The authors of 10 Print argue that creative computing allows us to explore the possibilities of a language, platform, or machine. Specifically, the 10 PRINT one-liner can be a useful way of understanding the various ways a certain computer language enables and constrains software design. In this project, your task will be to research a version of the 10 PRINT program. Versions of the program have been written in various languages and for various machines, and in group's you will be working to explain how your chosen version of 10 PRINT works and why that version of the program is interesting.
Each group will be assigned one of the "REM" chapters in 10 PRINT and will be tasked with writing a 1000-word paper and creating a 15-minute presentation. The paper will describe how your version of the program works while the presentation will focus on the significance of that version of the program and what it tells us about the language in which it's written.
For instance, if your group were to choose the Python version of 10 PRINT (this version of the program is not actually described in the text), that group's paper would offer a detailed account of how the program works and their presentation would explain what the Python version of 10 PRINT can tell us about the Python language.
Here are some things to consider as you work:
Paper
When describing how your version of the program works, you should model your discussion on pages 8-16 of the 10 PRINT text. Your explanation does not have to be as detailed as the one presented by the authors, but this section of the book offers a model for explaining how a program works.
Presentation
Your group's presentation will explain how your assigned version of 10 PRINT works, will cover some of the history of the computer language you are researching, and will explain what 10 PRINT tells us about the language in which it is written. This will require some research into the programming language you're discussing, and it may also mean attempting to write code in that language. In some cases, this will require using emulation software, much like the Frodo emulator I've used in class to emulate the Commodore 64.
You may use any presentation software you'd like for the presentation (Keynote, Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.), but you should plan to incorporate visuals. All members of the group must speak during the final presentation, and you should be prepared to answer questions (as audience members for other group presentations, you should be also be prepared to ask questions).
When providing feedback, Brandee and I will be looking for the following:
- Does your paper adequately explain your version of 10 PRINT?
- Does your presentation provide sufficient context for your assigned language? Does it provide some history of the language and how it's used?
- Does your presentation explain how your version of 10 PRINT sheds light on the language in which it is written?
- Do all members of the group speak during the presentation?
- Does your presentation incorporate visuals in a way that helps the audience?
- Was your group prepared to answer questions about your version of 10 PRINT?
- Are your paper and presentation free from grammatical errors and generally well written?
