Chapter 11 Learning Objectives

SECTION A

After reading Section A, you should be able to:

• compare and contrast the job of a systems analyst with that of a software engineer
• discuss reasons why a student, who is not planning to become a computer programmer, should learn about computer programming
• describe the difference between “small, “ medium,” and “large” programs, in accordance with Department of Defense standards
• list three characteristics of a good problem statement for a computer program
• explain what is meant by the term “known information” in a problem statement
• define the term “algorithm”
• provide an example of each of the following ways to express an algorithm: structured English, pseudocode, flowchart, and object definition
• explain the relationship between an algorithm and a programming language

SECTION B

After reading Section B, you should be able to:

• provide a succinct definition of “coding”
• explain the meaning of the phrase “sequential execution”
• list three types of control structures
• discuss reasons for using sequence controls rather than GOTO commands in a program
• provide a simple example of a selection control structure
• illustrate how a computer would execute a series of commands in a repetition control structure

SECTION C

After reading Section C, you should be able to:

• define the term “debugging”
• describe each of the following program errors: syntax error, run-time error, logic error
• list three possible causes of a syntax error
• explain the purpose of program documentation
• provide an example of how remarks might be used in a computer program
• compare and contrast program manuals with reference manuals

SECTION D

After reading Section D, you should be able to:

• describe the main characteristics of a procedural language
• contrast a program created using a declarative language with one created using a procedural language
• discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using a scripting language
• explain the differences between a low-level language and a high-level language
• describe the purpose of a compiler
• differentiate between an interpreter and a compiler
• provide an example of a useful object that could be created using an object-oriented language
• define the term “program event”
• explain how an event-driven program works
• list five possible functions that could be provided by components