Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - CMPT 105W D100

Social Issues and Communication Strategies in Computing Science (3)

Class Number: 5376

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Thu, 3:30–5:20 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:

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.

This course will be offered in person, face-to-face. Details of technology and tools needed in class will be provided the first week of the semester. All the course information and communication will be centralized in the Canvas course website which will be available by the first day of class, including class materials, readings, assignments, points and course policies, and will be updated as the course unfolds. Students should ensure that they receive notifications when announcements are posted on Canvas. 
In case class(es) and/or office hours must be taught remotely, students must have access to a computer with internet access, allowing the use of a conferencing system such as Zoom.

Topics

The social issues to be explored in this course include: Social responsibility in computing, technological theories, ethics, privacy, implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in communication and education, information literacy, etc. Part of the issues discussed may also be determined by the interests of students, and in general, be subject to modification and to time availability. At the same time, a central theme in this course  is about informative and persuasuve communication. 

  • Inventing, organizing, and planning for writing
  • Drafting and research. Information literacy.
  • Argumentation
  • Revising and editing
  • Layout of resumes and cover letters
  • Design for presentations
  • Conventions for referencing and organizing papers
  • Social responsibility in Computing: new techologies and society, ethics, privacy, etc.

Grading

NOTES:

Assessmnets will include informal and formal written Assignments, Participation, Tests/Quizzes, and possibly Presentations and Video Recordings. A more detailed marking scheme will be provided in the first week of classes.

Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to obtain a clear pass (C- or better).

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Assigned readings and/or recordings will be selected from the recommended textbooks and other sources, as will be described in class.
Some copies of the recommended books will be available on reserves at the SFU library.
Online tools will be used as will be described in class.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Ethics for the Information Age, 9th edition  (eText Instant Access),
Michael J. Quinn
Pearson
2024 
ISBN: 9780138238759

Strategies for Engineering Communication
Steve Whitmore, Susan Stevenson
John Wiley and Sons
2002
ISBN: 9780471128175

A Gift of Fire, 5th edition
Sara Baase and Tymothy M. Henry,
Pearson,
2021
Ebook available
ISBN: 9780134615394

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:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • 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: 


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.