Topic: Overview of a significant Programming Language, which I will select.

Personnel: You will conduct this project in pairs. You may express a teammate preference but I will make final determination.

Components: A written report, an oral presentation for the class, and two exam questions. Details below.

Timeline: All written reports are due at the beginning of class on Monday, December 6, 1999. Oral reports will be scheduled for regular class meetings on December 6 and 8.

Grading: This project is worth 12% of your course grade. Of that, 9% is on the written report and 3% is on the oral presentation.

1. Page format specifications: 12 point Times or equivalent font, double-spaced. Use 1" margins top, bottom, left and right. Extended quoted passages single-spaced.

2. Report length specifications: minimum 7 pages of text (i.e., not including title, table of contents, credits, appendices or bibliography). Extensive use of quoted passages is discouraged.

3. Report format:

Title page, including title of report, names, date and course

Table of Contents (optional)

Report Body, with at least the following sections:

Credits (who wrote what)

Bibliography

Appendices (optional)

4. Reference material: You are free to search the Web for reference material, but this will not be sufficient. The SMSU library contains many volumes devoted to specific programming languages or that cover a variety of languages. In addition, I have a selection of books that you may borrow. Some languages have ACM special interest groups (SIGs); check the library periodical shelves for their publications. I can help you with suggestions and information if you ask.

Oral Presentation Details:

1. The oral presentation should be about 15 minutes in length (no longer than this). Please rehearse; you will be astounded at how quickly this time will go.

2. You are required to prepare and use a PowerPoint presentation.

3. Both members of the team will actively participate in the presentation (i.e., present part of the project). It is not sufficient to simply operate the audio-visual portion of the presentation.

Exam Question Details:

1. On the date of your team’s oral presentation, your team is required to submit two examination questions and answers to me. Multiple choice or short answer are best.

2. I will use selected questions on the final exam. This should encourage your attendance on days when you are not presenting.

3. When preparing your questions, keep in mind: your oral presentation is the sole information source available to your colleagues in preparing to answer your question on the final exam. Try not to be overly technical or specific.

4. I reserve the right to edit your questions when making up the exam.

Related Home Pages: assignments | CSC 326 | Peter Sanderson | Computer Science | SMSU

Peter Sanderson ( PeteSanderson@mail.smsu.edu )