CIS199: Assignments

Winter 2004

 

Weekly response papers:

Format requirements:

·        clearly state the issue you have chosen to write about

·        why are you discussing this issue

·        take a stand on one side or the other of the issue

·        defend the stand you’ve taken – why are you on the side you’re on

·        refer to an authoritative sources – lends credibility to your argument

 

 

Assignment for response paper #3 due Monday 1/26/04

Choose one of the following:

1.      Problem solving techniques:

a.      Describe your own problem solving technique where more information than you can manage is involved.

b.      Compare your technique with that described by Englebart on pp. 101-102

 

2.      Describe the circumstances surrounding the publication of Engelbart’s article:

c.      Who funded it and what were the goals of those who funded it?

d.      Were the goals for which it funded met by the report given by Engelbart?

 

 

Assignment for response paper #4 due Monday 2/1/04

Compare McLuhan (article 13) and Wiener (article 4)

You may compare a particular aspect of their work or their overall philosophies.  For the topic you choose, be sure you state:

1.      Similarities between the two authors

2.      Differences between the two authors:

Use examples and references (even if only to particular pages in the text) to support your statements.

 

 

Assignment for response paper #7 due Monday 2/23/04

1.      Find a concept or issue that three of the four articles (34, 36, 38, 40) address in some way. 

2.      Discuss the position each of the three articles takes on this issue. 

3.      Use examples from the articles to show the relationship. 

4.      Conclude with your own position and why you took it.

 

Grading Criteria

  1. original thinking
  2. clarity
  3. list of references.
  4. grammar / punctuation

 

Leading class discussion (optional):

Leading the class discussion on an article can replace 2 response papers, i.e., you can fulfill the requirement for two response papers by leading a single class discussion.

 

If you would like to lead a class discussion, please email me the article you would like to lead.

 

Leading a discussion consists of:

1. Scheduling the class day you would like to lead with me.

2. Emailing me notes (that I will display on the wall) on your article before class on the day you want to lead.

3. Leading the discussion during class.

 

I will give your presentation a grade, and this grade counts in place of two of your response paper grades.

 

Class discussion presentations will be graded on:

·        Picking up interesting things from the reading and saying why they are interesting.

·        Original thinking present in your notes and/or presentation about how the article relates to current computer uses.

 

Final Interview Presentation:

Find and interview a person whose career matches what you would like to do.  Present the results of your interview in a 10 minute presentation on the day of the final.  Your presentation itself together with your presentation notes are worth 20% of your grade.

 

To complete this assignment, you need to:

Find a person to interview.

  1. Start by identifying the kind work in which you are interested.  It is more important that the work be related to an area in which you are interested than that it be related to computers.
  2. Next, search out institutions (or individuals) that do this kind of work.
  3. Contact your first choice and explain that you are taking this class and would like a 30 minute interview to talk with them about their career.
  4. If your first choice is an institution, contact the institution, explain your goal, the kind of person you are looking for, and ask who you should talk with.  You may have to explain your goal two or three times if you contact a large institution. 
  5. Set a date and place for the interview.  The date and place must be at their convenience, but you must be able to make the time and place without fail.

Prepare for the interview.

Put together a list of questions you would like to have answered (have at least 6 independent questions), e.g.,

  • How did you get started doing <fill-in-what-it-is-you-believe-they-do>?
  • What aspects of this job are most intriguing to you?
  • What aspects are not so much fun?
  • How could I best prepare for a career doing what you are doing?

Conduct the interview.

  1. Dress nicely and arrive on time for the appointment you set up with your interviewee.
  2. Ask the person if you may take notes during the interview.
  3. Start with your most important question and try to get all of your questions answered.  However, do not be rigid about getting all of your questions answered -- the person you are interviewing may take you in an unexpected direction. 
  4. Try not to be frightened.  Almost all people enjoy telling their story, and they want to help you understand what is important about what they do – because it is important to them.

Prepare your presentation.

  1. Group the ideas from the interview and your notes into categories.
  2. Draw out and summarize the central idea from each category.
  3. Order the summaries into a logical sequence.
  4. Make a set of slides from this sequence of idea summaries.
  5. Remember that you have only 10 minutes for your presentation.  You must ensure that you speak to the most important points.

Here is a set of resources you might want to consider:

The SOU career center (http://www.sou.edu/access/careers/) has a wealth of information.

 

Other possibilities:

Hospitals

the Manor

Darex Corp.

Lithia Dodge

Musician’s Friend

Educational Service District

Elementary or High Schools

Rogue Valley Federal Credit Union (I actually have a couple of names at this institution)

A brokerage – Cutler?

Federal or Jackson County government offices.

Retail: Fred Meyer, Walmart, Big 5

Media: Newspapers, TV, or radio stations

Timber Products (I have a contact)

Kodak (I have a contact)

 

use your imagination …