Syllabus

Syllabus

Instructor Information

Instructor: Russell Gayle
Office: Sitterson 318
Phone (office): 843-7413
Instructor email: rgayle (at) cs (dot) unc (dot) edu
Homepage: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~rgayle
AOL IM: RussAtUNC
Yahoo! IM: russ_gayle
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Meeting Information

s Course location: Sitterson Hall, Room 014
Course time: MTWRF 11:30am to 1:00pm
Office Hours: MTWR 2:00pm to 3:00pm, by appointment (Sitterson 318). Walk-ins welcome.
Course website: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~rgayle/Comp380/
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Course Overview

COMP 380 is a philosophical perspective course. Through readings, lecture, writing, and discussion, we will identify and explore many cultural, social, philosophical, and economic effects of information technology on individuals, groups, and society.
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Goals and Objectives

This course is directed toward undergraduate students who wish to understand the impact, in particular, of computer technology, and, in general, of what has been termed high technology, on the institutions, beliefs, values, tastes, activities, ideals, paradigms, and processes of our society.

This survey course is designed to introduce you to a wide variety of relevant topics. Some topics will be covered in more depth than others; for the latter, we hope to expose you to just enough information to entice you to explore on your own.

IMPORTANT: COMP 380 is designed specifically for non C.S./IT-related or technical majors/specialists and for those who have not already taken a similar course. It starts from scratch and assumes little to no background knowledge. While C.S. and other IT-related majors can enroll, they are hereby warned that we will not cover the more in-depth issues that are of concern specifically to computer scientists and information specialists (for example: industry standards and standards bodies; problems with securing a network; etc.).

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

• - Have a very basic understanding of how computers are (logically) organized, what they do, and the general manner in which they do it.
  
• - Identify a number of deleterious side effects of computer and I.T. use on social, psychological, philosophical, and political attitudes and institutions.
  
• - Analyze and evaluate arguments on multiple sides of a controversial issue, and write a well structured, logically coherent essay that takes a particular stance and argues for it successfully, with plenty of relevant and supporting evidence.
  
• - Work cooperatively and effectively as a team member, and deliver a well developed, informative, creative presentation.
  

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Writing

The following resources should be used as references for writing in this course:

- The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, 1996, and the MLA Handbook, available at the UNC Textbook Dept. (English section). One of the original versions of the former is available on the Web.

- The Student Guide to Freshman Composition, found under Eng 10. Please study carefully pages 16 through 23 regarding plagiarism. It is critical for this course.
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Prerequisites

By this point in your academic career, you should be able to write an essay that is clear, well organized, and essentially free from most surface errors. If that is not true of your writing, then this course may not be the best fit for you. A large percentage of your final course grade will depend on how well you can write a philosophy paper; however, much guidance will be provided. You should also have adequate skills in conducting library and Internet research, and in using at least the most basic functions of word processing, e-mail, and web browser software. If you enjoy speaking and participating in lively small group and class discussions, then this is the right course for you.
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Requirements Satisfied

Satisfies the Philosophical & Moral Reasoning Approach (and therefore the Philosophy Perspective requirement).
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Communications

Web. The web site will be kept up to date and will be the primary source for all information. I will highlight significant changes in class and all web site changes will be posted on the home page.

Electronic mail. Information that needs to be communicated between classes -- such as cancelled or rescheduled classes or assignment changes -- will be communicated through email.

Contacting me. Feel free to use any of the contact means listed above. For short questions, I encourage the use of instant messaging. I am on when I am in the office and most evenings. For involved conversations, however, nothing beats face-to-face meetings.
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Class format and content

Much in-class time will be spent in a teacher-moderated discussion format and in small groups.

Please note: Many of the topics we will discuss are controversial. No one has all the answers to the questions we will raise. With no agreed-on right answers, the best way for you to come to some coherent position is to understand the arguments on all sides. We expect lots of people to disagree with each other; however, this disagreement should be rational, respectful, and non-confrontational. This will be especially true during the student presentations. Please read carefully the General Guidelines for Discussion.
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Textbook

There is no textbook for this course. However, there will be many readings which will be available online.
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Attendance

Attendance is required and will affect your final course grade.

Excused absences. Students who are members of regularly organized and authorized University activities and who may be out of town taking part in some scheduled University event are excused during the approved period of absence. Notification of such an absence must be sent by the responsible University official to the office of the student's dean, and a note should be provided as soon as possible.

All other absences for valid reasons are excused only by the course instructor. Present an explanation as far in advance as possible, and not later than the next class meeting. Advance notice is preferred. If you cannot reach me in person, send e-mail or leave voice mail; both are checked daily. Of course, you are responsible to find out what you missed.

Late arrivals to and early departures from class should be avoided unless you have good reason. But having said that; I would much rather have you attend some of the class than to skip it altogether. A simple explanation before or after class is all that is needed.
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Expected Workload

Participate. Participate in class discussions. Everyone will be expected to participate actively. Take good notes; the lecture slides that you can download (& print if you like) before class should serve as an aid to help you to organize your note-taking efforts, but not as a replacement.

