---
title: Socially Responsible Computing Response Guide
tags: Documentation, 2020
---

# Guide to writing responses for CS111 Responsible Computing Questions #

Welcome to CS111! Like many other courses in the CS Department, this course will not only be teaching you computing skills, but will also help you start thinking about the ways in which your work can affect and is affected by the world.

This guide is intended to give you an idea of what we’re looking for in responsible computing assignments, and how you might want to go about answering them.

## Structure of Assignments
1. Homework/project sections.
* Each section will outline a set of tasks, most often including a reading with a set of questions.
* Each section will have a goal, which might help you understand why we assign the content that we give out.
2. Peer review.
* In this type of assignment, you’ll be submitting answers to homework questions to Canvas. You’ll then be asked to read and reflect on other students’ responses. All responses will be anonymized.
* After reading a number of different responses, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your original argument.

## How to approach assignments

**Homeworks/Projects**
1. Read the goal. This may help you understand our purpose in assigning this reading or set of questions.
3. Read the questions (yes, before you’ve read the article). This will help you pick out information in the reading piece.
4. Read the assigned reading, if there is one. Some questions to think about:
* What new information is being presented in this reading?
* Does this piece have a specific argument? If so, what is it?
* Do I agree or disagree with the argument of this piece? Why?
* Who is the author of this piece? What connection do they have to software and computing?
4. Answer the question!

**Peer review**

*Note:* We’re still finalizing some details on peer review assignments, so some of this information is subject to minor change!

1. Read each response with care, and consider the following:
* What is this response’s argument or perspective? How does it differ from my own?
* What considerations might be missing from this argument? Which ones might be missing from mine?
2. In light of the responses, write a reflection. Be sure to address each response you encountered, no matter how similar or different it is from your own.

## Grading

In grading assignments, our primary considerations will be:

1. Does this response answer all parts of the original question?
1. Does this response have an argument or central claim?
1. Is the claim supported?
1. Is there evidence that this student engaged with any assigned readings?
* Hint: If relevant, it can be helpful to include specific pieces of information or quotes from the reading!
1. Is it sufficiently clear that we can reasonably follow what it is saying?
1. Is it thoughtful?

And for peer review reflections, we’ll also be thinking about:

7. Does it show willingness to consider others’ ideas?

You’ll notice that none of these address right or wrong answers. As long as your responses are thoughtful and abide by our general course culture norms, you are free to answer the question however you wish.

We hope this helps! Feel free to post any questions on Ed.