The story-story linking task is very simple.  The task involves reading pairs of stories, and deciding whether the two stories discuss the same topic.  (Remember the TDT definition of topic!)  Unlike regular TDT annotation, the topics in the story linking task are not pre-defined.  It will be up to you to apply the notion of TDT topic to this task, and to determine for each pair of stories whether the two stories discuss the same topic.  This question requires a "yes" or "no" answer.  For this task, there is no "brief" category.  If you believe that the two stories you're comparing discuss the same topic at all, then answer "yes".

Each story-link file contains one "seed" story and 120 "compare" stories.  As you work through the file, the seed story remains constant while the compare story changes.  Please re-read the "seed" story from time to time as you work on a file, to refresh your memory of its contents.

The story-link interface is easy to use.  You'll be viewing your story pairs in a netscape window, and you'll record your results in an emacs file.  Detailed instructions on using the interface appear below.

1.  Start Netscape

2.  In a morph window, type this command:
          ssl

3.  In the morph window, you'll see a list of files available for annotation.  (Files listed as AVAIL are ready to work on; files listed as PROGRESS are in progress; files listed as DONE are completed.)  You can see a list of all story link files at any time by typing l at the command line.

4.  Chose a file to work on and enter its name (by cutting & pasting) at the prompt.

5.  An emacs file will open up, containing the list of all "compare" stories for this SSL file.

6.  Two netscape windows will open.  One window contains the "seed" story (in color: pink, yellow or beige); other contains the first "compare" story (in white).  The exact placement of the windows on your screen will depend on your environment setup; feel free to rearrange the windows so it's easy for you to work.

7.  In the emacs window, use your arrow keys to place your cursor on the first compare story DOCID to show that story in the white Netscape browser window.  At any time, you can view a particular story in the list by placing your cursor on that story's DOCID and typing "s", or by using your arrow keys to move to that DOCID.  To help you track your progress, all unread compare stories are marked with "-" in the emacs window.

8.  Read the seed story.  Read the compare story.

9. Ask yourself the question: "Do these two stories discuss the same topic?"

10.  If the answer is YES, type "y" in the emacs window.  The DOCID will turn blue, and the story's status will change to Y.
If the answer is NO, type "n" in the emacs window.  The DOCID will turn red, and the story's status will change to N.

11.  Type "q" to save your work and quit marking this file.  **Do not quit by using "kill process", "delete window", or any other mechanism.**  Your work will only be saved if you quit in the proper way by typing "q" in the emacs window.

12.  Return to the morph window, and type "q" to quit (or select a new file to work on).

At any time, you can see a list of SSL commands by typing "h" in the morph window.

        Move cursor to view previous or next article.
        s: Show the article on the current line.
        n: Mark the article to no.
        y: Mark the article to yes.
        q: Save the file and Quit Emacs.