cpsc404-questions-spring2026

CPSC 404 Senior Seminar - Question Submissions

**Spring 2026 Trinity College**

This repository is where you submit your weekly pre-class questions using Git and GitHub workflows - putting into practice the open source collaboration principles from Producing Open Source Software.

📚 Course Information

🎯 Learning Objectives

By using this repository, you will:

📋 Weekly Workflow

One-Time Setup (Week 1)

  1. Fork this repository (click “Fork” button in top right)
  2. Clone your fork locally: 
    git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/cpsc404-questions-spring2026.git
cd cpsc404-questions-spring2026
  3. Add upstream remote (to get updates): 
    git remote add upstream https://github.com/kousen/cpsc404-questions-spring2026.git

Each Week (Weeks 2-13)

Due: Wednesday 11:59 PM before each Thursday class

  1. Update your fork with any new content: 
    git checkout main
git pull upstream main
git push origin main
  2. Create a new branch for this week’s question: 
    git checkout -b week02-lastname-question
# Example: git checkout -b week02-kousen-question
  3. Create your question file in the appropriate week folder: 
    # Navigate to the week's questions folder
cd week02-chapter01/questions

# Create your question file (use your actual name)
# Format: lastname-firstname.md
touch kousen-kenneth.md
  4. Write your question in the file (use any text editor): 
    # Week 2 Question - Chapter 1: Making Inevitable Conflict Productive

**Student:** Kenneth Kousen
**Date:** January 28, 2026

## Question

[Your substantive question here - aim for insight, synthesis, or debate]

## Context (optional)

[Brief context if needed to clarify your question]
  5. Commit and push your question: 
    git add .
git commit -m "Add Week 2 question on inevitable conflict"
git push origin week02-lastname-question
  6. Open a Pull Request:
    • Go to your fork on GitHub
    • Click “Compare & pull request” (green button appears after push)
    • Title: Week 2 Question - Your Name
    • Description: Optional - add any notes
    • Click “Create pull request”
  7. Respond to feedback (if I request changes):
    • Make edits to your file
    • Commit and push to the same branch
    • The PR updates automatically

📝 Question Quality Guidelines

Your question should demonstrate critical engagement with the reading. Refer to the syllabus for the 0-3 grading rubric:

📁 Repository Structure

cpsc404-questions-spring2026/
├── README.md (this file)
├── week02-chapter01/          # HYBHY Ch 1
│   ├── README.md              # Chapter info and due date
│   └── questions/
│       └── [your-file.md]
├── week03-chapter02/          # HYBHY Ch 2
├── week04-chapter03/          # HYBHY Ch 3
├── week06-dual-reading/       # HYBHY Ch 4 + ProducingOSS Ch 8
├── week07-chapter05-async/    # HYBHY Ch 5 (async week)
├── week08-dual-reading/       # HYBHY Ch 6 + ProducingOSS Ch 6
├── week10-dual-reading/       # HYBHY Ch 7 + ProducingOSS Ch 4
├── week11-chapter08/          # HYBHY Ch 8
├── week12-chapter09/          # HYBHY Ch 9
└── week13-chapter10/          # HYBHY Ch 10

🔄 Why Pull Requests?

This workflow mirrors real open source contribution:

You’re experiencing the collaboration model discussed in Producing Open Source Software!

❓ Common Questions

Q: What if I make a mistake in my PR? A: Just push new commits to the same branch - the PR updates automatically. This is normal workflow!

Q: Can I see other students’ questions? A: Yes! Once PRs are merged, all questions become visible. This encourages learning from peers.

Q: What if I’m stuck on Git? A: Ask in class, check office hours, or see GitHub’s Git Guide.

Q: Can I submit late? A: PRs are timestamped. Late submissions follow the course late policy (see syllabus).

Q: What about Week 7 (async week)? A: Same process! Plus you’ll submit a separate written analysis via Moodle.

🎓 Grading

🔗 Resources

📧 Questions?

Remember: This isn’t just about submitting assignments - you’re building real-world Git skills while studying open source collaboration. By the end of the semester, you’ll have a portfolio of thoughtful questions demonstrating your growth!

Last updated: January 2026