This document is the result of designing an Integrated Computer Essentials/Proficiency Course at the University of Utah. A high priority was given to creating assignments tied together by a common theme, rather than individual textbook-type examples.

1. IS 1420: Assignment 1
Computers and the Internet
Name: Section:
1. Draw a diagram representing the 5 essential components of a microcomputer [hardware] system.
2. Using ASCII Code, write your first name.
3. Briefly indicate the main purpose of the following application-software categories:
a. Word Processing:
b. Spreadsheet:
c. Slideshow Presentation:
d. Database:
4. Create a folder named “Homework” on the desktop. Write a brief description of what you did.
5. Create a shortcut to the “Homework” icon, just created. Write a brief description of what you did.
6. Identify the equivalent keyboard-command for the following actions:
a. Copy -
b. Cut -
c. Paste -
d. Save -
e. Undo -
7. Write the filename extension that identifies each of the following:
a. Executable File [Program]
b. Text File [ASCII]
c. Web Page [HTML]
d. MS Word [word processing]
e. MS Excel [spreadsheet]
f. MS PowerPoint [presentation]
g. MS Access [database]
8. In an email header, what is the “BCC:” line?
9. If the URL contains a top-level domain of “.tv”, what does it indicate?
10. Find a web site with information on Gichin Funakoshi, then write the URL and a brief description of him.

2. IS 1420: Assignment 2
Word Processing
Part I: Identify A Publicly Traded Company.
Identify a publicly traded company that you would like to learn about, using one or more sources of your choice
(e.g., magazines, newspapers, or web sites like http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/ ). Then gather data about the
company. You may include [but are not limited to] its history, information sources, logo, mission statement,
products & services offered, recent news, stock price tracking, your reason for selecting this particular
company, web sites, etc. Plagiarism is not acceptable!
Note: You should keep this information available for future assignments!
Part II: Create A Document Of At Least 3 Pages.
Using MS Word or WordPerfect, type a document that presents the items you have gathered. Be sure to
incorporate all of the following items and formatting requirements, although it may contain additional objects.
• A horizontally centered Title Page, including the company, your name and section number
• A minimum of two-full pages (information about the company), in the same document as the Title Page
• .75” Top Margin, .5” Bottom Margin, 1” Left Margin, 1.5” Right Margin, and a .5” Gutter Margin
• Use Arial Font for the entire document, using various Effects, Sizes and Styles
• A Header in the upper-right hand corner that contains your name, section number, and page number
Note: Use the Header feature, which should not appear on the title page.
• At least 1 Table that contains information (use the Table feature, not simply an image of a Table)
• At least 1 Bullet List or a Number List that displays at least 5 items
• At least 1 Picture
• At least 1 WordArt object
• At least 3 Footnotes, using the Footnote feature
Part III: Submit Your Document.
Please hand in your assignment on a disk (floppy, CD, zip) or as an attachment via email.
Remember to include your name and section number in the subject line or message body of all email!
There are many student-computer labs on campus, such as Business Computer Labs (103 BUC and 130 CRCC),
ASUU Computer Center (161 Union), Marriott Library Multimedia Center, Student Housing, etc.

3. IS 1420: Assignment 3
Spreadsheet
Part I: Track A Publicly Traded Company.
Record stock prices of the publicly traded company you identified in Assignment 2, for at least 5 days.
Available sources include television, newspapers, and the Internet; you may find the following URLs useful:
• http://finance.yahoo.com/
• http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/
Note: You should keep this information available for future assignments!
Part II: Create A Spreadsheet.
Using MS Excel or Quattro Pro, create a spreadsheet document containing the following items:
A. Title Area
1. Your Name
2. Your Section Number
3. [Publicly Traded] Company Name and Ticker Symbol
4. Date Interval (at least 5 days)
B. Stock Numbers
1. Daily “Open”
2. Daily “High”
3. Daily “Low”
4. Daily “Close”
5. 52-Week “High”
6. 52-Week “Low”
C. Summary Information............................................Note: use a formula and/or function to determine each
1. “Net Profit” for each day
2. “Net Profit” for the date interval
3. “Low” for the date interval
4. “High” for the date interval
5. “Average” of the Daily Low’s, for the date interval
6. “Average” of the Daily High’s, for the date interval
7. Answer the following questions, using one or more “IF” functions:
i. For the date interval, is the “High” greater than the 52-Week “High”?
ii. For the date interval, is the “Low” lower than the 52-Week “Low”?
iii. For each day, is the “Net Profit” value Positive (gain), Negative (loss), or Even (zero)?
D. Charts
1. Line: [Daily] High vs. Low
2. Bar or Column: [Daily] Open, High, Low and Close
3. Stock: [Daily] Open-High-Low-Close
Part III: Submit Your Document.
Please submit a copy of your document on a disk (floppy, zip, CD) or as an email attachment.
Remember to include your name and section number in the subject line or message body of all email!

