IS-365 Writing Rubric Last updated: January 15, 2018 Student: Score (out of 50): General Comments: Other comments are embedded in the document. Criterion <- Higher - Quality - Lower -> Persuasiveness The reader is compelled by solid critical reasoning, appropriate usage of sources, and consideration of alternative viewpoints. The document is logical and coherent enough that the reader can accept its points and conclusions Gaps in logic and uncritical review of sources cause the reader to have some doubts about the points made by the document, or whether they’re relevant to the question asked. The reader is unsure of what the document is trying to communicate, or is wholly unconvinced by its arguments Not applicable Evidence and support Exceptional use of authoritative and relevant sources, properly cited, providing strong support of the document’s points Sufficient relevant and authoritative sources give confidence that the document is based on adequate research Sources are insufficient in number, not authoritative, not relevant, or improperly cited No sources are used, undermining the document’s foundations Not applicable Writing Word choices, flow of logic, and sentence and paragraph structure engage the reader, making for a pleasurable experience Writing is clear and adequately fulfills the document’s purpose Some issues with word choice and sentence and paragraph structure interfere with the conveyance of the document’s ideas Frequent questionable choices in writing make it difficult to read and understand Not applicable Language Essentially free of language errors Minor errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling Noticeable language errors that detract from the readability of the document Significant language errors that call the credibility of the document into question Not applicable Formatting (heading styles, fonts, margins, white space, tables and graphics) Professional and consistent formatting that enhances readability. Appropriate use of tables and graphics. Generally acceptable formatting choices. Some missed opportunities for displaying data via tables or graphics. Inconsistent or questionable formatting choices that detract from the document’s readability Critical formatting issues that make the document unprofessional- looking Not applicable Page 1 Page 1 Page 2 (Name deleted) IS-365 Art Fifer 2/17/2017 Technical Documents for Varying Audiences In this paper, I’ll be exploring the differences in presenting technical communications to audiences of varying knowledge. The topic of these two general summaries will be the manner in which computers connect to each other, including summaries of several communication protocols, how information traverses the network, and how it arrives at its destination and is read by th.

1. IS-365 Writing Rubric
Last updated: January 15, 2018
Student:
Score (out of 50):
General Comments:
Other comments are embedded in the document.
Criterion <- Higher - Quality - Lower ->
Persuasiveness The reader is
compelled by solid
critical reasoning,
appropriate usage of
sources, and
consideration of
alternative
viewpoints.
The document is
logical and coherent
enough that the
reader can accept its
points and
conclusions
Gaps in logic and
uncritical review of
sources cause the
reader to have some
doubts about the

2. points made by the
document, or
whether they’re
relevant to the
question asked.
The reader is unsure
of what the document
is trying to
communicate, or is
wholly unconvinced
by its arguments
Not
applicable
Evidence and support Exceptional use of
authoritative and
relevant sources,
properly cited,
providing strong
support of the
document’s points
Sufficient relevant
and authoritative
sources give
confidence that the
document is based
on adequate
research
Sources are
insufficient in

3. number, not
authoritative, not
relevant, or
improperly cited
No sources are used,
undermining the
document’s
foundations
Not
applicable
Writing Word choices, flow
of logic, and
sentence and
paragraph structure
engage the reader,
making for a
pleasurable
experience
Writing is clear and
adequately fulfills
the document’s
purpose
Some issues with
word choice and
sentence and
paragraph structure
interfere with the
conveyance of the
document’s ideas

4. Frequent questionable
choices in writing
make it difficult to
read and understand
Not
applicable
Language Essentially free of
language errors
Minor errors in
grammar,
punctuation, or
spelling
Noticeable language
errors that detract
from the readability
of the document
Significant language
errors that call the
credibility of the
document into
question
Not
applicable
Formatting (heading
styles, fonts, margins,
white space, tables

5. and graphics)
Professional and
consistent formatting
that enhances
readability.
Appropriate use of
tables and graphics.
Generally acceptable
formatting choices.
Some missed
opportunities for
displaying data via
tables or graphics.
Inconsistent or
questionable
formatting choices
that detract from the
document’s
readability
Critical formatting
issues that make the
document
unprofessional-
looking
Not
applicable

6. Page 1
Page 1
Page 2
(Name deleted)
IS-365
Art Fifer
2/17/2017
Technical Documents for Varying Audiences
In this paper, I’ll be exploring the differences in presenting
technical communications to audiences of varying knowledge.
The topic of these two general summaries will be the manner in
which computers connect to each other, including summaries of
several communication protocols, how information traverses the
network, and how it arrives at its destination and is read by the
receiving computer. The first summary presented will be
addressed to readers who are totally unaware of these concepts,
and the second is designed to be a quick review of information
for peers in the IT field who already work with computer
networks. COMPUTER NETWORK CONNECTIONS – SIMPLE
OVERVIEW
For some, communication between computers may be something
of a mystery. You simply connect a computer to your home or
work router, put in the Wi-Fi password, and you’ve magically
gained access to the World Wide Web and all of its information.
What happens during your Internet browsing sessions - how you
receive data, how you stream videos via services such as
Netflix, and other thoughts- are seemingly too difficult to
understand. In this summary, however, I hope to unravel the
enigma of Computer Networking’s basic concepts.
Concept 1: Connecting Computers
The first step in understanding communications is to understand
how computers are connected. Without delving into too much

