamental organization
    of the network? E.g. Fixed users of
    a Fixed network? Mobile users of a
    Mobile Network? A MANet?  (At least
    one paragraph, and at least one
    top-level figure)

( ) HOW does the system support user
    collaboration? (At least one paragraph)

Analysis to be performed from Lecture #3 & 4:
( ) What is the architecture of at least
    ONE sample node in the system, in terms
    of the OSI 7-layer or TCP/IP 4-layer
    (or other) reference models? (At least
    one paragraph and at least one top-level
    figure for at least one major node)

Analysis to be performed from Lecture #4:
( ) What capability has been provided in
    the system's architecture to handle
    growth, or unexpected ways of using
    the system, or ability to evolve to
    meet user needs? (At least one paragraph)

Analysis to be provided from Lecture #5a:
( ) What assured availability steps have
    been included in the system's design?
    E.g. fault tolerance, redundant/backup
    items, diagnostics/testability,
    maintainability, etc.? (At least one
    paragraph and at least one top-level
    figure)

( ) What are the failure modes and effects
    with criticality analysis and
    mitigation recommendations for at
    least one major component (hardware
    or software) in the system? (At
    least one paragraph with a top-level
    FMECA diagram in a format similar
    to that in Lecture 5a-- at least
    one hardware or software or system
    component, with at least six rows
    sorted into order of descending risk,
    and at least ONE risk item "below the
    line")

( ) What SYSTEM integrity steps have
    been (or should be) included in
    the system's design, such as
    "trusted" hardware, software,
    processes (e.g. ISO 9001), people
    (e.g. background checks), etc.?
    (At least one paragraph, and you
    may have to recommend integrity
    steps if the system doesn't
    already have them)

Analysis to be provided from Lecture #5b:
( ) What DATA integrity steps have
    been (or should be) included in
    the system's design, such as
    checksums or CRC in data storage
    or transmission? (At least one
    paragraph and at least one
    top-level figure)

( ) What authentication measures
    have been (or should be) included
    in the system's design to ensure
    that only authorized people or
    systems can use the system?
    (At least one paragraph and
    at least one top-level figure)

( ) What confidentiality measures
    have been (or should be) included
    in the system's design to ensure
    that unauthorized people or
    systems cannot access or modify
    critical data used in the system?
    (At least one paragraph and at
    least one top-level figure)

( ) What non-repudiation measures
    have been (or should be)
    included in the system's design
    to ensure that at least an
    audit trail is kept of access
    to (or modification of)
    critical data used in the
    system? (At least one paragraph)

( ) What is the security management
    method provided by the system's
    design (e.g. Enclave Security
    vs. Defense-In-Depth) in terms
    of the acceptable level of RISK
    of not achieving the Information
    Assurance steps described in all
    of the above? (At least one
    paragraph)

What if you can’t find information about one or
more of the above items on the checklist?
DO NOT SKIP THAT ANALYSIS, and assume that it
is not applicable!  Such omission will
significantly impact your grade. You may need
to recommend what should be (or could be) added
to the system, and then analyze that
recommendation.

My intent in providing you with this list is to
HELP you in accomplishing a comprehensive
analysis of your chosen topic, and to provide
some insight into the kind of technical "meat"
that I'm looking for in considering your paper's
grade.

N.B. very few papers are worthy of an “A” grade
in this class unless they EXCEED most of the
requirements given in the Research Paper Checklist
(i.e. have more that the minimum required).
The checklist descriptions represent the minimum
requirements for a passing grade (“B”) in the class.
And to deserve an “A+” grade, a paper would have
to be of sufficient quality and depth of analysis
that it could be used as a Guest Lecture for this
class.

One of the metrics used to grade papers is the
volume of analysis, which should be at least 15
pages of analysis in terms of 12 point text in
Times New Roman font, single spaced, with 1" top
and bottom margins and 1-1/4" left and right
margins (and figures deleted unless they
specifically contribute to, or are part of
the analysis).

HINTS!  Common mistakes that students make include:

* No title page.  Believe it or not, this happens!
  In many of the USC Distance Education Network
  (DEN) classes (but not this one), students are
  required to submit their papers via e-mail or a
  fax to the DEN, rather than online via DEN
  Assignments.  In such cases students may be used
  to filling out a DEN submittal form. The DEN
  submittal form is not a title page!

* No abstract, or missing a biography in the abstract.
  Yes, you have to both provide an abstract for
  approval AND place that abstract on the second page
  of your paper.  If you have adjusted your abstract
  after obtaining approval of your chosen topic, then
  the ADJUSTED abstract should be used in the paper.

* No clear linkage of analysis to the checklist.

* Confusing SYSTEM vs. DATA Integrity.

* Describing “User Support” rather than “User
  Collaboration”.

* FMECA missing columns, or missing at last one low-risk
  item "below the line", or table not sorted in order
  of descending risk.

* Missing one (or more) of the other items on the
  checklist.

* Analysis text provided, but without a required diagram
  (see checklist above for required diagrams).

* Figures(s) without a detailed explanation of content.
  You should not succumb to the temptation of filling
  in blank space or attempting to increase the length
  of your paper with meaningless figures (including
  diagrams, graphics, artwork, and tables).  All
  figures should have a reference in your text (a
  figure number, a table number, etc.).  And your
  text should include at least one paragraph that
  explains the figure in terms of the analysis that
  you’re providing.  In short, everything in your
  paper should be relevant.

* Limited depth of analysis (paper too short: less
  than 20 pages in total or less than 15 pages of
  detailed analyses). For example, a 50 page paper filled
  with detailed technical descriptions and fancy color
  figures/pictures of the system (but only 5 pages of
  net-centric analysis via the checklist above) will
  not receive a good grade.

* No (or improper) references, footnotes, or
  bibliography.  Surely you must have used something
  as a reference in the development of your paper,
  even if you are a “world expert” on your chosen
  topic!  And please remember to properly cite the
  SAE 574 class lectures if you use material from
  those lectures in your paper.  Remember also that
  too many references to uncontrolled Internet sites
  may detract from your paper’s grade.

* Improper citations for quoted text or copied
  artwork.  Yes, you can “borrow” artwork or a
  figure or table from another source, but you must
  properly cite that source!  And yes, you can
  include direct verbiage from another source, but
  you must properly designate those words in
  quotations and properly cite that source!
  (This includes the case where you are the author
  of the “other source”!)  Failure to properly
  reference copied text will be treated as a
  violation of academic integrity!

* Excessive amount of quoted text.  This includes
  large amounts of text quoted from papers that
  you wrote for a different class!

* Speling errorz.  Please remember to do a
  “Spell Check” before submitting your paper.
  If a quoted source includes a spelling error,
  simple place the designation (sic) after that
  word to show that you weren’t the one that
  made the error.  Also remember that most
  spell-checkers are not a substitute for good
  editing (for example, deciding whether
  “threw” or “through” is the correct word in
  a given context).

Ken Cureton
cureton@usc.edu