New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
Computer and Information Science Department (CIS)
CIS677: Information System Principles, Spring 2001
Professors: Michael Bieber, and Michael F. Smith

Quick Links: [677 Home] [Schedule: Weds/DL] [WebBoard] [To Know] [Links] [Homeworks] [Chunking Record Forms] [Mentoring campus/DL] [Discussion: DL] [Course Flow (what to do each week): Weds/DL]

Weekly Chunking Assignment

Goal

To help you think carefully about and better understand all of the readings. This will really prepare you for the class discussion.

(1) DUE EVERY SATURDAY EVENING:

Your chunking entry for each article will contain one chunk, one justification and 2-3 discussion questions:

1. For each article assigned, choose a "chunk" (or "nugget") of text that is most meaningful to you.
   For that chunk, write 1-2 full paragraphs explaining and justifying why you chose it, i.e., why it was meaningful for you. *2-3 sentences is not enough.* Take the time to make thoughtful and insightful explanations.
2. Compose 2-3 insightful discussion questions arising from the reading.

--> Where to post your chunking entry:

Go to the WebBoard chunking conference for your last name. Select the head entry for the article. Add your chunking entry as a *reply* to this head entry.

--> Chunking Entry Format:

• topic: the subject should be the first few words of your first chunk of text.

• the title of your article
• your name

• the actual text of the chunk
• page number(s) for chunk
• why this chunk was meaningful for you (1-2 full paragraphs)

• two or more discussion questions that arise from the reading or chunks

(2) DUE EVERY MONDAY EVENING:

1. For each of the two articles you read each week, reply to one of the existing chunking comments, or to another reply, saying something interesting (and hopefully insightful)
2. Optional: Add additional replies to existing chunk comments or to other replies

--> Reply Format:

Be sure you reply to the actual chunking entry that you are replying to :-)

• Use the "reply/quote" option when you reply. Erase all of the old comment except the portion you are replying to.
• Topic: change the subject to reflect your reply's content

GRADING:

Grading Chunking Regularity

We will grade you on your regularity and entering chunks and replies on-time. You can find a chunking record form on the course home page. Fill it in weekly. Turn this form in twice this semester: on 3/7 and 4/18.

Grading Chunking Quality

Your peers will grade you on the quality of your comments. You can find a chunking evaluation sheet on the course home page for your WebBoard chunking conference. You should turn this in twice this semester: on 3/7 and 4/18. The first form will not count for a grade, rather will give you an indication of what your peers feel about your chunking quality.

Many students question whether they are capable of grading their peers, and whether this is even appropropriate. We strongly believe both. By the end of the semester you will have read 20 chunks and replies from each member of your group. We do not expect you to reread all the chunks in your conference to make this evaluation. You should have simply a good feel for the overall quality of each group member after this period of time, and be able to grade them based on what you recall at the end of the semester.

CHUNKING QUALITY:

Note that the quality of your chunking does not arise from your background in IS. People in CIS677 range in experience with information systems from being occasional end users of the Web to being system analysts and developers. All backgrounds qualify you equally to compose insightful chunking comments.

Your chunking comment can:

• be based on your own experiences with IS as a professional
• be based on your own experiences with IS as a user or simply a member of society
• relate the chunk to a prior reading from class
• relate the chunk to a reading from another class or in the trade press
• relate the chunk to current news items
• relate the chunk to your feelings about its topic
• reflect an ideal situation or fantasy
• etc.

This page: http://www.cis.njit.edu/~bieber/CIS677S01/chunking.html