CS492/CS692 W22 Course Structure

This page contains elaboration on the structure of the CS492/CS692 offering in Winter 2022, including sections on lectures, the marking scheme, the late policy, assignments, role-playing exercises, and plagiarism.

Lectures

Lectures, that is, class discussion seminars, are online, until we are able to meet in person, as allowed by UW policy. Each section will have scheduled synchronous meetings in the given time slots. Students are expected to do the preparatory readings (as listed in the timetable) in advance; discussion will commence using those readings as a basis. Student participation is important not only to facilitate the learning process but because marks are assessed for class participation.

On line synchrounous meetings will be held on MS Teams, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 3:30 PM for sec 1, and 4:30 PM for sec 2. In person, the class will meet in MC 4040.

It is critical, that all comments, either in class or in RPE sesssions, be made with a sense of respect and care for the feelings and thoughts of others. Differences in opinon are expected and encouraged, but this class should remain a forum for the exchange of ideas and thoughts, rather than a space where we seek to compare or rank thoughts against each other.

Marking scheme

Final marks are based on: Keep in mind that there is no midterm or final in the course.

Late policy

There is no late policy. That is: assignments are to be turned in on the due date. Exceptions will be made in, well, exceptional circumstances (discuss w/ the instructor).

Assignments

Assignments will consist of written pieces of varying length on class topics. Each assignment will have a specified subject (or set of subjects). Assignments must be submitted on-line through the Learn environment, in pdf form. If you have difficulty submitting written work through the Learn portal, send a pdf, with your name, sec., title, etc., to the instructor and / or the organizing TA.

Role-playing exercises (RPE)

Two teams of two (preferred) or three students will assign themselves to a given weekly topic. Formation of teams and choice of topics will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. All members of a team must come from a single course section.

Those who participate in the first RPE will be marked more leniently. Review the list of RPEs on the website as they become available and then send email to the instructor and the TA overseeing the RPEs for your course section, to indicate your preference.

It is up to you to find appropriate times during the term to complete the required preparation for the RPE, prior to its scheduled date.

Each team will take the role of a particular group with concerns in that area; the teams will typically have conflicting or opposed views. The initial scenario will be outlined by the instructor. Groups have the latitude to make adjustments to the initial scenario, including the exact wording of each side's position. Both sides must agree with the final wording and the revisions must be approved by the TA. This means that both sides should have a clear agreement as to the topic of the RPE. If the group elects to revise the wording of the scenario, it must inform the instructor and the TA no later than one week prior to the RPE.

Each team will prepare a position paper (from 1000 to 3000 words) due at least 3 days before their RPE. Students will post position papers (on MS Teams or the course web site) for the class, please use pdf format. Format the document to leave room in the margins for comments from the TA.

The rest of the class is expected to read the refined scenario and position papers in preparation for the upcoming rpe discussion.

For the RPE, each team will briefly outline their positions, either on the MS Teams meet up, or in class. These presentations should not just repeat points made in the position papers, but should lead naturally into the discussion to follow. The class will then direct questions and comments to the teams, in a manner similar to that of a public forum or press conference. Discussion of whether the teams have depicted their roles accurately in their position papers and presentations is also relevant.

Please note that this role playing exercise is explicitly not a debate (and vitriol should not be directed towards the other team). Instead, each side portays a position and adheres to that position.

After discussion of the topic has ended, the two teams should prepare a short wrap up of the discussions main points and any conclusios, final words, that they together have drawn from the discussion. The teams do not have to agree on their conclusions, but they should prepare a joint statement that takes into account positions from both the teams and the points raised by other studnets in the class. This should be an effort to clearly articulate to the audience the various positions being taken.

We are looking for some effort to have the two sides articulate clearly where they have found a middle ground. There is no set limit for this document, but it is expected to be moderate in size, on the order of a page, perhaps. The teams are required to go produce this document within about four days from the end of their RPE.

This joint communique should outline what they can agree on, a common course of action or statement.

Please note that it is also important to allow all team members an opportunity to demonstrate their skill in written and oral communication, either in the prepatory documents, the end documents, or in responses during the rpe sessions.

A mark will be assigned to the presenters, based on the position papers, the discussion in class, and the final communique based on:

Communication

Any questions about assignments should be directed to the instructor. Requests for RPEs are sent to the instructor and the TA for your particular section.

Questions about RPEs should be directed to the instructor and the TA for your particular section.

Plagiarism

As with all courses, it is understood that students are to do their own work unless otherwise instructed; that they must acknowledge consultation with other people and texts; that when they quote from other sources, it should be brief and relevant; that they should add value to the material they have collected through further structuring and analysis. This is particularly important in light of the use of the Web in this course. Any violation of the Student Academic Discipline Policy (Policy #71) will be prosecuted. When in doubt, please consult the instructor or TA for guidance.