INST 734
Information Retrieval Systems
Fall 2015
Module 3: Monday September 14 to Sunday September 20

This module takes us through the process of using an index to build a ranked list of documents in response to a query. The module is designed to be completed in 12 hours over 7 days. As with every module, you must complete all componentents of this module by midnight on the evening of the indicated end date for the module.

Module Checklist

The recommended order for completing the activities in this module is:
  1. View the introductory video for this module.
  2. View the first reading commentary video. Note that I suggest that you view this before reading the chapter -- doing so should help you navigate this rather complex chapter more easily.
  3. Read the Chapter 5 of our CMS textbook.
  4. View the second reading commentary video. Its also worth watching this commentary before doing the reading, although the structure here is not as complex.
  5. Read the Chapter 7 of our CMS textbook.
  6. Check ELMS to see if you have an additional reading summary assigned to you this week. If so, complete that summary by midnight Thursday and submit it using ELMS. Be sure to follow the guidance on page 2 of the Example Reading Summary that was provided in Module 1.
  7. Consider joining the optional ELMS chat about student-designed term projects at 5 PM (EDT) on Thursday September 17. See Project Assignment P4 for details.
  8. View the Ranked Retrieval lecture video.
  9. View the Similarity-Based Ranking lecture video.
  10. View the Probability-Based Ranking lecture video.
  11. On Friday (or later), read the additional reading summaries that were prepared by your classmates this week.
  12. View the Guest Cameo video by David Lewis.
  13. Don't forget to post at least one substantive comment to this module's discussion forum.
  14. Read Exercise E3.
  15. Watch the exercise explanation video for Exercise E3.
  16. Complete Exercise E3 and submit your results using ELMS.
  17. If you want to hear some of the topics in this module presented differently, consider viewing parts of the optional supplementary videos.

Readings

This week we have only two reading assignments because both chapters are rather long.

Summaries of Additional Readings

 Additional readings are assigned to five students. All students should read the five summaries once they are posted to ELMS.

Videos

Here are the videos for this module:

Exercise E3

Finally, complete Exercise E3. You may find several resources useful in working on this assignment. perhaps most useful will be the Boolean Retrieval lecture from Module 2 and the Similarity-Based Ranking lecture from this module. The lecture videos by Chris Manning that are linked to from Modules 2 and 3 may also be useful. Of course, the textbook is an excellent reference as well. Like all assignments that you are asked to turn in, this is due at midnight on the last day of the module. Note that you are allowed to work with other students on exercises, but you must type in the results yourself (no cut and paste -- see the course description for details).
Doug Oard
Last modified: Thu Dec 14 08:35:17 2017