COS1501/101/0/2025

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2025

Theoretical Computer Science I

COS1501
Year Module

Computer Science: 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,
COS1501-25-Y, as well as your group website.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, available only on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 4
2. MODULE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Outcomes .................................................................................................................................. 5
3. CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................ 5
4. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................ 6
4.1 Lecturer...................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Department ................................................................................................................................ 6
4.3 University ................................................................................................................................... 6
5. RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................ 6
5.1 Prescribed book ......................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................ 6
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................ 7
5.4 Optional CAI tutorial ................................................................................................................... 7
5.5 Library services and resources .................................................................................................. 7
6. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ............................................................................................. 8
6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme ............................................................................ 9
6.2 Using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to apply for module credit within a qualification........ 9
7. STUDY PLAN .......................................................................................................................... 10
8. HOW TO STUDY ONLINE ....................................................................................................... 10
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? .................................................................................. 10
9. ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................ 11
9.1 Assessment criteria .................................................................................................................. 11
9.2 Assessment plan...................................................................................................................... 12
9.3 Assessment/assignment due dates .......................................................................................... 13
9.4 Submission of assessments/assignments ................................................................................ 14
9.4.1 Types of assignments and descriptions .................................................................................... 15
9.5 The assessments/assignments ................................................................................................ 16

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9.6 Other assessment methods ..................................................................................................... 16

9.7 The examination ...................................................................................................................... 16
9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring ............................................................................................................... 16
9.8 Supplementary examination ..................................................................................................... 18
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY...................................................................................................... 18
10.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................ 18
10.2 Cheating .................................................................................................................................. 18
10.3 For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below: ................................................... 18
11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................... 18
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ...................................................................................... 18
13. SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................ 19
14. IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................ 19
15. ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................ 19

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1. INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

Unisa is a comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODeL) higher education institution. Our
comprehensive curricula encapsulate a range of offerings, from strictly vocational to strictly
academic certificates, diplomas and degrees. Unisa's "openness" and its distance eLearning
character result in many students who may not previously have had an opportunity to enrol in
higher education registering at the university. Our CODeL character implies that our
programmes are carefully planned and structured to ensure success for students, ranging from
the under-prepared but with potential to those who are sufficiently prepared.

Teaching and learning in a CODeL context involves multiple modes of delivery, ranging from
blended to fully online learning. As a default position, all post-graduate programmes are offered
fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are offered using
a blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with online teaching
and learning via the learner management system, myUnisa. In some instances, undergraduate
programmes are offered fully online as well.

Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission and values of the University.
Unisa's commitment to serving humanity and shaping futures – combined with a clear
appreciation of our location on the African continent – means that Unisa's graduates have
distinctive graduate qualities, which include:

• being independent, resilient, responsible and caring citizens able to fulfil and serve in
multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global communities

• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent and taking
account of its histories, challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts

• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of information
and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with ever-increasing information and
data flows and competing worldviews

• how to apply their discipline-specific knowledges competently, ethically and creatively to

solve real-life problems

• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential This

module is fully online.

Whether a module is offered either as blended (meaning that we use a combination of printed
and online material to engage with you) or online (all information is available via the internet),
we use myUnisa as our virtual campus. This is an online system that is used to administer,
document and deliver educational material to you and support engagement with you. Look out
for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa platforms to determine how to access
the virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the tools that will be available to engage with
your lecturer and fellow students to support your learning will also be communicated via various
platforms.

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You are encouraged to log into the module site COS1501-25-Y on myUnisa regularly (that is, at
least twice per week).

Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
prescribed learning activities. Visit the website for COS1501-25-Y on myUnisa frequently. You will
find the study guide on myUnisa under Official Study Material, as this module does not have a
textbook.

We wish you every success with your studies!

2. MODULE OVERVIEW
2.1 Purpose

Students who have completed this module successfully will be able to critically apply the
fundamental knowledge and skills of discrete mathematics. The module forms part of the
theoretical foundation of a Computer Science major. This background is relevant to computing
fields such as relational databases, the development of provably correct programs, and the
analysis of algorithms that will contribute to the development of computing in Southern Africa,
Africa, or globally. The module will support further studies and applications in the computing
discipline.

