MIT 6.863J/9.611J Natural Language - Labs & Written Assignments

Below is a tentative schedule of laboratory assignments for the course. Note that each laboratory will generally consist of (1) a set of 'warm-up' preparatory exercises to gain familiarity with the software and the assignment domain, perhaps including some non-computer problems; and (2) the main assignment itself, which will be computer-based. Instructions for using the software for each laboratory will be provided

Assignment Specifics:
Laboratories

Laboratory assignment	Out	Due
Laboratory 1a: Word parsing, I	Feb 16	Feb 27
Laboratory 1b: Ward Parsing II	Feb 17	Mar 3
Laboratory 2: Context-free parsing basics	Mar 3	Mar 12

This course is discussion and lab oriented. That is, the work of the course is done via active class participation and a series of laboratory exercises. There are no exams, in particular, there will be no final exam. Laboratories will be handed out approximately every two weeks, typically due two weeks later on a Wednesday. The final project will involve an element of nondeterminism, i.e., so-called 'free will', in that you will be able to choose your own project and combine elements from the previous laboratories, or do something completely new. We will get started on the final projects early, since we aim for your team to present your project results in class. For the final project, we will have people work in teams of 2 or 3 (but not more, and at my urging, not fewer - solos are discouraged, but, like all labs, collaboration is encouraged - see below).

The laboratory exercises are designed to be carried out on Athena but equally well on your own computer using the NLTK software package.

When:
The assignments are due at the close of business day on the due date, i.e., 5PM on the specified date.

How:
Please construct (simple) web pages or pdf files for your lab reports, and email the root URL to me, berwick@csail.mit.edu. Please put in the subject line of your email the following:
"6.863: Laboratory <#>" where the angle brackets are replaced by the corresponding Laboratory number

In addition to the laboratory exercises, we will be assigning a series of short (1-2 page) written assignments, which will be reactions/reflections to questions posted here, or, on occasion, excerpts from papers drawn from the literature. Please email your responses back to me in plain text; also print out a copy to bring to the next class. Typically, we will then discuss your answers as a group during the very next class. Your written responses will be handed in at the end of that class, and your graded papers will be handed back at the next class after the discussion (see the explanation of grading marks below). It is important that you complete these assignments, so that you can participate in the class discussions. These written responses and discussion participation will contribute substantially to your final grade. Please read the description of the grading mark system for these assignments, and the reference on style, which you should endeavor to follow. (These have been gratefully adopted from Professor Winston's course.)

When:
The assignments are due in class on the due date. Typically this will be a Monday. However, we request that you email me (berwick@csail.mit.edu) your write-up at least one hour before the class discussion time, hopefully, over the weekend before that Monday. Please use plaintext or pdf (not .doc files) We expect you to participate in the discussion, jot down any changes you want to make as a result of discussion, and then turn in your written document to me at the end of class.

How:
Please email me (berwick@csail.mit.edu) plaintext or pdf files before class as instructed above. Please put in the subject line of your email the following:
"6.863: Reading and Response <#>" where the angle brackets are replaced by the corresponding reading and response number.

Assignment Specifics: Laboratories

Assignment Specifics:
Laboratories