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Effective Communication in Computer Science: Reading, Writing, and Research - Prof. Gary L, Study notes of Computer Science

Insights into the importance of reading, writing, and research skills in computer science. It emphasizes the need to read widely and develop a professional library, the writing process as a means of organizing thoughts, and the research process as a thorough investigation. It also covers ethical considerations and the format of a research proposal.

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Uploaded on 07/23/2009

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Day 25 – 28 November 2006
Wassn10 Due
CS Reading, Writing, and Research
I. Reading
How? Silly question? How do you?
Read much, read widely, read well
Develop a professional library
II. Writing Process
Not just for reader – writing is for the writer also; to collect and
organize thoughts
I really learned something when I had to teach it
Zobel, Justin, Writing for Computer Science: The Art of Effective
Communication, Singapore, MA: Springer-Verlag, 1997
see: http://goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au/~jz/writing.html
“A scientific article is a description of new ideas and a demonstration
of their correctness.” p. xi
“Another important aspect of it [writing] is that the discipline of stating
ideas as organized text forces authors to formulate and codify their
thoughts.” … “Taking another perspective, scientific papers are a way
of communicating ideas, of copying thoughts between minds.
Communication is at its most effective when the medium is as free as
possible from distortion, which in this case is bad writing of any kind.
Such distortion can be reduced by writing with clarity and simplicity,
and by making effective use of stylistic conventions.” p. xii
Writing Style: General Guidelines
Economy – “Text should be taut.” p. 12
Tone – “Science writing should be objective and accurate.” p. 13
Examples – “A small example often means the difference between
communication and confusion.” p. 16
Motivation – “Not only should the parts of a paper be ordered in a
logical way, but this logic should be clearly communicated.” p. 16
CSC 490 Course Notes and Outline, © Dr. Gary Locklair, Fall 2006
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Day 25 – 28 November 2006 Wassn10 Due CS Reading, Writing, and Research I. Reading How? Silly question? How do you? Read much, read widely, read well Develop a professional library II. Writing Process Not just for reader – writing is for the writer also; to collect and organize thoughts I really learned something when I had to teach it Zobel, Justin, Writing for Computer Science: The Art of Effective Communication , Singapore, MA: Springer-Verlag, 1997 see: http://goanna.cs.rmit.edu.au/~jz/writing.html “A scientific article is a description of new ideas and a demonstration of their correctness.” p. xi “Another important aspect of it [writing] is that the discipline of stating ideas as organized text forces authors to formulate and codify their thoughts.” … “Taking another perspective, scientific papers are a way of communicating ideas, of copying thoughts between minds. Communication is at its most effective when the medium is as free as possible from distortion, which in this case is bad writing of any kind. Such distortion can be reduced by writing with clarity and simplicity, and by making effective use of stylistic conventions.” p. xii Writing Style: General Guidelines Economy – “Text should be taut.” p. 12 Tone – “Science writing should be objective and accurate.” p. 13 Examples – “A small example often means the difference between communication and confusion.” p. 16 Motivation – “Not only should the parts of a paper be ordered in a logical way, but this logic should be clearly communicated.” p. 16

Eschew Obfuscation Ethics Grammar Beauty / Elegance Remember the three-peat rule: tell them what you are going to say; say it; tell them what you said. Don’t allow a major point to “slip by” unnoticed. III. Research Process Research is NOT – “looking something up on the internet” yuck  Brainstorm: Research is/means

  • studying new areas (perception)
  • “re” searching / pouring over old areas (reality)
  • looking at applications; perhaps new areas
  • “connections”
  • structure to it (qualitative, quantitative, repeatable)
  • presentation (usable / understandable)
  • scientific method (definitions) Research = to investigate thoroughly studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws Scholarly or scientific investigation or inquiry [historical research] Specific methods in CS research A. Quality Sources for Research
    1. Currency
    2. Primary Sources
    3. Professional Journals
    4. Authoritative Authors
    5. Details and Data B. Ethics when conducting research
    6. Informed Consent
    7. Invasion of Privacy

purpose and rationale Survey literature review and definitions Methodology procedure Results relevant research findings Summary conclusions References Annotated Bibliography Great Example of reading, writing, and research … Computer Science as a Creative Activity Sayers, Dorothy, The Mind of the Maker , San Francisco, CA: Harper- Collins, 1987 (reprint of 1941 work). The Creative Process is triune: Idea, Energy, Power “For every work [or act] of creation is threefold, an earthly trinity to match the heavenly. First, [not in time, but merely in order of enumeration] there is the Creative Idea, passionless, timeless, beholding the whole work complete at once, the end in the beginning: and this is the image of the Father. Second, there is the Creative Energy [or Activity] begotten of the idea, working in time from the beginning to the end, with sweat and passion, being incarnate in the bonds of matter: and this is the image of the Word. Third, there is the Creative Power, the meaning of the work and its response in the lively soul: and this is the image of the indwelling Spirit. And these three are one, each equally in itself the whole work, whereof none can exist without other: and this is the image of the Trinity.” (Sayers citing her play The Zeal of Thy House ) p. 37- Idea – I have a concept and image of a software product Energy – I am performing the process of software engineering Power – Someone is using my software to solve a problem.