2.2 Outcomes

For this module, you will have to master several outcomes:

• Specific outcome 1: Manipulate logical arguments, using a variety of mathematical

tools.
• Specific outcome 2: Construct proofs in a clear and concise way using
mathematical reasoning techniques.
• Specific outcome 3: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the definitions,
laws and operations of set theory.
• Specific outcome 4: Synthesise and critically analyse relations, functions and
binary sets that are represented as sets containing ordered pairs.
• Specific outcome 5: Perform operations on vectors and matrices.

3. CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter that places curriculum transformation high on the teaching
and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion
of African epistemologies and philosophies. All of these are being phased in at both programme and
module levels. As a result of this, you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy
implemented by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa, responsively and within the
framework of transformation.
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4. LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS
4.1 Lecturer

The primary lecturer for this module is:

Department: School of Computing Telephone: 011 670 9132 E-mail: [email protected]

4.2 Department

You can contact the School of Computing as follows:

Telephone number: 011 670 9200

E-mail: [email protected]

4.3 University

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include your student number in all correspondence.

5. RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book

This module has no textbook. You will be provided with a study guide under Official Study Material
on myUnisa.

5.2 Recommended books

Should you wish to know more about a particular topic, you may consult the following books.
Please note that these books are not necessarily included in the Study Collection in the Unisa
library. The library cannot guarantee that they will be available.

ENSLEY, D.E. AND CRAWLEY, J.W. Discrete Mathematics: Mathematical Reasoning and Proof
with Puzzles, Patterns and Games. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2006.

GRIMALDI, R.P. Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics: An applied Introduction, 5th edition.
Pearson Education, 2004.

JOHNSONBAUGH, R. Discrete Mathematics, 7th edition. Pearson Education Inc., 2009.

LABUSCHAGNE, W.A. A User-friendly Introduction to Discrete Mathematics for Computer

Science. Pretoria, UNISA, 1999.
ROSEN, K.H. Discrete Mathematics and its Application, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Recommended books can be requested online, via the Library catalogue.

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5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

E-reserves can be downloaded from the library webpage. More information is available at:
http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/search/r

5.4 Optional CAI tutorial

Due to an unzip problem on Windows 10 and 11, the CAI tutorial will not be available. There are
many examples in the TUT102 and TUT103 similar to what is available on the CAI. If we can
solve the problem, you will be notified via an announcement, and the zip file will be uploaded to
Additional Resources. E-tutors will give similar activities, and TUT102 and TUT103 contain many
examples as well

5.5 Library services and resources

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources and has made numerous
library guides available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

• For brief information on the library, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For Frequently Asked Questions, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Frequently-Asked-
Questions • For research support and services such as the Personal Librarian
service and the Information Search Librarian's Literature Search Request (on your
research topic) service, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Libraryservices/Research-
support
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training
• For Lending Services, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Lendingservices
• For Services for Postgraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Services-for-Postgraduates
• For Support and Services for students with disabilities, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Services-for-students-
withspecial-needs
• For Library Technology Support, go to https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/techsupport
• For information on finding and using library resources and tools, go to
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• For an A–Z list of library databases, go to https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services:
[email protected]
• General library-related queries: [email protected]
• Queries related to library fines and payments: [email protected]
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 • Interlibrary loan service for postgraduate students: [email protected]
• Literature Search Service: [email protected]
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and X Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

To view the Library orientation video – please click here : Unisa Library and Information
Services Video_1_1 (2).mp4

6. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study@Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa at www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through Unisa.

If you need assistance concerning the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following
contact details:

• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)

• E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to access
module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessments and how
to participate in forum activities by visiting https://dtls-qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

Registered Unisa students receive a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for your
account to be activated after you have claimed it.

Please claim your e-mail account immediately after registering at Unisa by following this link :
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Claim-UNISA-Login or follow this link

to get more information:

https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/myunisa/Content/Announcements/Documents/Claim-
myUnisamyLife-Nov-2017.pdf

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official correspondence with the
University and will remain the official primary e-mail address on record at Unisa. You remain responsible
for managing this e-mail account.

You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

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6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful and this is
often true for students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and
e-learning institution and is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It is a mega
university and all its programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online
learning. For these reasons, we offer first-time students additional/extended support to help them
navigate the Unisa teaching and learning journey seamlessly and with little difficulty and few
barriers.

Unisa’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme has been specially designed to provide you with
prompt and helpful information about the services that the institution offers.

