Project Topic Description

Pick a topic in a biomedical information systems area that you are interested in. After researching this topic, you should describe it using 900-1800 words of prose. Your goal is to become an expert on your particular topic. Thus, your topic should be fairly narrowly focused, so that you can at least have a good start on becoming an expert on your area by the end of the term. If you happen to pick a topic which you later find out is too broad, you should start listing out the subtopics of that broader topic, and pick just a few of the subtopics to describe.

The main part of this should be a precise description of your narrowly-focused topic. In addition, you need to describe the topic in its broader context, as well as point out areas of your topic in which you would like to pursue further research.

The broader context of the topic may include the historical background of your topic, brief mentions of other areas closely related to your topic, as well as ethical, social, economic, or political implications of work done in your topic. Although some discussion of the broader context is required, depending on your topic, not all of the above perspectives may be applicable to your topic.

You will also need to include some reflective comments on what aspects of your topic you plan on learning about in more detail during the remainder of the semester. (These can be considered learning objectives). Thus, you may include comments on which parts of your topic you find intriguing and would like to learn more about, or perhaps comments on areas or techniques that you did not fully understand but would like to read more about. Being able to identify things that you should read and/or figure out is an integral part of becoming efficient at research.

Your description should be understandable by the typical baccalaureate degree holder of information science. It should also include references to the bibliographic sources that you used in the writing of your report. Although you will be handing in this initial description early in the term, it is often the case that you will need revise it as you learn more about your topic area. Check out more project guidelines on the assignments guidelines page of the Web site.

[Home] [Syllabus] [Lecture notes] [Schedule] [Assignments] [Graduate Guidelines] [Annotated Bib] [Project Ideas] [Project] [Project Topic] [Project Draft] [Project Bibs] [Project Plan] [Project Proposal] [Oral Presentation] [Writing Hints] [Turn-in area] [Message board] [Communication] [Tests] [Grades]