ICS 131: Social Analysis of Computerization

Professor Bill Tomlinson

Spring 2006

Key Ideas

• Technical content operates in a

non-technical context.

• Social context is central to technology.

Not as Precise

• But arguably more important.

• Not helpful, responsible or necessary to dismiss it.

Opportunity

• Understanding and working with the social/non-technical context can make your work better.

This Course

• Should give you a chance to recognize situations where social/non-technical issues arise.

• Should help you see all sides of these issues.

• Should help you use this understanding to make better work.

Course Topics

• Four main topics:– Social Aspects of Technical Questions– Computing and the Law– Computers, Work and Learning– Computing and Everyday Life

Ground Rules

Respect

• Discussion based

• Differing opinions

• Mutual

Attendance

• Mandatory

Attention

• 8 hours of sleep

Syllabus

• Hand out.

• Also available at:– http://eee.uci.edu/06s/36340

Instructors

• Professor: Bill Tomlinson

• TA: Bryan Semaan

Meeting Times

• Lectures: T/Th, 2:00-3:20pm, RH104

• Sections:

M 8:00-8:50am, CS180

W 2:00-2:50pm, ICF101

F 3:00-3:50pm, ICF101

Discussion Sections

• Week by week.

• No sections this week.

Add/Drop

• Deadline to drop: Friday, April 14

• Deadline to add: Friday, April 21

Academic Honesty

• http://www.editor.uci.edu/catalogue/appx/appx.2.htm

Cell Phones, Notebook Computers, etc.

• Please turn off cell phones.

• Please do not browse the web, email, IM, etc.

Grading

• Short assignments: 20%

• Long assignments: 40%

• Class participation/quizzes: 10%

• Midterm: 10%

• Final: 20%

Basis of Lecture/Course Materials

• ~2 readings per lecture.

• Available online (web site, library site).

Short Assignments

• 2 paragraph response to each reading.

• Completed before the class when the reading will be discussed.

• Turned in every 1-2 weeks.

Long Assignments

• 2 papers.

• 1500-2000 words each.

• Draft and final versions.

Class Participation

• ~30 minutes at the end of each class.

• Students randomly chosen from the class.

Quizzes

• In class, from time to time.

Midterm and final

• One midterm examination.

• One final examination.

• Will cover material from both lectures and readings.

Notebooks

• Keep an archive of all of your written assignments.

Note

• These are guidelines intended to help students plan their work in this course. However, the instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus over the course of the quarter.

Readings

• Posted on course web site or library web site.

Introduce Bryan Semaan

Questions?

Questions Later

• Syllabus - there’s a lot in there.

• Web site - updated.

• TA: Bryan Semaan.

• Me!

How to Write a Paper (for this class)

Why is it important to be able to write?

The Structured Essay

• Thesis, Background, Support, References.

Core Ingredients: Thesis

• The take-home message

Core Ingredients: Background

• Contextual information

Core Ingredients: Support

• Data/Citation/Quotation

• Reference other work.

• Give credit where credit is due.

Core Ingredients:Explanation

• How does it the citation support your thesis, in the context of the background info?

Example: The Five Paragraph Essay

• Statement of problem/question. Point one. Point two. Point three. Thesis statement.

• Reiterate point one. Point one background. Point one support. Point one explanation.

• Reiterate point two. Point two background. Point two support. Point two explanation.

• Reiterate point three. Point three background. Point three support. Point three explanation.

• Reiterate thesis. How points one, two and three confirm thesis. Why thesis is relevant to a broader context.

• References

1500-2000 words = 15-20 paragraphs

• How are you going to use them?

Defend Against Counter-Arguments

• Consider most likely opposing points and refute them.

Technicalities

• Use of Headings

• Fonts

• Short, Declarative Sentences– Not too flowery.– The Parable of Grandfather Bill (or “How to

Write an Annual Report Without Adjectives”)

Citations

• The value of citations?

• Consistent formatting

• My preferred style: ACM– http://www.library.dal.ca/subjects/csci_ref.htm

Points of Style

• “This”– Don’t use it without a noun following it.

• No passive voice– Unless you intentionally want to obscure the

subject.

• Use a neutral point of view– It’s more convincing.

Elements to Avoid

• Unnecessary hedges - “weasel words”

• Personal attacks

• Padding

• Virtuosity (simpler is often better)

Tricks of the Trade

• Outline– Most important points first

• Emphasize thesis throughout

• Read through it once you’re done

Know your Audience

• Make it easy for us to read your paper and understand its key points.

Strunk and White

• Useful reference for good writing style.

Some Examples

• Everyone take 5 minutes and come up with a thesis, and three points that support that thesis.

Questions about writing?

Next class

• Thursday: Guest lecture - Julia Gelfand

Assignment

• Reading:– Tenner, E., Searching for Dummies, NY Times,

3/26/06, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/26/opinion/26tenner.html

– Ferris, S. P. Writing Electronically: The Effects of Computers on Traditional Writing. Journal of Electronic Publishing. Vol. 8, No. 1, August 2002. http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/08-01/ferris.html

• …and sleep!

Thanks!

• I hope you find this quarter interesting.