Read. Make sure that you have completed the assigned readings in time for class so that you may participate in our discussions. If I determine that you are not prepared, I will institute the Dreaded Pop-Quiz Policy (see Exams).

Write. The bulk of your grade will depend on essays that you write, both in the form of assignments and exams. You should expect your papers to be graded on substantive and appropriate content, and on organization, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and style. Specific details and requirements for each written assignment will be announced during class and posted on the Web. You should also consult carefully (and often) the Paper Guidelines.

Re-grading of an assignment or an exam question will be considered only up to one week after the item has been made available for return.

Present. In addition to participating in informal class discussions, you will give a presentation (based on your term paper) as a member of a team. Complete details will be provided. You must be ready to present on your assigned day; only an official University absence will be considered (see our Attendance policies).

Important. Some topics may be of a very sensitive nature. Should you be presented with a reading or written assignment whose topic is too disturbing to you, please speak to the course instructor as soon as possible to discuss suitable alternatives.
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Due Dates and Late Policy

A paper copy of each written assignment is due at the start of your class time unless otherwise noted (or pre-approved). An electronic copy in MS Word format should be uploaded to the appropriate Web link, per our specific instructions, by 5:00 pm on the due date. The assignment will be considered as complete when both paper and readable e-copy are received, although the paper copy is the most critical with regard to late penalties.

- A paper copy turned in after the deadline (start of class) but during class time is docked a third of a letter grade: A becomes A-, A- becomes B+, etc.
- A paper copy turned in after class and by 5:00 pm the same weekday is docked as two-thirds late: A becomes B+; A- becomes a B; etc.
- A paper copy turned in by 5:00 pm the next weekday after the due date is docked one full letter grade: A becomes B; B becomes C, etc.
- Each additional weekday late reduces your grade by another full letter, until you reach D. You will need our permission to turn it in more than two weeks late.

You may bring your late assignment to our receptionist on level 1 of SN Hall and ask her to kindly date and initial your paper and then pass it on to me. If you simply slide an assignment under my office doors, it will be counted as received when it is found; so obviously that's only a good idea if you make specific arrangements with me first.

Simplify your life and ours: be on time. No fuss, no penalties. Neither equipment failure nor "I got sick yesterday" excuses will carry weight in waiving penalties; plan for the unexpected and make sufficient backup copies of your hard work! Disk drives will crash when you least expect it. However, we are reasonable, and we know that everyone has a hell week now and then or a real emergency that interferes with your ability to attend class or to complete an assignment on time. In that case, let me know as soon as possible and as far in advance as possible. Do so before the actual due date, or we will likely be unable to offer you a time extension. Please don't over-use the privilege; this is a courtesy we extend to you.
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Testing

Exams may include material from lectures, discussions, guest speakers, readings, videos, movies, and any other course experience.

Crib sheet. You may bring one crib sheet to the midterm exam, and two to the final exam: One crib sheet will consist of one 8.5" x 11" paper printed on two sides, or two sheets of paper with only one side printed on each. For the crib sheet: you may write, print, or type anything from the readings, class notes, etc. Prepare your own --the learning and understanding come during the creation efforts. Preparing it with one or two of your classmates is fine, but you should participate fully.

Number of Exams. There will be two written exams given, including the final exam.

Exam dates are shown on the course schedule. Final exam dates are set by the University and cannot be changed.

Makeup Exams. It is to your advantage to take exams at the scheduled time. The excused absences policy will be followed for the midterm exam. The University's policy for final exam makeup will be strictly followed; that is, the course instructor must have the signed slip from your Dean's office in hand before the final exam period begins--no exceptions.

For all other absences: If you think that you must miss a scheduled exam for a very pressing reason, you must notify the course instructor prior to the exam date and as far in advance as possible. I will determine if the forthcoming absence is excusable.

If necessary, a single makeup exam (with different questions) will be given--at the course instructor's convenience (we will do our best to accommodate your schedule).

The Dreaded Pop-Quiz Policy (DPQP). If it is determined that our discussions are, ahem, less than inspiring, unannounced quizzes will be given. Do not count on the same few students to participate. We will expect everyone to participate fully. The instructor will not always pick on the first person whose hand goes up; they will often give you some thinking time; so that you may answer thoughtfully. And they may call on you.

If the DPQP is adopted, then a portion of the percentage currently assigned to exams will be reassigned to quiz grades. One additional quiz would be given, above those that will count toward your final grade (i.e., you could drop one), so there are no quiz make-ups. Note: Quizzes are not representative of the kinds of questions you will find on exams. Rather, they are composed of simple and obvious content questions to determine whether or not you read the assignment.
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Honor Code

Sign the Pledge. The Instrument of Student Judicial Governance requires that you sign a pledge on all graded work. When you sign a pledge, you are agreeing to the following: On my honor, I have neither given nor received (nor will I give nor receive) unauthorized aid on this class work. You may simply write the word "Pledge" and sign your name. It is the student's responsibility to understand the Honor Code and how it applies to this course. Ask if you are unsure.

