Write a paper on Windows 7? WTF?

So I have to write a paper on a topic of my choosing related to Windows 7. My school is very confused about my IT degree, they feel it's a writing degree. I should be doing subnetting and writing code. I'm too close to the end to change majors.

Anyhow, I was wondering if anybody could throw some potential topics my way, because I just don't have the imagination to write a paper on Windows 7.

Help!

 

Must be University of Phoenix.

What degree is it?


Write a paper on the language used to write Windows 7, and how the kernel interacts with the rest of the OS.

 

You're good- it's National University, a knockoff of Phoenix. IT Management, when you look at the courses one would say "wow, this is a technical degree with a few 'survey of' type classes thrown in." Wrong! The technical classses are writing classes. The business classes are writing classes. They didn't even make us subnet in the networking class.

 

I imagine you're a firm believer in the value of mandatory general education requirements as well. It was in several of those gen. ed. classes at the community college level that I had to write huge papers; specifically, they were English classes.

Security sounds like a possibility.

 

Yep, in Aust., if you don't pass English, you don't graduate High-School and can't get into University. Fair enough, imo. I wouldn't call anyone a 'Professional' if they can't even command the English language, (assuming an English speaking country, lol).
Math is pretty much compulsory, too. Unless you're doing Cooking, or something. Even then - try cooking without at least being able to work out weights, measures and temps. (King Alfred??..(look it up, lol). English readers may know who that was.
That said, doing I.T. classes in just essay form - sorry can't see how that would work?
There are many, many essays that you can write about in 7, though.
Security, as Laura said, O.S. system itself, like Adryn said, or social/economic impacts, ease of use, (or not), etc., etc. Heaps of info on Google. The more I think about it, the more ways I can see you could write, considering the only criteria you mentioned is to write about Win 7.

 

That is education is about now, writing papers. Even in government and private sector, there is more writing, then doing.

It is very hard to find someone in IT, with real skills, that do not involve using a book, or having to write a paper, to explain the what its.

 

How about the differences between 32 bit and 64 bit...
How about the install process...
or the different flavors of win 7
so many things you could write about win 7
make use of your imagination
study your teacher and think what would impress her/him

 

I recently graduated from UOP, thats how I can spot it.

I'll tell you like I told the entire IT discussion forum today, don't rely on those assignments to carry you. Read the material, and do the assignments at the end of each chapter in addition to it. If its like UOP, they don't teach, they facilitate. That means they have a set syllabus and are going to give you assignments on the basics. A lot of that is going to be writing, because there is no hands-on with online schools. However, they use the same texts as brick and mortar schools, so you can get the same experience if you work at it, sans the lectures. UOP has Skillsoft too, which can help with simulated hands-on and additional testing. There is also Lynda.com.

These degrees are generalized IT degrees, regardless of concentration. They are spread too thin for you to become anything more than a wannabe jack of all trades. Concentrate on your goal and use everything in that damn school to help you achieve it.

Myself, I specialized in c#, Java, and VB. Within a month of graduating (before even), I knew more than anything offered in any class. In some classes, I found I knew more than the facilitator. I finished all my VB assignments for a five week course in 24 hours. I then proceeded to consume additional material. I even built an easter egg with multiple threading (far more advanced than anything introduced in class) that made the assignment do the Harlem Shake. I currently have 7 applications in my portfolio written outside of school ( some not finished), and have more planned.

It is good to have writing skills as well. I cannot tell you how many people I have seen with degrees that type like a five year old that is playing with mom and dad's laptop. Someone who can write professionally is also a marketable skill in IT.

 

I don't know your background, but do you also run into this with those who have graduated from brick and mortar schools?

 

Not at all. Those who went through actual schools, not an online degree program, do more hands on, very little report writing about how to do something.

You can tell in the real world, who did nothing but write thesis papers, throughout the whole time they went to school, those who did nothing but read books, and those with real hand on experience, both inside and outside of their school environment.

I deal on a daily basis, with a lot with just booksmarts. You can see right through their approach and handling of matters, very quick. I also deal with those that have done IT, like myself through life experiences. Those are the ones, that tend to get hated by the bookworms, because we can fix a problem. Without having to fake it.

 

Which is why I constantly coding or developing something. I might have no hands on in school, but I have experience outside of school.

 

Which is why I am constantly coding or developing something. I might have no hands on in school, but I have experience outside of school.

 

Try this. Scan a copy of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr's "Slaughter House Five" and replace all of the nouns with computer terms. For example, pg. 118

"Now he was in bed with his [kernel] in a delightful [operating system] which was built on the end of [a HDD] on [his laptop]. Across the water were the lights of [the computer casing]. Billy was on top of [kernel] making love to [it]. One result of this act would be the birth of [Windows 7] which would become a problem in high school, but which would then straighten out as a member of [Microsoft]."

Heck, I don't think they really read those papers very closely anyways :-D

 

Ha! :-D

 

What kind of paper do you have to write? If it just has to do something with Win7, should be easy. I wrote an essay about a paper clip back in HS. Got an A. :-D

Advantages of Win7: stable 64 bit OS so plenty of RAM, Win XP will not be updated in April (I think) so virus problems and less support for XP.

Plus, if you don't like Win7, give Win8 a try, sent me running back to Win7. :-D

 

Good ideas all around, thank you everyone. I have the writing skills but I object to them still being a factor in upper-division coursework in a technical field. I would prefer to develop my technical skills, which, like others here, I'm having to do outside of the classroom (I just got my CCNA in November).

Thanks again everyone. Like all my other papers, I'll sit down with a bottle of wine and crank it out in an hour or three.

"Write drunk, edit sober." - Me

 

It's April 8th.
After that, No support from Microsoft.
Windows lifecycle fact sheet