COS1521/001/0/2021
Tutorial Letter 001/0/2021
Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
Year module
School of Computing
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, COS1521-2021-Y1, as well as your group website
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Assignment numbers ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 General assignment numbers ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ............................................................................................................. 6
1.4 Assignment due dates ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Submission of assignments ............................................................................................................... 7
1.6 The assignments ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.1 Assignment 01 .................................................................................................................................. 8
1.6.2 Assignment 02 ................................................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Assignment 03 ................................................................................................................................ 26
1.6.4 Assignment 04 …… ........................................................................................................................ 33
1.7 Other assessment methods ............................................................................................................ 34
1.8 The examination .............................................................................................................................. 34
2
, COS521/001/0/2021
Dear Student
This tutorial letter gives the most important information that you need regarding assessments,
assignments, assignment dates, the exam etc. Please refer to the Tutorial letter 101 for any
information that you cannot find in this tutorial letter. The assignment dates in the letter are the
correct ones. Please work on these dates and study programme.
1 ASSESSMENT
1.3 Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria are given for each specific outcome:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate how data are represented, manipulated and stored in a
computer using number systems, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, truth tables and basic
logic circuits drawings, in the context of given problem statements.
Assessment criteria:
Conversions between different number systems (binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal);
The application of different arithmetic methods in the binary number system;
The identification of computer data includes the different internal representations;
Explanations include the basic restrictions placed by computer architecture upon
numerical computations;
The determination of outputs of basic combinational logic circuits for given inputs;
Graphical representations of the combinational circuits for given Boolean functions;
The simplifications of Boolean functions by implementing appropriate rules/methods;
The determination of a Boolean function for a given problem statement using truth tables
(at most 4 variables);
Boolean expressions and binary logic that describe the behaviour of logic circuits;
The descriptions of the functioning of different types of combinational and sequential logic
circuits.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic functions of computers, the
software development process and units of hardware and software components.
Assessment criteria:
Today’s computers are described in context of some short historical background, different
architectures and ethical scenarios/issues;
Descriptions of software engineering and operating systems include the development of
software in a historical context;
The description of a basic computer includes the three basic hardware subsystems and
their interconnecting functioning;
The description of an operating system includes the functioning of its components;
The descriptions of popular operating systems with references to different popular
operating platforms;
The definition of an algorithm includes its relation to problem solving;
Definitions of the three algorithm constructs include descriptions of their use in
algorithms;
Descriptions of basic algorithms include their applications;
3
, Descriptions of the sorting and searching concepts of algorithms include an understanding
of their mechanisms;
Descriptions of subalgorithms include their relations to algorithms;
Descriptions of the development process models in software engineering include the
concepts of the software life-cycle phases and documentation.
Specific outcome 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of data communications and
networks.
Assessment criteria:
Descriptions of physical structures of networks include references to network criteria,
physical structures and categories of networks;
The description of the Internet includes the TCP/IP protocol suite with reference to the
characteristics of its layers and their relationships;
Descriptions of Internet applications in the context of client-server communications.
Specific outcome 4: Describe data structures and how different databases
function.
Assessment criteria:
Descriptions of data structures include references to the differentiation beween different
structures;
Descriptions of file structures include references to updating and access methods, and
categories of directories and of files;
Definitions of a database and some traditional database models include the relational
database design;
The definition of a database management system (DBMS) includes its architecture;
Descriptions include the steps in database design.
1.2 Assessment plan
Why do assignments? In the first place, we need to provide proof to the Department of National
Education that you are an active student. To gain admission to the exam, it is compulsory to
submit ALL 4 assignments by the due dates specified in section 6 above, otherwise you
will not have exam admission.
Important: Take note that the self-assessment assignments should not be submitted.
4
Tutorial Letter 001/0/2021
Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
Year module
School of Computing
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, COS1521-2021-Y1, as well as your group website
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Assignment numbers ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 General assignment numbers ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ............................................................................................................. 6
1.4 Assignment due dates ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Submission of assignments ............................................................................................................... 7
1.6 The assignments ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.1 Assignment 01 .................................................................................................................................. 8
1.6.2 Assignment 02 ................................................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Assignment 03 ................................................................................................................................ 26
1.6.4 Assignment 04 …… ........................................................................................................................ 33
1.7 Other assessment methods ............................................................................................................ 34
1.8 The examination .............................................................................................................................. 34
2
, COS521/001/0/2021
Dear Student
This tutorial letter gives the most important information that you need regarding assessments,
assignments, assignment dates, the exam etc. Please refer to the Tutorial letter 101 for any
information that you cannot find in this tutorial letter. The assignment dates in the letter are the
correct ones. Please work on these dates and study programme.
1 ASSESSMENT
1.3 Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria are given for each specific outcome:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate how data are represented, manipulated and stored in a
computer using number systems, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, truth tables and basic
logic circuits drawings, in the context of given problem statements.
Assessment criteria:
Conversions between different number systems (binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal);
The application of different arithmetic methods in the binary number system;
The identification of computer data includes the different internal representations;
Explanations include the basic restrictions placed by computer architecture upon
numerical computations;
The determination of outputs of basic combinational logic circuits for given inputs;
Graphical representations of the combinational circuits for given Boolean functions;
The simplifications of Boolean functions by implementing appropriate rules/methods;
The determination of a Boolean function for a given problem statement using truth tables
(at most 4 variables);
Boolean expressions and binary logic that describe the behaviour of logic circuits;
The descriptions of the functioning of different types of combinational and sequential logic
circuits.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic functions of computers, the
software development process and units of hardware and software components.
Assessment criteria:
Today’s computers are described in context of some short historical background, different
architectures and ethical scenarios/issues;
Descriptions of software engineering and operating systems include the development of
software in a historical context;
The description of a basic computer includes the three basic hardware subsystems and
their interconnecting functioning;
The description of an operating system includes the functioning of its components;
The descriptions of popular operating systems with references to different popular
operating platforms;
The definition of an algorithm includes its relation to problem solving;
Definitions of the three algorithm constructs include descriptions of their use in
algorithms;
Descriptions of basic algorithms include their applications;
3
, Descriptions of the sorting and searching concepts of algorithms include an understanding
of their mechanisms;
Descriptions of subalgorithms include their relations to algorithms;
Descriptions of the development process models in software engineering include the
concepts of the software life-cycle phases and documentation.
Specific outcome 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of data communications and
networks.
Assessment criteria:
Descriptions of physical structures of networks include references to network criteria,
physical structures and categories of networks;
The description of the Internet includes the TCP/IP protocol suite with reference to the
characteristics of its layers and their relationships;
Descriptions of Internet applications in the context of client-server communications.
Specific outcome 4: Describe data structures and how different databases
function.
Assessment criteria:
Descriptions of data structures include references to the differentiation beween different
structures;
Descriptions of file structures include references to updating and access methods, and
categories of directories and of files;
Definitions of a database and some traditional database models include the relational
database design;
The definition of a database management system (DBMS) includes its architecture;
Descriptions include the steps in database design.
1.2 Assessment plan
Why do assignments? In the first place, we need to provide proof to the Department of National
Education that you are an active student. To gain admission to the exam, it is compulsory to
submit ALL 4 assignments by the due dates specified in section 6 above, otherwise you
will not have exam admission.
Important: Take note that the self-assessment assignments should not be submitted.
4
