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Paper

Semantics of Spatial Expressions (from Semantics and Cognition), by Ray Jackendoff

WRT: 1 hour

Assignment

On a total of one side of one sheet of paper, using 10 pt type or larger, with standard interline spacing and margins, respond to all the following.

There has been a disturbance in the force. Suddenly, you are transported into the body of a distinguished professor of artificial intelligence at a prestigious university. You receive the following letter:

Dear Professor You:

We are considering the application of Professor Ray Jackendoff for a tenured appointment here at MIT with the rank of Professor. To help us in this process, we would like to have your critical evaluation of Professor Jackendoff's qualifications. In particular, we would appreciate any comments you can provide concerning:

• His major contributions, their significance, and how they have influenced others;
• His standing in his field (an indication of the worldwide leaders in the field, together with your assessment of his relative position in that group, would be especially helpful);
• His abilities as a teacher;
• The quality and stature of his former graduate students;
• His qualities as an intellectual leader;
• His potential for further professional growth and leadership.

The more specific you can be in your comments, the more helpful your evaluation will be. For your reference, we are enclosing Professor Jackendoff's CV and some of his recent papers.

An essential component of the evaluation process at M.I.T. is the solicitation of written assessments from persons familiar with the individual's character, research and teaching capabilities, and academic qualifications. In order to assure the most candid and useful evaluations, we have traditionally accorded such assessments the highest degree of confidentiality.

In order to meet our deadlines, we will need your reply by March 2. I very much appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

Patrick Henry Winston
Head, HIE Department

You are to respond to this letter as best you can, having lost the CV and all the papers except for Semantics of Spatial Expressions.

Following your usual practice, you totally ignore requests for information you cannot supply, so you will not say anything, for example, about teaching or former graduate students.

Based on your reading of his paper, however, you do have an opinion on the merits of the appointment.

You know that your opinion will not count much unless you demonstrate a genuine familiarity with the candidate's work. Use all you have learned about packaging to convey that familiarity.