7. technical detail, connection is simple – your computer will
make contact with (either by Ethernet cables, Fiber Optics,
Wireless connection, etc) a router or other device. These allow
the two devices to send electrical currents and radio waves,
which is vital to communication – without sending currents or
radio waves, no communication can be achieved. (Marshall
Brian, n.d.) While the specifics of these connections vary (i.e
different hardwired connection types such as Ethernet, Fiber
Optic, and multiple wireless frequencies), as long as computers
link via these methods, networking can be achieved. Computers
will send binary bits, either a 1 or 0, by sending an electrical
current or pausing, respectively. These 1’s and 0’s translate into
information, though its translation is rather complex, so we’ll
move onto the next concept.
Concept 2: Packets
Here’s where things start to get more complex than hooking up
a cable and sending currents. Although computers send
information via bits, there needs to be a pattern to the madness.
This takes shape in the form of packets – little packages
containing information used to send and receive messages.
When you tell your computer to go to www.stevenson.edu, for
example, your computer sends many small groups of
information out through the router – each packet (much like real
life postal mail) has a send and receive address so that routers
know where its destination is, allowing it to forward the packet.
When the web server receives your packets, it sends you back
information containing what you need to construct the website.
From here, you can send information back and forth to
accomplish tasks like signing up for newsletters, purchasing
items off of Amazon.com, etc.
Concept 3: Protocols
Finally, we’ll quickly explain how different packets
communicate. There are two major protocols for packets
traversing networks:

8. · TCP
· UDP
The first protocol, “TCP” (Transmission Control Protocol), is
described as a “chatty” protocol. This means that every time
you send a packet to another machine, the machine
acknowledges that it received all packets from you (some may
be lost due to various issues). If it did not receive all packets, it
informs you, and your machine must resend the missing packet
so that your message can be totally complete. This type of
protocol is vital when you need communication to be utterly
complete, and not miss anything. (i.e emails and other messages
– you don’t want part of your email missing when the boss
receives it).
The second protocol, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), is far
simpler. If you connect to Netflix using TCP, find a show you
want to watch, and hit play, you’ll find that your movie is
sending its packets to you via UDP, not TCP. UDP is far more
efficient than communicating streams than TCP. The reason for
this is that UDP, unlike TCP, does not make sure that you
receive all packets. Because it’s sending so many packets to you
constantly as you watch, it doesn’t have time to resend a
missing packet. You’ll notice missing packets when the quality
of the picture becomes slightly blocky or it lags momentarily.
Summary
While this still may be hard to grasp, hopefully some of these
base concepts will stay with you. Networking is a very complex
subject, and thoroughly explaining every detail would be
cumbersome and tedious. Thus, this document was designed to
present a few base concepts at a (hopefully) understandable
level. Remember: information is sent via little packets - much
like the mail service – which contain requests of the
information you send or receive. The two protocols for sending
packets are UDP and TCP – TCP is useful for most connections,
as it ensures every bit of data is received by you. As UDP
doesn’t ask to make sure you received the information, it’s

9. useful for streaming and other similar uses. COMPUTER
NETWORK CONNECTIONS – PEER OVERVIEW
In this summary, I’ll be reviewing the basic fundamentals of
Networking, as a simple refresher for troubleshooting in the
workplace.
Bits and Binary
Connecting your machine is possible via one of many cable
types or wireless connections. Some common methods of
connections are:
· Coaxial Cable
· Twisted Pair
· Fiber Optic
· 802.11 Wireless Connection
Once you’ve connected your machine to a router or another
machine via one of these methods, your computer will begin
transmitting by an electrical current or radio waves to send bits
to the receiving machine, which are then formed into
information for the receiving machine. These signals are either
“on” or “off,” depending on whether the machine receives a
signal or a pause during the message. Of course, these are
translated to binary digits – 1’s and 0’s, to create the
information. Packets
When sending information across the network, information is
formed into packets. These packets include the destination and
source IP Addresses within its header, and the information
deeper inside. While traversing the network, routers will only
check the source and destination addresses, as the information
inside is irrelevant to the router itself. Once the packet arrives
at the destination, the receiving machine peels off the OSI
layers of the packet, and reads the information within. These
packets’ headers and processes vary depending on the protocol
of the packet itself.
Protocols
The main two protocols should be familiar – TCP and UDP.

10. TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, is used for most
communication across the internet. It’s a connection-oriented
protocol, which beings its communications via the “Three-way
Handshake” (Syn, Syn-Ack, Ack). Once communication has
been established, TCP will ensure that no packet is missing,
because if it is, information vital to the message will be
missing. UDP, on the other hand, is a connectionless protocol,
meaning it’s of little consequence whether the receiving device
gets every single packet. UDP will not check with the machine,
and will continue sending its own information to the receiver.
As such, it’s extremely useful for streaming services and
anything of similar nature.
Bibliography
Marshall Brian, T. W. (n.d.). How WiFi Works. Retrieved from
HowStuffWorks:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm