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ES4E7 Information Theory and Coding
Prepared by Dr Mark Leeson (Module Leader)
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternative Assessment to Summer Examination 2020

The coronavirus crisis has created a period of extraordinary teaching and learning conditions that
means to complete your year of studies we are to have this alternative assessment to replace part or
all of the ES4E7 summer examination, which is for 7.5 credits (50% of module 15 credits).

In addition, you will be required to take a 1-hour Perception Test; details will be shared on Moodle.

Alternative online support for this module is available:
Please email the Module Leader and he will respond within two working days.

The Learning Outcome for this written assessment is:

1. Advanced knowledge and understanding of information and entropy, and their use in information
theory.


Alternative Assessment - Research Essay

Specification
Produce a report of up to four pages in length on one of the topics that you have been allocated1,
which have been chosen so that each student has a different pair of topics. Select a few important
papers and use these as the basis of a summary of the main ideas. You should try to identify
strengths and weaknesses of the approaches in the literature and indicate how the subject is
developing today. The report should typically be written in the style of an academic paper, containing
an abstract, introduction, analysis, discussion, conclusion and reference list (at the end). Note that
the conclusion should be the last thing that you write in the main body and should not just list what
the work is about. A proportion should concern your findings and views with key points to give
credibility. Note that it should utilise items taken mainly from previous sections and should not have
any new information.

Further Guidance
The assignment is essentially a literature review; it should address the topic specified for your
assignment and join the elements together, not just be a description. The ‘literature’ can include
books, book chapters, journal articles, technical reports, conference proceedings, dissertations
(Masters/PhD) and patents. Students should avoid referencing non peer-reviewed websites typified
by Wikipedia. The references should have the complete details and be in a recognised and consistent
style. The assignment should review and evaluate the relevant literature, including details of the

1 Allocations at: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/staff/msl/teaching/allocation-copy



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progress made by others on the research topic and identification of the open challenges. It should
not simply list prior work. It should present and critically evaluate the published literature that is
relevant to the topic. A ‘critical’ evaluation entails an objective appraisal, noting both the limits of
prior studies as well as the advances made. For example, consider any underlying assumptions
adopted, technological advances or limitations and open research questions. Note that a small
number of diagrams and a few equations may be used to illustrate the arguments and methods.
Reference use - this is a common area of weakness. In an assignment references can be used to avoid
charges of plagiarism and give credibility to your opinions by showing that someone else supports
your views. A total of eight or more high quality references (peer reviewed material) are needed to
score highly in this aspect. Note that you should not use unrefereed sources that are not generally
available (such as the course notes for the module) as references.


Submission Guidance

Maximum length: 4 pages, to include figures, tables and references.
Format: 12 point Calibri font and with 1.5 line spacings.
References: Required

Submit this assignment on Tabula in pdf format by 12:00 noon on 16 June 2020 (Week 38).
When submitting your pdf assign to the document the filename identifier of ES4E7-student id–2020,
where ‘student id’ is for your university student number.
There cannot be a hard copy submission.
A late submission (without a legitimate mitigating reason) will be subject to the normal School of
Engineering late submission penalties.

Your assignment will be checked for plagiarism using the Turnitin software and should there be
evidence of direct copying from another source you will be liable to a reduction in your mark which
could result in a mark of zero.

Assessment Criteria

This assignment is to be marked out of 100.

Marks will be allocated:
Knowledge of Material Demonstrated 40%
Discussion and Conclusion 25%
Use of literature 25%
Presentation of report 10%










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Final Note

This written assignment replaces all or part of a 2020 summer examination; therefore, it will follow
standard assessment processes regarding how it is marked for cheating and plagiarism.

Individual feedback will not be provided and neither will a solution be made available. Standard
examination feedback will be provided after the summer.

This assignment will be moderated following normal examination procedures and scrutinised by
External Examiners.

Gill Cooke 03 April 2020