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(FAQ)  

What is all this talk about "Pascal homework on the net"?


Originally from
ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/link/tsfaqp.zip
Common Turbo Pascal Questions and Timo's answers

A note: While this item has originally been written for one particular Usenet programming newsgroup, the principle is general.

This is one of the subjects that seems to pop up at regular intervals, cause some heated exchange for awhile, and then die down again leaving some users harboring warranted or unwarranted grudges.

Some posters to comp.lang.pascal (later comp.lang.pascal.borland) have been very concerned of the possibility that the questions posed on the net are related to students' homework assignments. I don't have any unequivocal answers or a clear-cut stand on this question, just some comments.

The most important task of a newsgroup like comp.lang.pascal.borland is the exchange of information between the users. If you think that what you are going to post is interesting and useful to the group, that should be your topmost criterion.

If it is really a student that wants his/her work done on the net (how do we know anyway?) also consider the following fact. Being able to use a newsgroup amounts to having learned at least something about using computers, and that is something per se.

Even if the student may short-sightly not realize it, providing ALL the code for a student's homework is detrimental to the student, since it is she/he that foregoes understanding what he/she is doing. The group should not condone outright cheating. Being (partly) a teacher myself, I understand also this view.

If a student is stuck with a problem in his/her code, I don't see any real harm in helping out, especially if the problem has general interest. Instructing is what teaching is about, anyway, isn't it?

But, on the other hand, I must admit that I find a it rather flagrant if a posting asks for something of the kind "I have to complete my term assignment to write a function plotter by the end of this month. Send me the code, since I'm too busy with my other exams to write it myself" (a true quote).

Finally, let's not jump to premature conclusions about anyone's questions. That's what most often triggers off a vicious circle of flaming.

The comp.lang.pascal.borland newsgroup tries its best to help users with their Turbo Pascal programming problems. But it is not the intention to help students to cheat on their homework assignments. Here is what you should do. First study. Start the assignment yourself. Try your very best to solve your assignment.

Then, if you really get stuck after having tried very very hard yourself, come back with specific questions and the code which you have devised so far. That kind of help will usually be forthcoming.

By Roger E. Donais: "If you take pencil and paper and outline the steps that you take in order to accomplish the problem yourself, you will find converting the outline into code is a relatively simple task. The reason you feel you need help is simply because you haven't given much thought about the steps you take when completing the task.
 
Once you have created a good design (outline) should you still have problems implementing it, then post the program you have created with specific questions about the problems you are having and we'll be more than happy to help."
Pedt Scragg presents a nice outline: "OK. Think about how you are going to do this if you had only pen and paper available to you.
 
[1] What would you need to do to accomplish this and in what order.
 
[2] Write these steps down in the correct order and think about them.
 
[3] How are you going to accomplish each of these steps ?
 
[4] For each step go back to [1] unless you cannot simplify further. Also check, for each step you want to simplify, if you have already written the code you need.
 
[5] When you reach here then you have pseudo-code of each step. Go to [6] Note: each 'step' will be a procedure or function.
 
[6] Code your program based on the pen and paper outline. Go to [7]
 
[7] Test program and note any bugs. Go to [8] for bugs or [10] if none.
 
[8] Eliminate bug. With postable code, newsgroup is likely to help. Go to [9]
 
[9] If program works fine then go to [10] else go to [7]
 
[10] Your program works as expected. Hand in."
Scott A. Moore aptly puts it as follows: "This is a short FAQ for persons seeking help with your Pascal homework.
 
Is there help available for Pascal homework here ?
 
Yes, but you should realize that you start at a great disadvantage, since it is obvious to folks here that you are interested mainly in getting a grade, and not in the language it self. Further, people are going to get VERY offended if they perceive you are attempting to get the work done for you. Hiding the intent only makes this worse. Not very many stupid people hang out on this newsgroup.
 
What is the proper way to submit homework questions ?
 
By showing that you have done the work, and have hit a problem with understanding of the Pascal language or technique and are having trouble proceeding. Examples include, "what does this statement do?" "what would be the proper approach?", etc.
 
What is the wrong way to submit homework questions ?
 
Posting the problem in full, with no effort on your part to solve it. We [comp.lang.pascal.borland] are not a "homework" service."
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