Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2024 - CMPT 105W D100

Social Issues and Communication Strategies in Computing Science (3)

Class Number: 3993

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course teaches the fundamentals of informative and persuasive communication for professional engineers and computer scientists. A principal goal of this course is to assist students in thinking critically about various contemporary technical, social, and ethical issues. It focuses on communicating technical information clearly and concisely, managing issues of persuasion when communicating with diverse audiences, presentation skills, and teamwork. Students with credit for ENSC 102, ENSC 105W, MSE 101W or SEE 101W may not take CMPT 105W for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this class, students learn how to effectively share ideas and persuade others in their writing. The course helps computing science students think deeply about modern issues in technology, society, and ethics. It emphasizes clear communication of technical details and teaches students how to appeal to different types of people. Throughout the course, students work on different writing assignments to practice and improve their skills.

Topics:

  • Inventing, organizing, and planning for writing
  • Drafting and research
  • Revising and editing
  • Layout of resumes and cover letters
  • Design for presentations
  • Conventions for referencing and organizing papers
  • Social responsibility in Computing: ethics, privacy, free speech, etc.

Grading

NOTES:

Written Assignments, Participation, Tests/Quizzes, and Presentations. A more detailed marking scheme will be provided in the first lecture.

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

 Laplante, Phillip. A. (2019). Technical writing: a practical guide for engineers, scientists, and nontechnical professionals. Boca Raton CRC Press.

Quinn, Michael. J. (2020). Ethics for the Information Age. (8th ed.). Pearson.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html