Fall 2025 - CMPT 105W D100
Social Issues and Communication Strategies in Computing Science (3)
Class Number: 5416
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Surrey -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 8, 2025
Mon, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
Surrey
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Instructor:
Harinder Khangura
hskhangu@sfu.ca
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:
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.
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:
Informal and formal written Assignments, Participation, Tests/Quizzes, and possibly Presentations. A more detailed marking scheme will be provided in the first lecture.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Strategies for Engineering Communication
Steve Whitmore, Susan Stevenson
John Wiley and Sons
2002
ISBN: 9780471128175
RECOMMENDED READING:
Ethics for the Information Age, 9th Edition (eText Instant Access), Michael J. Quinn, Pearson, 2024, 9780138238759
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
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Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
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All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.