Lectures and seminars: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 -- 7:00 pm, L 1308 (Tuesdays) and L1316 (Thursdays)
Readings and seminars will develop presentation skills and critical judgment.
Last revised September 24, 2000. Use your browser's Reload or Refresh button to get the latest version.
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Reading assignments appear on the seminar schedule. Readings will be distributed (in the seminar classroom) at least one week in advance of the seminar.
Bring a brief report on your reading to every class meeting. Reports will be collected at the beginning of class. Your reports will be considered in your evaluation. They also serve as an attendance record.
Reports should be very brief, with one or two sentences on each of these three items:
Some weeks there may be more than piece (article, chapter) of assigned reading. You should still only submit three sentences. The sentences may apply to one of the readings, or all of them, or each may apply to a different piece.
For example, here is my report in this format for the September 28 assignment. I chose to write all three sentences about the preface to Simply Scheme:
The preface to Simply Scheme explains the authors' rationale for choosing the Scheme programming language (over Pascal or something similar) for an introductory programming course. I was struck that they characterize Pascal (etc.) as "conservative" and its teachers as "uptight authoritarians" while they consider Scheme "radical". I disagree; I think that the choice of programming language is a pragmatic matter, not an ideological one.
Each student is appointed to present one of the readings in class. The presenter summarizes the content of the reading and begins the discussion.
The instructor assigns the date and reading assignment for each student's presentation. Presenters will be appointed at least one week in advance of the seminar. They appear on the seminar schedule.
Your presentation will be considered in your evaluation.