CMPT 480 / 840 Accessible Computing

Critiques

Purposes of a Critique

Submitting your Critique

• Please name the files: nn-your name

• Please send the files in Word (doc) format - that way I can respond by using track changes for my comments

Contents of a Critique

Do a critique of the readings assigned for next week's class by identifying and discussing at least five major challenges and/or opportunities.

• Challenges identify portions of a reading where significant improvements should be made.
• Opportunities identify omissions from a reading where significant additions should be made.

Each discussion of a challenge or opportunity should:

• identify the challenge or opportunity
  
• Challenge: what needs improvement (further discussion and/or consideration of an alternate viewpoint)
• or Opportunity: what's missing (not discussed but should be included in a discussion of this area)
  
• it is expected that identification involves:
• a meaningful self-descriptive name for the challenge / opportunity
• a brief elaboration / discussion of what is involved
• information about the location in the chapter the challenge / opportunity occurs

• explain the significance of the proposed addition or improvement
  
• be specific as to what the significance is and how it may effect the success of applying this information in performing Usability Engineering
  
  • focus on major concepts that impact the successful practice of Usability Engineering
    
  • do not deal with editorial issues such as grammar, spelling, or any changes that could be made by just adding a few words
  • Challenges can be significant
    
  • if they pose risks to the technical information in / understanding of the readings.
  • if you have strong grounds to disagree with major points in the reading.
    
  • Opportunities can be significant
    
  • if they involve omissions that need to be explained for someone to be able to understand the readings
• it is expected that significance involves:
• a good reason why we should discuss this challenge or opportunity in class
  

• suggest what should be done about this challenge or opportunity
  
• this should be the starting point for our discussion in class
• it is expected that your suggestion includes
• a summary of what you think about or need to know about this challenge or opportunity
• it may be useful to provide particular references to support your suggestions
  

Each critique is marked out of 10.

• Getting a better mark than a 7 generally requires going significantly beyond just meeting the basic requirements.
• Individual items (challenges or opportunities) may get either a 0, 1, or 2.
• Items that are not significant or that repeat other items get a 0.
• Items of weak significance or where the suggestions are not strong enough will typically get a 1.
• The best an incompletely documented item can get is a 1.
  
• Getting full marks on a critique is based on  having at least 5 strong critique items.
• Critiques may go beyond the basic requirement of discussing 5 challenges and/or opportunities (the best 5 will be marked).
• Bonus marks may also be awarded  to items with exceptional insights and/or helpful suggestions and/or good references that support a suggestion.

Examples of strong critique items from another course include (each of these items would be worth 2 marks so 5 items of this quality would get the full 10 marks available):

1. Example of an Opportunity:

2. Example of a Challenge:

(I expect that the above can be answered in 2 - 3 printed pages)

Please remember: it is not acceptable to  criticize the authors and tell them that they should change their paper. Good critique items are intended to take us beyond the paper as discussed in Guidance on Creating Good Critiques. It is essential that you all read and understand what is required of a critique before you do your next cri

List of Critiques and Dates

Copyright © 2012 - Jim A. Carter Jr.