CS941 ASSIGNMENT A1
Due 9/9/02



For Assignment 1 (A1): Read Burke (The Day the Universe Changed)
front material, back material, and skim each chapter.  Skimming
a chapter means read the opening and closing paragraphs and
flip through reading figure captions and headings.  Then read
Ch 1 and "your" assigned chapter.

Write a max of 2 pages (generous margins, 12 point type) in which
you give an overview of the book and its main claims.  The claims
include a list of big ideas that changed our (ancestors') perception
of the universe.  What criteria are used to choose a big idea?
How do these criteria differ from the ones we use to identify
great principles in CS491?  What is Burke's method of demonstrating
that each of his selected inventions meets his criteria?

Write another max 2 pages with the same kind of overview of
"your" assigned chapter.  What is the main claim?  How does
Burke establish it?  Are you convinced?

Download the article "When IT Becomes a Profession" by P. J. Denning
from the CS491 website and read it.  You do not need to write a
report about this reading, but be prepared to discuss it or ask
questions about it in the next class.