The following FYE services are currently available:

FYE Website Email Support

www.unisa.ac.za/FY E [email protected]

FYE1500
Post-
myUnisa; Study
Registration Referrals to Skills; Academic &
Orientation other support Digital Literacies;
services etc
e.g. Counselling;
Reading & Writing
workshops

To ensure that you do not miss out on important academic and support communication
from the SRU, please check your myLife inbox regularly.

6.2 Using Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to apply for module credit within a
qualification.

Now that you are a registered student, you are advised to familiarise yourself with the learning
outcomes of the module or modules you have chosen. If you have been exposed to those learning
outcomes for three years or more – either through work experience or other involvement – you

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can apply to be exempted from completing assignments and writing examinations. As part of your
application for this exemption, you will be required to compile a portfolio of evidence substantiating
how your experience is equivalent to the learning outcomes. The diagram below shows the steps
involved in obtaining recognition of prior learning (RPL) for module credit. For more information
on the process, RPL fees, and the contact details of your college RPL coordinator, visit the Unisa
website: www.unisa.ac.za/rpl

7. STUDY PLAN
The study plan will be provided on myModules, as the academic calendar was not available when
this letter was compiled.

8. HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

8.1 What does it mean to study fully online?

Studying fully online modules differs completely from studying some of your other modules at
Unisa.

• All your study material and learning activities for online modules are designed to be
delivered online on myUnisa.
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• All your assignments must be submitted online. This means that you will do all your
activities and submit all your assignments on myUnisa. In other words, you may NOT post
your assignments to Unisa using the South African Post Office.
• All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate with you via e-mail and SMS, and will use the Announcements tool. Please
email your e-tutor or lecturer if you experience any problems with the content of the module.
Also see section 6 above for further contact details.

9. ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria are given per specific outcome:

Specific outcomes Assessment criteria

• Predicates and symbols are used, to represent properties or

relations, all formulated as English sentences
• A given set of logical connectives is used to combine
propositions and predicate logic atoms, correctly, from given
English sentences into equivalent logic sentences
Think in an abstract way, to • Truth tables illustrate the result of logical connectives, with
manipulate logical arguments, the correct relationships
using a variety of mathematical • Quantifiers generalise over predicate logic sentences, within
1 tools. the context
• Classifications of compound statements include tautology,
contradiction or neither
• Arguments around propositional and predicate logic
sentences are valid.

• Diagrams and mathematical notation are used to represent

Construct proofs in a clear and the structure of the problem correctly
concise way using • Rigorous, precise and convincing proofs. i.e. direct proofs,
mathematical reasoning proof by contraposition and proof by contradiction, are
2 techniques. constructed correctly
• A counterexample is provided correctly in the case where a
mathematical statement is not always true.

• • Sets are represented correctly using various notations

New sets constructed from existing one using set
• • operations are valid
Demonstrate knowledge and • Set equality are determined correctly
understanding regarding the • A counterexample in the case of set inequality is correct
definitions, laws and Sets represented using Venn diagrams are valid
3 operations of set theory. Equality of Venn diagrams are determined correctly
• A counterexample in the case of inequality of Venn diagrams
is correct
• New Venn diagrams constructed from existing ones using set
operations are valid.

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 Synthesise and critically ••• Particular properties of relations are identified correctly
analyse relations, functions • Different kinds of relation are defined correctly
4 and binary sets that are Synthesised relations of a given kind are correct
represented as sets containing New relations constructed from existing ones are valid
ordered pairs.
• Functions having specific properties, are identified correctly

Specific outcomes Assessment criteria

• Inverse function of a given function are defined correctly

• The composition of two given functions is valid

• Synthesised functions of a given kind are valid

• Properties of binary operations can be determined correctly

• Synthesised binary operations satisfying given properties are

valid.

5 Perform operations on vectors • Operations on vectors and matrices are applied, in order to
and matrices. construct different ways of storing and listing numbered
information correctly.
• The synthesised vector or matrix that fits a place holder
within an equation or that holds defined properties is correct.

9.2 Assessment plan

• To complete this module, you will be required to submit 4 assignments.

