COMMUNICATION FOR INTERNET TECHNOLOGY

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT I

ENGLISH 154--SPRING 2004

 

Colin S. Cavell, Ph.D.                                                                                                      Course Room No.:  S17-014

Class UT:  13:00-14:15                                                                                              INTERNET:  cscpo@arts.uob.bh

Office Hours:  By appointment                                                                                                       Office No.:  S17-263

VOICE:  17438775 (W)                                                                                                                                   17729091 (H)

                               

This course will offer students a broad introduction to English in the context of Information Technology.  It is essentially a functional course that builds IT-related vocabulary with a strong emphasis on reading skills, for finding, understanding, and utilizing information.  Use of the Internet, both for research and communication, is an integral part of the course experience.

 

Course Objective:  This course aims at increasing students’ ability to:

 

·          Learn and use the language of IT;

·          Develop communication skills necessary for careers in IT;

·          Use the Internet for academic purposes;

·          Develop language skills of reading for information and analysis;

·          Improve study skills necessary for excellence in academic performance; and

·          Review and practice basic grammatical structures and general vocabulary.

 

Grading Policy:  10% for Attendance*; 10% for Class Assessment (i.e. completing Assignments); 30% for the Midterm Exam; and 50% for the Final Exam.

 

Attendance Policy*:  Attendance in class is mandatory.  As well, you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each day's class.  This means that you must read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer questions related to the issues being covered.  NOTE:  TURN OFF all cell phones during class.

 

*Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the day(s) of your absence.  The summary must be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s), the internet, or any other source(s).

 

Required Text:

 

Glendinning, Eric H. & McEwan, John.  2002.  Oxford English for Information Technology.  UK:  Oxford University Press.

 

Assignments:

 

Assignments will be made available on the class web site at:  <http://engforit.net/>.  Follow the instructions carefully.  Assignments must be sent directly to my email address:  <cscpo@arts.uob.bh>.  Include Name, Student ID and Section Number with every assignment submitted.

 

Grades:

 

A course grade sheet for Section 6 is available at:  <http://userspages.uob.edu.bh/cscpo/english154/>.

 

 

Feb. 22:  Introduction to English 154, Communication for Information Technology

 

Feb. 24:  Computer Users

 

Readings:   Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 1  “Computer Users”

 

Feb. 29:  Computer Architecture

 

Readings:   Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 2  “Computer Architecture”

 

Mar. 1 & 2:  Ashura Holiday

 

Mar. 7:  Computer Applications

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 3  “Computer Applications”

 

Mar. 9:  Peripherals

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 4  “Peripherals”

 

Mar. 14:  Interview:  Former Student

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 5  “Interview:  Former Student”

 

Mar. 16:  Operating Systems

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 6  “Operating Systems”

 

Mar. 21:  Graphical User Interfaces

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 7  “Graphical User Interfaces”

 

Mar. 23:  Application Programs

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 8  “Application Programs”

 

Mar. 28:  Multimedia

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 9  “Multimedia”

 

Mar. 30:  Interview:  Computing Support

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 10  “Interview:  Computing Support”

 

Apr. 4:  Networks

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 11  “Networks”

 

Apr. 6:  The Internet

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 12  “The Internet”

 

Apr. 11:  The World Wide Web

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 13  “The World Wide Web”

 

Apr. 13:  Websites

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 14  “Websites”

 

Apr. 15-23:  Mid-semester Break [No classes]

 

Apr. 25:  Interview:  Webpage Creator

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 15  “Interview:  Webpage Creator”

 

Apr. 27:  Midterm Exam

 

May 1 & 2:  Labor Day Holiday & Prophet’s Birthday Holiday

 

May 4:  Communications Systems

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 16  “Communications Systems”

 

May 9:  Computing Support

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 17  “Computing Support”

 

May 11:  Data Security 1

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 18  “Data Security 1”

 

May 16:  Data Security 2

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 19  “Data Security 2”

 

May 18:  Interview:  The ex-hacker

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 20  “Interview:  The ex-hacker”

 

May 23:  Software Engineering

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 21  “Software Engineering”

 

May 25:  People in Computing

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 22  “People in Computing”

 

May 30:  Recent Developments in IT

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 23  “Recent Developments in IT”

 

June 1:  The Future of IT

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 24  “The Future of IT”

 

June 6:  Interview:  Electronic Publishing

 

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, UNIT 25  “Interview:  Electronic Publishing”

 

June 8:  Last day of classes; Review

                               

Readings:  Glendinning & McEwan, “Pairwork Student A”; “Pairwork Student B”

 

June 19:  Final Exam  8:30-10:30

 

June 24:  Last day for submitting second semester’s grades