Question

journal entry for october 17, 2025
b computer science
all journal entries must be at least 8-10 complete sentences unless otherwise specified to receive full credit. make sure you proofread and spell check before completing for a grade. please use complete sentences, avoid \text talk\, and use proper punctuations. be sure to use spell check and grammar check.

1. directions: write a one -page paper: how would you explain computer programing to someone who has no understanding of coding? think about what you have learned from the beginning of the year to present. how does coding work, what technologies are required? (be sure to include the terms (input, output, html, css) in your response).

Explanation:

The task requires writing a one-page paper explaining computer programming to a non-coder, including key terms (INPUT, OUTPUT, HTML, CSS) and drawing on learned concepts. A sample paper would start with a relatable analogy (e.g., a recipe), define coding as instructions for computers, explain INPUT (user actions like typing) and OUTPUT (computer responses like displaying text), introduce HTML as the "structure" of web pages (e.g., headings, paragraphs) and CSS as the "design" (e.g., colors, fonts), and connect these to real-world examples like building a simple web page. It would use clear language, avoid jargon, and ensure 8-10+ complete sentences with proper proofreading.

Answer:

To explain computer programming to someone new to coding, start with a familiar analogy: coding is like writing a detailed recipe for a computer. Just as a recipe tells a cook exactly what ingredients to use and steps to follow to make a dish, code tells a computer what actions to take and how to respond to information. Let’s break this down with key terms you might have learned. First, INPUT refers to any information you give the computer—for example, typing a search query into a website or clicking a button. The computer then processes this INPUT using code. Next, OUTPUT is what the computer gives back to you, like displaying search results or changing the color of a button when you click it.

Now, think about building a website: two essential technologies here are HTML and CSS. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the "structure" of the website, similar to the frame of a house. It uses tags to define elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and buttons—these are the basic building blocks that organize content. For example, an HTML tag for a heading might look like <h1>My First Website</h1>, which tells the computer to display "My First Website" as a large, top-level heading. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), on the other hand, is the "design" of the website. It controls how HTML elements look: things like colors, fonts, spacing, and layout. If HTML is the frame of the house, CSS is the paint, furniture, and decor that make it look inviting. For instance, a CSS rule might say "make all h1 headings blue and use the Arial font," which changes the appearance of every HTML heading tag.

Putting this together: when you visit a website, your browser takes the HTML (structure) and CSS (design) code as INPUT, processes it, and shows you the finished page as OUTPUT. Coding works because computers follow these instructions exactly—they can’t guess what you want, so code has to be clear and precise. Even small mistakes, like a missing tag in HTML or a typo in CSS, can make a website look broken or not work at all. Over time, you learn to write cleaner code, debug errors, and use these technologies to create functional, visually appealing projects. By connecting coding to everyday concepts (recipes, house frames) and explaining core terms simply, someone new to coding can start to see how it powers the websites, apps, and tools they use every day.