Authorized Aid:

Exams and quizzes. You are encouraged to study with other COMP 380 students; you can learn much from each other. All quizzes are to be taken without the assistance of books, notes, or people. Exams should be taken without the aid of books, notes, or people, with the crib sheet exception (see Exams).

For the term project. You are encouraged to ask other students, including COMP 380 students, to serve as "critical readers" or listeners for your outline, for the term paper, for your presentation, etc. If you are asked to serve as a reader or observer, take the job seriously; your classmates will appreciate your honesty (and the chance to correct problems before the grader does) far more than a courteous but not terribly useful "yeah, it looks fine to me."

For the integrative papers. You are not allowed to ask other COMP 380 students to serve as a reader. However, you may ask non-COMP 380 students to serve as "critical readers" if you like.

For all papers. Plagiarism of assignment or any part thereof is a violation of the Honor Code. When you use direct quotations, paraphrased information, or opinions not your own in any written assignments, acknowledge your sources fully and specifically. Consult the Course Paper Guide. Always remember that you can get help from The Writing Center.

Procedure

If a TA suspects that cheating has occurred, he or she will report it directly to the supervising faculty member. If a faculty member suspects cheating, he or she will report it to the Student Attorney General.

Where to Go for Serious Help

Visit with your TA or the course instructor when you need help.

Statement from the Chancellor and from the Student Body President

The principles of academic honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship govern the performance of all academic work and student conduct at the University as they have during the long life of this institution. Your acceptance of enrollment in the University presupposes a commitment to the principles embodied in the Code of Student Conduct and a respect for this most significant Carolina tradition. Your reward is in the practice of these principles.

Your participation in this course comes with the expectation that your work will be completed in full observance of the Honor Code. Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the University's life and work.

If you have any questions about your responsibility or the responsibility of faculty members under the Honor Code, please consult with someone in either the Office of the Student Attorney General (966-4084) or the Office of the Dean of Students (966-4041).
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Grades and Grading

The table below represents the percent of he final course grade that will be assigned to various activities. These weights may be adjusted slightly, if necessary, and announced.

Category	Description	Weight
Assignments	Three short papers, each 2-3 pages long	20%
Term Project	Written term paper and its parts	20%
Term Project	In-class oral presentation on term topic	15%
Exam	Midterm	20%
Exam	Final	20%
Other	In-class participation and attendance*	5%
Total		100%

*In-class participation and attendance
Besides homework assignments, your attedance, participation, and attitude during class can make a difference in your final grade, especially if you are on the borderline. Too many unexcused absences and/or lack of participation will lower your final course grade, no matter what your course average is otherwise.

Participation in team project
Because your team member will rely heavily on you, sub-standard performance as a team member will result in an "F" grade for the entire course.

Letter Grades Letter grades will be assigned to all written assignments and exam with a corresponding standard percentage recorded in the gradesheet, as follows:

Letter grade	Percentage
A+	100%
A	97%
A-	92%
B+	88%
B	85%
B-	81%
C+	78%
C	75%
C-	71%
D+	68%
D	65%
D-	61%
F	below 61%

Final Course Letter Grades Your final letter grade will be assigned as follows (An average that falls within the range on the left will receive the letter grade shown on the right). Note that the University does not recognized A+ and D- as final course grades.

Range	Letter Grade
94-100%	A
90-93%	A-
87-89%	B+
83-86%	B
80-82%	B-
77-79%	C+
73-76%	C
70-72%	C-
67-69%	D+
60-66%	D
<60%	F

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Verifying grades

Grades will be posted on the Web by a pseudonym ("Hacker ID") that you choose; details coming. Kindly verify that grades posted for you are correct. It will be your responsibility to keep on file all graded/returned papers. Should a discrepancy arise between the grade recorded and what you received, bring graded assignment to me at the earliest possible time. We will correct clerical errors reported at any time but no later than the time of the final exam.
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Reprecussions of dropping

Please be aware that a major assignment that you will complete this semester will be done as a member of a two-person team. The team project will, by its very nature, require each team member to work closely with, and to depend upon, one another. The multi-part project will have a significant impact on your final course grade. It also should be one of the highlights of the course, as has been reported by many of your predecessors.

Therefore, we hope that you will consider Comp 380 as an important commitment and will do your best to see it through. We feel confident you'll be very glad that you did.
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Campus Safety

The Campus Security Committee reminds those of us who attend classes, meetings, and other campus activities (such as using campus labs) in the evening to be conscious of their personal safety when traveling to and from those activities. You are strongly encouraged to use the following free campus escort services: SAFE Escort, 962-SAFE (for solo females); or Point-to-Point shuttle, 962-PTOP (the latter for evening hours only, unless physically challenged).
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Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, classes will be canceled if all classes during that time slot are canceled by the University. Any other cancellation would be determined only by me. Should that be necessary, I will notify the receptionist (phone: 962-1700) at Sitterson Hall, who will post a notice at his or her station (level 1 lobby) and on the classroom doors. In addition, if we have power, I will send an e-mail message to the class list.
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Last update: May 2007