CS492/CS692 W04 Course Structure

Lectures

Marking Scheme

• 60% assignments
• 20% the role playing exercise
• 20% class participation, based on
  • discussion in class (most important)
  • discussion on newsgroup
  • participation in discussion during RPEs
  • participation in evaluating RPEs
  • feedback provided through assignment 6b

Late Policy

Assignments

Role-Playing Exercises (RPE)

The deadlines in this section are described in terms of RPEs that take place on Friday. A few RPEs are scheduled for other days of the week. The required deadlines for these RPEs are different and can be found below.

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 modest adjustments to the initial scenario; both sides must agree with the final wording and the revisions must be approved by the TA. Students must post revised scenarios to the newsgroup uw.cs.cs492 by the Friday prior to the RPE.

Each team will prepare a position paper (from 1000 to 3000 words) for 4pm on Tuesday. This will generally involve more background research in the library and on the Web, and perhaps interviews with actual members of the groups being represented. Some groups in the past have included some useful URLs to information pertaining to the topic. Students will post position papers to the newsgroup uw.cs.cs492. In addition, students will deposit one hard-copy of the position paper into the course assignment box on the 3rd floor of MC.

The format for your papers should follow this template.

Other students are expected to read the refined scenario and position papers in preparation for the in-class exercise. Students may want to post to the newsgroup some initial comments and questions before the RPE on Friday. In some situations, it may be more appropriate to keep questions and concerns for the actual RPE itself, so that we do not exhaust all discussion before we even begin the RPE.

On Friday, each team will briefly present their positions (ten minutes maximum per team, and note that team A may not necessarily be asked to start with their position before team B). 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. A period of four minutes will be left at the end of class (two minutes per team) for final words from each side.

Position Papers and Joint Communiques must be posted to the newsgroup no later than 4 pm of the due date. Position Papers and Joint Communiques must be posted in plain text form.

Hard copies of Position Papers and Joint Communiques must be placed in the drop box no later than 11:59 pm of the due date. Position Papers and Joint Communiques must be formatted according to this template.

After reading the joint communique, students shall provide feedback by 9am the Friday following the RPE in question. A mark will be assigned to the presenters, based on the position papers, the discussion in class, and the final communique on the points of:

• effectiveness in communication (oral and written),
• preparation,
• content: how realistic/convincing the position is,
• how much progress has been made jointly, and
• how well each team has succeeded in making the joint communique address their concerns.

It is expected that all members on one side will receive the same mark, but exceptional circumstances may be brought to the attention of the TA, so that team members who do not contribute can potentially lose marks. The teams which present on opposite sides on the same date do not necessarily receive the same mark.

Please note that the intention of the exercise is to allow all team members an opportunity to demonstrate their skill in oral communication, either in presenting part of the team's position, in responding to questions from the audience during the discussion session, or in delivering the final two minute summary.

Deadlines for RPEs not held on Fridays

Plagiarism