Writing Exercise

March 8, 2014
Write a two-paragraph introduction to your labs research, which you can use as a web page for your lab. These two paragraphs should answer the following questions about the solutions you are working toward.

What is the situation that needs your solution?

1. In order for system X to be practical, we need a more ecient algorithm to accomplish Y. 2. No one yet understands how adding features like X will aect systems like Y. 3. Does a system like X work in situations like Y? 4. Is it possible to create an X that does Y?

For example,

What solutions do you propose?

1. Instead of relying on this kind of data structure X, we represent the data using that kind of data structure Y. 2. We are taking many systems and seeing how much slower they run when we add X. 3. We are using X theory to show that it is impossible for Y to do Z.

Start with providing the intuition (the basic idea), for example:

Give a worked out example (with code) so the audience can understand: 1. For example, this is some code Save the technical details for later on: 1. Think about whether you do or dont want equations and other technical details on the webpage. 2. In a paper or conference presentation, you would denitely need these, but maybe not on the front webpage for your lab.
A 3. Typesetting technical and mathematical material is a good reason to use L TEX.

How well have your solutions been working? What metrics do you use?
1. Using the same test cases, my system works at 1.5 times the speed of X, except when condition Y is true. 2. We have proved that it is impossible for X to do Y, and we have veried this proof using system Z.

For example,

Because of your work, what will now be possible?

1. As we learn more about situations where X is not possible, people can stop trying to do X, and devote their energy to Y. 2. Since we are nding that X, Y, and maybe Z are all special cases of ABC, we can use the more general formulation to solve problems of type X and Y (and maybe Z).

For example,

When you nish writing the content of your webpage, share it with someone who is less familiar with your labs work, and see if they can answer these questions accurately by reading your writing.

Acknowledgments
The ideas in this handout come from the following sources: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=776925 and http://www.sigplan.org/Resources/Author especially http://research.microsoft.com/~simonpj/papers/giving-a-talk/giving-a-talk.htm