4. IS 1420: Assignment 4
Slideshow Presentation
Part I: Recall The Publicly Traded Company.
In assignments 2 and 3, you identified a publicly traded company. Now gather the information collected (e.g.,
history, information sources, logo, mission statement, products & services offered, recent news, stock price
tracking, your reason for choosing this particular company, web sites, etc.) You may wish to obtain more data;
sources include brochures, magazines, newspapers, various web sites, etc.
Note: You should keep this information available for future assignments!
Part II: Create A Presentation Of At Least 10 Slides.
Using MS PowerPoint or Corel Presentations, create a slide presentation that describes the company you have
been learning about. Requirements that need to be met are outlined below.
A. Include at least 10 Slides.
B. Use the following in a consistent manner throughout your presentation:
1. Background Color or Fill
2. Color Scheme
3. Font
C. Your presentation should include, but is not limited to, the following items:
1. Your Company Name, Your Name and Section Number (use a Title & Subtitle slide)
2. Word Art
3. Text Box
4. Table
5. Organization Chart
6. Numbered List
7. Pie Chart
8. Clip Art
9. Auto Shape
10. Animated GIF
D. Additionally, include the following Special Effects in one or more slides:
1. Animation Scheme on at least one Title
2. Custom Animation on at least one Image
3. Custom Animation on at least one List
4. Slide Transition on at least one Slide
Part III: Submit Your Presentation.
Please submit a copy of your document on a disk (floppy, zip, CD) or as an email attachment.
Remember to include your name and section number in the subject line, or message body, of all email!

5. IS 1420: Assignment 5
Database
Part I: Recall The Publicly Traded Company
In assignment 3 you collected stock numbers for a period of time from a publicly traded company. You may
obtain more data; various sources include brochures, magazines, newspapers, and the following web sites:
• http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/
• http://cbs.marketwatch.com/
• http://finance.yahoo.com/
Note: You should keep this information available for the Group Project!
Part II: Create A Database For The Publicly Traded Company
Using MS Access, create a database for the company you have been learning about as outlined below.
A. Create a Table containing the following 6 fields, with appropriate Descriptions; name it Stock.
1. Date (designate it as the Primary Key, as a Date/Time data type and use the Long Date format)
2. Stock Values: Open, High, Low, and Close (define each of these as Numbers, but not Integers)
3. Net Profit [Close – Open] (define it as a Number data type, not an Integer nor a Calculated Field)
B. Populate the Stock table with data collected in Assignment #3.
C. Create another Table containing the following fields, with appropriate Descriptions; name it Employees.
1. Employee ID, using an AutoNumber data type (make this field the Primary Key)
2. First Name, using a Text data type with a Field Size of 20 and require data entry
3. Last Name, using a Text data type with a Field Size of 25 and require data entry
4. Sex, using a Text data type with Field Size of 1
5. Phone, using a Text data type with a Field Size of 10 and an Input Mask
6. Hire Date, as a Date/Time data type and use the Medium Date format
7. Salary, using a Currency data type
8. Hourly Salary, using a Yes/No data type
9. W4 Allowances, using a Number data type – specifically an Integer format
D. Populate the Employees table with at least 10 records from any source, or just make them up.
E. Create a Query that only displays the Date and positive Net Profit values from the Stock table.
F. Create a Query that only displays the Date and negative Net Profit values from the Stock table.
G. Create a Form that only displays the Date, High and Low values from the Stock table.
H. Create a Form that displays all of the fields from the Employees table.
I. Create a Report that displays First Name, Last Name, Sex and Phone fields from the Employees table.
Part III: Submit Your Database
Please submit a copy of your document on a disk (floppy, zip, CD) or as an email attachment.
Remember to include your name and section number in the subject line or message body of all email!

6. IS 1420: Assignment 6
Group Project
Part I: Bring It All Together
In assignments 2-5 you have collected data about a publicly traded company. Now you will be merging these
items with the other people in your group, to be announced during class, to produce the items described below.
Note: You may wish to approach this as a proposed merger between the various companies…
Part II: Create A Document
Using MS Word or WordPerfect, create a word processing document that contains the following items about
each of the publicly traded companies that the members of your group have been tracking:
J. Vertically & horizontally centered title page identifying each group member and their section number
K. Margin of 1 inch for top, bottom, left, and right (no gutter margin)
L. Header in the upper-right corner that contains the page number on all but the title page
M. Information about each company
N. Endnotes that identify each publicly traded company and the group member who tracked it
Part III: Create A Spreadsheet
Using MS Excel or QuattroPro, create a spreadsheet that contains data for each of the publicly traded
companies that members of your group have been tracking. Include the following items:
A. Daily Open, High, Low, and Close Numbers for each company
B. Formula to determine the Net Profit for each company, for their 5-day interval
C. Formula to determine the Net Profit for all companies combined
D. Formula to determine the Largest Net Profit among all companies
E. Formula to determine the Smallest Net Profit among all companies
F. Pie Chart to show the final Close Number for all companies
Part IV: Create A Presentation
Using MS PowerPoint or Presentations, create a slide-show presentation that contains information about each
of the publicly traded companies that members of your group have been tracking. All members should be
prepared to participate in your group’s presentation during the class final-exam period, so you are encouraged to
have fun and include various objects.
Note: The remaining Participation points will be awarded to those who are in attendance for all presentations!
Part V: Create A Database
Using MS Access, create a database that contains the following items:
A. Table: Fields with company names, ticker symbols, dates and data collected (Open, High, Low, Close)
Hint – Another field needs to be included for the Primary Key, which must contain unique information!
B. Queries: One for each company, using a criteria to display their daily data (Open, High, Low, Close)
C. Form: Display the company name, dates and daily data collected (Open, High, Low, Close)
D. Report: Display the company name, dates and daily data collected (Open, High, Low, Close)