Objective:
To develop an understanding of basic computer related terminology, skills in researching the meaning of terms, skills in writing, and citing reference sources.
The Assignment:
Research and write definitions of assigned computer related terms and add them to the class on-line glossary. The terms will be assigned by the professor or terms can be proposed by students. All student proposed terms must be approved by the professor.
The definitions are to be brief expanded definitions using generally accepted expansion methods. At least two sources must be used to research the term and they must be correctly cited using the APA style manual. Definitions are to be between 200 and 400 words long not including references.
When you write your definitions you must avoid plagiarism. The definition must be in your own words except for very short quotations which are clearly cited in the text. Any definitions that are copies from other sources will receive a grade of F.
More than one student may be assigned the same term. Do not to copy any material from another students definition or base your definition on theirs. Your definition must be developed using reliable on-line or paper references which you clearly identify both in the text and reference list. In cases where it appears that material was copied from or based on another students work, the time and date that the entry was submitted to the database will be used to determine who will get credit for the assignment.
All writing is done for an audience to achieve a purpose. The audience for your definitions is the class - the students and professor. The purpose is to provide enough clear information for the students to develop a basic understanding of the meaning of the term as it relates to computing and to demonstrate to the professor that you can research the meaning of computer related terminology, understand the term, and can write and document definitions. The students will be expected to correctly answer questions about the terms on quizzes, so you must provide enough clear information to meet that need.
Because the files will be sent from the form as text files with very little formatting except for double line spaces between paragraphs, you should format them like the example entry. Be sure to proofread your definition before you submit it, you will not be able to change it after submission.
Add Terms to the GlossaryReferences