COURSE GUIDELINES
Spring 2006, CIS C071.004 Introduction to Computing
and Computer Programming
Instructor: Slobodan Vucetic. Office: Wachman Hall, Rooms 304
SUMMARY
OF COURSE GOALS:
Editorial
Note: This document is not intended to scare
you. Rather it is intended to lay some
ground rules for how this course will be conducted and what my expectations are
for the course. I will be asking you
about your expectations as well, as soon as we have our first meeting.
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OBJECTIVES:
·
The purpose
of this course is to provide an introduction to and ample exercise with the
basic concepts of writing good computer programs -- programs that are concise,
clear, easy to read, test and modify.
·
Particular attention will be paid to the concepts
of program and data abstraction.
·
Numerous complete program examples will
be illustrated in class, and a number of design and programming problems will
be assigned.
·
All programs will be implemented in the C
programming language.
·
Programming is hard for most of us. It involves planning and problem solving --
making good decisions about various strategies to follow in mapping out a
solution to a problem. Mostly, it requires
precision and patience. We will provide
suggested methodologies and tools that should make it any easier to build a
firm grounding in the discipline of programming.
GRADES:
·
Labs
and Projects (25%), 2 Midterm Exams (25%), Final Exam (25%), Short Homework
Exercises (5%), Quizzes (15%), Miscellaneous (attendance, etc.) (5%)
·
These percentages are approximate, and
can be expected to vary slightly depending upon individual circumstances, and
strengths and weaknesses in student background.
Homework is used to raise or lower your grade and can affect your final
grade by no more than a letter.
Excellent homework could raise your Base Grade by as much as a full
letter.
EXAMS:
·
Exams are open book. The content
is cumulative, covering material up to the day of the exam.
·
If you miss a
midterm (there will be two) for an emergency [as agreed ahead of time with the
instructor], I will make every effort to reschedule a makeup within 24 hours or
as soon as possible. If a reschedule is
not possible within a reasonable time frame, the exam may be skipped; the other
exams will become proportionally more important. If you miss any exam without prior agreement
and without definitive proof as to the legal or medical reasons, you will get a
zero for that exam grade.
·
The final exam
is mandatory on the scheduled day.
·
Exams will be designed to test your
understanding of the C language, the design and programming methods and
processes used in class, and other relevant material about computers including
operating systems, electronic mail, the use of the World Wide Web, editors,
compilers, loaders, etc.
·
NOTE: Poor performance, generally,
failure to receive at least a solid D average, on the exams, will result in a
grade of D or worse.
LAB and HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
·
You will be assigned roughly one
laboratory each week.
·
Each lab must be turned on time and sent
electronically to the Teaching Assistant (TA), unless otherwise
instructed. Lab assignments will be
graded and commented upon by the TA usually before the next assignment is due.
·
Attendance for the full period of each
laboratory is MANDATORY. In the
laboratory you will be assisted as needed with the solutions of lab and
homework assignments you have been given.
Labs are graded numerically by the grader.
·
Late labs will not be accepted
except in the case of documented emergencies.
Turn in what you have done on the due date, along with an explanation of
what has been done and what has not been done. Homework assignments will be
assigned as needed. You will not receive
letter or numeric grades for your homework -- just a check, check +, or check -
(or a zero). It is up to you to ensure
your homework effort serves its purpose -- for you to learn the material.
·
Homework assignments will be graded and
commented upon either by the instructor or the TA usually within a week. Late homework will not be accepted
except in the case of documented emergencies.
Turn in what you have done on the due date, along with an explanation of
what has been done and what has not been done.
·
I encourage all students to discuss
assignments with me, the lab assistants, and with other students in the
class. HOWEVER, unless you have a group
assignment, you are expected to work and complete all the homework on your own.
Plagiarism will be handled with severe measures.
·
Your homework assignments are intended to
help YOU learn about the art and science of computer programming. For most
students in the class, doing the reading and the programming assignments is the
only way you will master the concepts and ideas discussed; it is most surely
the only way you will learn about programming.
CLASS
ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM CONDUCT:
1. Come to class on time (within 5
minutes, please) or eventually you may find that you are not welcome at all.
2. Be
prepared -- you will be helped considerably if you do the reading and the
homework on time. If you can stay a bit
ahead in the reading you will be even better off.
3. Ask questions in class. I can’t tell what is being learned and what
is causing trouble if you don’t ask questions.
4.
If you miss class, please obtain notes
and missed assignments from your fellow classmates. If there is anything that you do not
understand, I will be happy to help you, but you have to make the first
effort to make up the work. I
EXPECT EACH STUDENT TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE UP WHATEVER IS MISSED IN
CLASS.
5.
Once class has begun, unless you have an
emergency, please remain seated unless asked to come to the board. It is very distracting to have students
walking in and out of class in the middle of a class. It is also RUDE.
6.
I will not give a grade of incomplete
except under extraordinary conditions.
CHEATING:
Academic cheating (such as plagiarism, copying
during an exam, copying homework, stealing files and passwords, etc.) is
strictly prohibited in this course. The
penalty for the offense will normally be an F in the course and may also be
referred to the University Disciplinary Committee. No collusion what-so-ever
during an exam will be tolerated. In
particular, no talking or other sharing of information (for example during open
book exams) is permitted. Keep your eyes
on YOUR paper.
IGNORANCE
OF ACCEPTABLE GUIDELINES OF CONDUCT IS NO EXCUSE. Your Temple Student Handbook has information
on this subject -- I expect everyone to read it as part of your first
assignment. You can find the handbook by
going to the
YOUR PASSWORD:
Your
password is your unique "key" to your computing resources. Please
treat this password as your own personal property -- that's exactly what it is!
Misuse of your password may result in the removal of your computing access
privileges.
WITHDRAWAL
POLICY:
You
may withdraw from this course (with a grade of "W passing") at any
time prior to the "magic date" specified by the University (now about
five weeks before the end of classes).
It is up to you to find out when this date is for a given semester. I will generally try to give, grade, and
return the SECOND EXAM in time for you to make a decision about what to do if
you are not happy with your progress in the course. Students who simply "drop out" of
class without formally withdrawing will receive a grade of F.
PERSONAL ISSUES:
Faculty (including me), advisors, and the staff
in the Office of the Dean of Students are here to help you. If, during the course of the semester, you
have personal issues that are making it difficult for you to meet your course
obligations, it is important that you communicate with these folks and that you
do so in a timely manner. Attempting to
recover from such difficulties after the fact will be far more difficult.
STUDENTS with DISABILITIES:
Any student who has a need for accommodations
based on the impact of a disability should contact the office of Disability
Resources and Services as soon as possible (215-204-1280). The staff at this office is most prepared and
willing to discuss privately specific situations and to provide whatever
guidance and assistance would be helpful.
Disability issues raised after the fact make it very difficult for
anyone to be accommodating.
A final note:
In signing up for this
course, you have signed a contract to do the work that is required and to fully
participate in course activities, including standard homework, all labs,
group/cooperative projects, quizzes, and exams.
I expect you to live up to your end of the bargain. You will be graded according to how well you
satisfy course requirements. If you have
any questions, please see me. This is hard work, but it also can be a lot of
fun. Thanks.
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CERTIFICATION (Please sign below and return to
Dr. Vucetic in the next class):
I hereby certify that I have read and I
understand all materials included in the CIS C071 Course Guidelines Document.
__CIS _____.______________ _________________________ _________________________ ____/____/20__
(course and section numbers) (print your name) (your signature) (date)