• All information about when and where to submit your assignments will be made available
to you via the myModules site for your module.
• Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments, will be available on the
myModules site for this module.
• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit at least one
assessment by the due date of assessment 1.
• The year mark counts 20% of the exam mark. It is therefore essential that you submit all
your assessments.
• The assignment weighting for the module is 20%.
• You will receive examination information via the myModules sites. Please watch out for
announcements on how examinations for the modules for which you are registered will be
conducted.
• The examination will count 80% towards the final module mark.
Assessment Due date

1 Will be announced

2 Will be announced

3 Will be announced

4 Will be announced

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9.3 Assessment/assignment due dates

• There are no assessment/assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assessment/assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing
page for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon
registration.
• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for
the submission of the assessments/assignments

An integrated assessment system is used for this module. This means that your final mark is
based not only on your examination mark, but also on your performance during the year.
Assessments do not only provide you with an opportunity to evaluate your understanding of the
prescribed material (or to give you feedback on your readiness for the examination), but also
make a contribution towards your year mark.

Your final mark will be calculated as follows:

Year mark (out of 100) × 20% + Examination mark (out of 100) × 80% In
order to pass this module, a final mark of at least 50% is required.

Your year mark is based on your assessment marks. Different weights are allocated to the
individual assessments. If an assessment is not submitted or is submitted late (for whatever
reason), no marks are awarded for such an assessment. It is your responsibility to ensure that
your assessments are submitted on time. Multiple choice assessments are marked by a computer
system at a time set out by the Assignment Section of Unisa – lecturers can therefore not give
any extension for multiple choice assessments.

There are 4 assessments for this module. Assessments will be made available on myUnisa. You
will be informed where to find your assessments. The following weights are allocated to the
individual assessments:
• Assessment 01: 20%
• Assessment 02: 30%
• Assessment 03: 30%
• Assessment 04: 20%

Example: The following example shows how the assessment system works, assuming that
assessments 01, 02, 03 and 04 were all submitted.

× Weight Contribution Type of assessment

Assessment Mark
to year mark
MCQ – more details will be given via
01 90% × 0.20 18%
an announcement

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 MCQ – more details will be given via
02 90% × 0.30 27%
an announcement
MCQ – more details will be given via
03 90% × 0.30 27%
an announcement
MCQ – more details will be given via
04 90% X 0.20 18%
an announcement
year mark 90%

The resulting year mark is 90%.

Suppose you obtain 80% in the examination. The final mark will be calculated as follows:
(90 × 0.20)% + (80 × 0.80)% = (18.0 + 64.0)% = 82%.

You can therefore see that to get a good year mark that will not influence your
examination mark negatively, it is important to put in enough effort in completing your
assessments.

Note: The year mark will not contribute towards the final exam of students writing a supplementary
examination.

Assessment questions will be provided online on myUnisa. Please check the announcements on
a regular basis.

9.4 Submission of assessments/assignments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will see, therefore, that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place
online. To facilitate this, we use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

• The myUnisa virtual campus offers students access to the myModules site, where
learning material is available online and where assessments should be completed.
Together, myUnisa and myModules form an online system that is used to administer,
document, and deliver educational material to students and support engagement between
those students and Unisa’s academics.

• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the myModules
2025 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered for.

• The University undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to

ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from your use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the Announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.

• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some may be tests and others may be written

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assessments/assignments, while some may be forum discussions and so on. All

assessments must be completed on the assessment shells available on the respective
module platforms.

• To complete quiz assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1,
Assessment 2, etc.). There will be a date recorded there telling you when the assessment
will open for you. When the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it
within the time available to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial
letter (Tutorial Letter 101) and are made available online only. You must therefore access
and complete the quiz online where it has been created.
• It is not advisable to use a cellphone to complete quizzes and you should please use a
desktop computer, tablet or laptop for this task. Students who use cellphones find it difficult
to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle to navigate
between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cellphones are
more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all possible,
please do not use a cellphone for this assessment type.

• For written assessments/assignments, please note the due date by which your work must
be submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment/assignment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell
on myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment to the myModules
site for the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, doublecheck
that you have selected the correct file for uploading. Remember, no marks can be allocated
for incorrectly submitted assessments/assignments.

9.4.1 Types of assignments and descriptions

All assignments are defined as either optional, mandatory, compulsory, or elective.

• Elective assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item. - The best of
the required submissions will count.
• Mandatory assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
• Optional assignments – You are encouraged, as a student, to do optional
assignments in order to benefit your learning.

