Up-to-date information is at http://cse.unl.edu/~sscott/teach/Classes/cse150AF09/
| INSTRUCTOR: | LAB TA: | LAB TA/Grader: | GRADER: | GRADER: | LAB ASSISTANT: |
| Stephen Scott | Lin Liu | Shuai Xie | Jon Ray | John Bauman | Nate Stender |
| 268 Avery 472-6994 |
114A Schorr | 114 Schorr | 123A Avery | 104E Avery | |
| sscott AT cse | linliu AT cse | sxie AT cse | jray AT cse | jbauman AT cse | nstender AT cse |
| Office Hours: 3:30pm–5:00pm Mon 10:00am–11:30am Thu in Avery 268 |
Office Hours: 11:30am–1:30pm Fri in the Student Resource Center |
Office Hours: 3:30pm–5:30pm Fri in the Student Resource Center |
Office Hours: 2:00pm–4:00pm Tue in the Student Resource Center |
Office Hours: 9:00am–11:00am Mon in the Student Resource Center |
PREREQUISITES: Four years high school mathematics
TIME: Lecture: 2:30pm–3:20pm MWF;
Labs:
8:00am–9:15am R,
9:30am–10:45am R, 12:30pm–1:45pm R, 2:00pm–3:15pm R,
6:30pm–7:45pm R
CLASSROOM: Lecture: Avery 115; Labs: Avery 21
TEXTBOOK: Problem Solving and Program Design in C, Sixth Edition by Jeri R. Hanly and Elliot B. Koffman, Addison Wesley
Problem solving with a computer and programming fundamentals using a popular high-level language; mathematics topics. Logic and functions that apply to computer science; elementary programming constructs, type, and algorithmic techniques.
The following table contains a list of topics we will cover, along with the relevant sections of the text. This schedule is tentative and may be changed or topics added/removed as time dictates. Furthermore, though we will follow the book, additional material may be introduced (with sufficient resources) while the depth of each topic may vary.
| Basic C Program Components | Chapter 2 |
| Formatting Output, Type casting | Chapter 3 |
| Functions | Chapter 3 |
| Control Structures | Chapter 4 |
| Loops | Chapter 5 |
| Arrays | Chapter 8, Sections 14.1–14.2 |
| Strings | Chapter 9, Section 13.7 |
| File Processing | Chapter 12 |
| Structures | Chapter 11 |
| Linking, Header Files, makefiles, system calls | Sections 13.1–13.3 |
| Recursion | Chapter 10 |
| Data Structures | Chapter 14 |
| Intro To C++ | Chapter 16 |
Unless otherwise indicated on a specific assignment, you may not consult each other for assistance on the homework beyond asking each other for basic clarification on the course material or on basic programming techniques. If you are unsure whether the help you want to ask for from another student is appropriate, consult me first (refer to the CS&E Department's Policy on Academic Integrity for more information). Further, you must write up your results in your own words and indicate whom you consulted, and on what.
For the non-programming parts of your homework, you must use some document processing package (e.g. LaTeX or Word) to write your submissions, and you must submit your reports electronically in pdf format. You must also write as clearly and concisely as possible. Presentation of your results is as important as the results themselves, and will be heavily weighted in grading. If we cannot understand what you wrote due to poor writing, etc., then we cannot award full credit, even if your answers are correct. Thus I recommend that you ask someone (e.g. a friend or someone from the English Department, but not a student in this class) to proofread your write-ups before you submit them, to check for clarity, typographical errors, etc. If English is not your native language, then I strongly recommend this!
Finally, ensure that all your files (e.g. program code, homework write-ups) are reasonably well-protected. You will be held responsible if someone copies your files and submits them to me as homework solutions.
Each homework will be due
by 11:59pm on its due date.
(The system's clock, which timestamps your submissions,
is the official clock for this course. Do not assume that just because the
handin program allows you to submit that the deadline has not passed; you are
responsible for ensuring that your files are submitted and timestamped before
the deadline.)
Late homework submissions will be penalized
exponentially: if your submission is m minutes late,
your final score will be multiplied by
Each program will be graded on the following criteria.
If you have questions about grading or believe that points were deducted unfairly, you must first address the one who graded it to see if it can be resolved. Such questions should be made within a reasonable amount of time after the graded assignment has been returned. No further consideration will be given to any assignment a week after a it has been graded and returned to you. It is important to emphasize that the goal of grading is consistency. A grade on any given assignment, even if it is low for the entire class, should not matter that much. Rather, students who do comparable work should receive comparable grades.
There will be several short quizzes given during certain classes. The quizzes will cover recent topics. No makeup quizzes will be given without prior approval. Your first quiz is the course's prerequisite test, which will be taken on-line in the form of the first 25 questions of the CSE Placement test. You must complete it by 11:59pm on Monday, August 31, and will get credit simply for taking it.
There will be two exams given in class, including a comprehensive final exam given during Finals week (1:00pm–3:00pm Wednesday, Dec 16). No makeup exams will be given without prior approval.
This course has a lab component that meets each Thursday. You will get more information on this during your first lab meeting. In the labs, you will use the web service CodeLab. You will need to pay a $20 license fee to register and use that system. Your lab instructor will give you more information at your first lab session.
In this course you will complete a series of learning objects. Each learning object is an on-line component with a tutorial and interactive exercises on a particular topic (e.g. conditionals, loops, functions). The learning objects are used for educational research purposes and as a required part of the course. You decide whether or not your data can be used for research purposes. Regardless, the grades received in the LOs will be added to your final score in the course (see below). You will need to complete the online consent form before any LOs become visible.
Grades for the above course elements will be weighted as follows:
| homeworks: 35% | quizzes: 10% | lab: 30% | midterm: 10% | final: 15% |
In addition, the learning objects will add up to 5% bonus points to your final score. Thus I'll compute your final score based on the table above, and then add to that your LO score times 0.05.
In computing your letter grade I will start with the following base scale, where s is your final score:
| s ≥ 90% ⇒ A | 80% ≤ s < 90% ⇒ B | 70% ≤ s < 80% ⇒ C | 60% ≤ s < 70% ⇒ D | s < 60% ⇒ F |
You will receive a "+" with your grade if the last digit of your score is ≥ 7, and a "–" if the last digit is < 3. I will scale up from this base scale if necessary. So if you get an 87% in this course you are guaranteed a B+ (similarly, an 82% guarantees a B–), but your grade might be higher depending on your performance relative to the rest of the class and your level of class participation.
All homework assignments, programs, quizzes, exams, etc. must be your own work. No direct collaboration with fellow students, past or current, is allowed unless otherwise stated. The Computer Science & Engineering department has an Academic Integrity Policy. All students enrolled in any computer science course are bound by this policy. You are expected to read, understand, and follow this policy. Violations will be dealt with on a case by case basis and may result in a failing assignment or a failing grade for the course itself. We will use specialized software to detect plagiarism of software programs.
The best way to communicate with your instructor and GTAs is through email. Another valuable communication tool is the course web page. Announcements and resources will periodically be made available. The CSE Department has an anonymous suggestion box that you may use to voice your concerns about any problems in the course or department if you do not wish to be identified.
Besides regular office hours held by the instructor and GTAs, you may also find useful the Student Resource Center in Avery 13A.
Last modified 16 August 2011; please report problems to sscott AT cse.