CPSC 115L: Introduction to Computing Fall 2010

Course information and policies

CPSC 115-01:MWF 11:00–11:50 AM in 136 MCEC
Instructor:Ralph Morelli
Office:147 MCEC
Phone:(860) 297-2220
E-mail:ralph.morelli@trincoll.edu
Office hours:MWF 10:30–11:00 AM, M 2:00–3:00 PM, Th 11:00 AM–noon, F 2:00–2:30 PM or by appointment

CPSC 115-02:
TuTh 10:50 AM–12:05 PM in 270 MCEC
Instructor:Takunari Miyazaki
Office:133 MCEC
Phone:(860) 297-4041
E-mail:takunari.miyazaki@trincoll.edu
Office hours:Tu 1:30–3:00 PM, W 10:30 AM–noon or by appointment

Laboratories:


CPSC 115-20 (Morelli): W 1:15–3:55 PM in 136 MCEC
CPSC 115-21 (Miyazaki): Th 1:30–4:10 PM in 136 MCEC

Teaching assistants:


Scotty Eckenthal (TA session: Su 7:00–9:00 PM in 136 MCEC)
Pauline Lake-Almeida (TA session: M 7:00–9:00 PM in 136 MCEC)

Course website:
http://www.cs.trincoll.edu/cpsc115/

Course description. A fundamental treatment of computer science topics featuring the study of the high-level programming languages Python and Java. Topics discussed will include computer architecture, programming languages and ethical issues involved in computer use. Problem-solving techniques involved in writing programs will be studied, proper style and documentation will be required, and object-oriented program design will be introduced. A required weekly laboratory will involve an intensive study of programming techniques in Python and Java.

Prerequisite. C- or better in CPSC 110 or mathematics skills appropriate for enrolling in a calculus class.

Textbooks. There is one required textbook: The entire text of this book is available online for free of charge under a different title: We did not order any hardcopies of Downey at the campus bookstore, so please purchase one on your own if you wish to obtain a hardcopy. For Java programming, we recommend the following free online titles for your supplemental reading: References. For “official” online resources on Python and Java, visit the following websites: For “official” reference books, we recommend: No free online versions of these books are available, and we did not order any hardcopies at the campus bookstore.

Exams. There will be three exams, two in-class and one final.
CPSC 115-01 (MWF)CPSC 115-02 (TuTh)
Exam 1 (in class):Wednesday, October 13Thursday, October 14
Exam 2 (in class):Monday, November 15Tuesday, November 16
Final exam:Monday, December 20, at noonTuesday, December 21, at 3:00 PM
No early or late exam will be offered. These exams will be closed-book exams.

Quizzes. There will be several short quizzes given, roughly speaking, once every two weeks, unless there is an exam. For each quiz, there will be an advanced announcement regarding when it will be given and what will be covered. No early or late quiz will be offered; however, your lowest quiz grade will be disregarded at the end of the term. These quizzes will be closed-book quizzes.

Laboratories. You are required to attend a laboratory session and complete a laboratory assignment every week. Each assignment is due at the end of the laboratory period. Three assignments will be graded in points, and the rest will be graded with either a “pass” or “fail”. For the pass/fail laboratories, you are expected to work with another student as a pair; however, for the three graded laboratories, you are expected to work individually. At the end of the term, your lowest pass/fail laboratory grade will be disregarded; however, all of the three graded-laboratory grades will count.

Homework assignments and programming projects. There will be several homework assignments and a couple of programming projects. Homework assignments will involve problem solving and short programming, whereas programming projects will involve somewhat lengthy programming. These assignments and projects are to be completed individually. Some assignments will be very challenging, so be sure to start early. At the end of the term, your lowest homework grade will be disregarded; however, all of your project grades will count.

Attendance. You are required to attend every class, arriving on time and not leaving before the end of the class period, and you will be responsible for knowing about all announcements made in class. (You should also check your e-mail at least once a day for occasional course-related communications.) If you must miss class for any reason, you must demonstrate that you have mastered the material for that day's class. For this, you must write a one-to-two-page paper on that day's material and hand it in by the next class. Such a paper will be graded with either a “pass” or “fail”. Each failure to turn in such a paper will result in your overall course grade being lowered by 1%.

Late policies. As stated above, all exams and quizzes must be taken on the dates specified. For laboratories and homework assignments, no late work will be accepted (however, as stated above, your lowest pass/fail laboratory and homework grades will be disregarded at the end of the term). For programming projects, a 10% penalty for each academic day will be assessed to late work up to a maximum penalty of 30%. Only in a very rare extenuating circumstance (e.g., serious illness, family emergency), you may request for an early/late exam/quiz or an extension for an assignment/project, but such a request must be made in writing in advance to your instructor.

Grading. Your overall course grade will be evaluated according to the following weights for the total of 100%.
Two in-class exams:2 × 15%
Final exam:20%
Homework and projects:20%
Pass/fail laboratories:10%
Graded laboratories:10%
Quizzes:10%
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty. You are encouraged to consult with one another when you work on homework assignments, but in the end everyone must do one's own work to hand in. In particular, discussion of homework assignments and programming projects should be limited to brainstorming and verbally going through strategies, but it must not involve one student sharing written solutions with another student. In the end everyone must write up solutions independently. If you have discussed with classmates or used any outside source, you must clearly indicate so on your solutions and provide all references. Turning in another person's work under your name is plagiarism and qualifies as academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is a serious intellectual violation, and the consequences can be severe. For more details, read the Student Handbook 2010–2011, pp. 21–29.

Special needs. If you have a disability that might prevent you from fully demonstrating your abilities, you should meet with an adviser as soon as possible to initiate disability verification and discuss accommodations that may be necessary to ensure your full participation in the successful completion of the course requirements.

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