I. Elective assignments
a. The student is given a choice of which assignments within an identified group to submit
and only the best result/s, the number of which is specified in advance, will contribute
towards the year mark.
b. Elective assignments must be grouped into an elective group.
c. For the student to select which assignment to submit, the elective assignments must
be grouped together. For such an elective group, relevant information (such as how
many of the assignments must be submitted and how many of the assignment marks
should be combined into the year mark) will be supplied to you.

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 d. The selection criteria define how marks received for assignments in an elective group
are to be combined into the year mark. Three different criteria may be used for
calculating the year mark:
• The best mark should be used, or
• If the student submits fewer than the required number of assignments per group,
or no assignment in a group, a mark of 0% will be used.
• 0% is awarded to all non-submitted or unmarked assessments. A best mark is
then calculated from all the qualifying items submitted.

II. Mandatory assessments/assignments

a. Mandatory assessments/assignments contribute to the year mark.
b. If a student fails to submit a mandatory assignment, no mark is awarded and the year
mark is calculated accordingly. The student will therefore forfeit the marks attached to
such an assignment when the final mark for the module is calculated.

III. Optional assessments assignments – You are encouraged, as a student, to do

optional assessments/assignments in order to benefit your learning.

9.5 The assessments/assignments

As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete at least 1 assessment for this module.
Assessments 1 to 3 test your knowledge of the content as specified in the Study plan document
in the Additional Resources folder. Assessment 4 will test your knowledge on ALL the prescribed
content for the year. It will contain the same number of questions and will be of the same format
as the examination. Therefore, you should allow yourself enough time to complete this
assessment.

There are no assessments included in this tutorial letter. Assessments and due dates will be made
available to you on myModules for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available
to you upon registration.]

9.6 Other assessment methods

Tutorial letters 102 and 103 under Additional Resources contain additional self-assessment
exercises that you must work through. Your e-tutor will also put self-assessment quizzes on
myModules for you.

9.7 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant), as well as for communication from the University.

9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring

Since 2020, Unisa has conducted all its assessments online. Given the stringent requirements
imposed by professional bodies, as well as increased solicitation of Unisa’s students by third

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parties to unlawfully assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the
University is obliged to assure the integrity of its assessment integrity by using various proctoring
tools: Turnitin, Moodle Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools authenticate the
student’s identity and flag suspicious behaviour to assure the credibility of their responses during
assessments. The description below is for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of these
in your registered modules:

Turnitin is plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and ghost
writing. Students are expected to submit typed responses when using the Turnitin software.

The Moodle Proctoring tool is facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identities
during their Quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop camera.
Students must ensure that their cameras are activated in their browser settings prior to starting
their assessments.

The Invigilator App is a mobile application-based service that verifies the identity of an
assessment participant. The Invigilator app detects student dishonesty-by-proxy and ensures that
the assessment participant is the student registered for the module concerned. This invigilation
tool requires students to download the app from the Google Play Store (Android devices), the
Huawei AppGallery (Huawei devices) or the Apple App Store (Apple devices) on their
cameraenabled mobile devices prior to their assessment.

The IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides
for both manual and automated facial verification. It can record and review a student’s assessment
session and it flags suspicious behaviour by the student for review by an academic administrator.
The IRIS software requires installation on students’ webcam-enabled laptop devices. IRIS
invigilation software is used for all CSET online examinations/tests. It is the responsibility of
students to ensure the software is working properly before the examination session, and
attendance of training.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious or dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports will be referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceedings.

Please note:

Students must refer to their module assessment information on their myModule sites to determine
which proctoring or invigilation tool will be used for their formative and summative assessments.

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9.8 Supplementary examination

The supplementary exam for this module is written in January/February 2025.

10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging that source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the source of the information.

10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another student
during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files. (This matter is addressed in the examination
guidelines.)
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).

10.3 For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.

If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support, or if you need additional
time for assignments/assessments, you are invited to contact B. Nthutang, [email protected]
to discuss the assistance that you need.

12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A list of frequently answered questions will be saved under Additional resources on the
myModules platform.

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 COS1501/101/0/2025

13. SOURCES CONSULTED

COS1501/101/0/2024

14. IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module.

We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material, and trust that you
will complete the module successfully.

Enjoy the journey!

15. ADDENDUM
STEPS FOR DOWNLOADING THE CAI TUTORIAL FROM MYUNISA

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE DUE TO UNZIP

PROBLEMS ON WINDOWS 10 AND 11. PLEASE ALSO SEE SECTION 5.4.

©
Unisa 2025

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