Course Description

Final grades will be based upon the prerequisite test (3%), 9 homework assignments (27% total), 2 writing assignments (20% total), the midterm exam (20%) and the final exam (30%). Grades are given for work done during the semester; incomplete grades will only be given for medical illness or other such dire circumstances.

The final letter grades are based on the standard formula:

0 <= F < 60,    60 <= D < 70,    70 <= C < 80, 80 <= B < 90,    90 <= A <= 100

Depending upon the distribution of grades in the class, there may be adjustments in the students' favor, but under no circumstances will the letter grades be lower than in the standard formula. Grades will not be "curved" in the sense that the percentages of A's, B's and C's are not fixed. As a guideline, a student receiving an "A" should be able to solve the homework problems with facility; design and analyze new algorithms in written exams; and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of theoretical analysis in practical programming settings.

Lecture and Homework Policy

Students are expected to attend all lectures and are responsible for all material covered in the lecture as well as those in the assigned reading. However, this subject cannot be learned simply by listening to the lectures and reading the book. In order to master the material, you must spend time outside the classroom, to think, to work out the homework and understand the solutions.

Assignments are due at the beginning of lecture. Late homework will not be accepted --- this is to allow for timely grading and discussion of the homework solutions. Reasonable provisions will be made for students who are delayed by traffic, who are on travel, ... Late homework will be rejected from students who have obviously been working on homework instead of attending lecture. Partial credit will be given for serious attempts on the homework problems. So you should simply turn in whatever you have accomplished by the beginning of class. If you cannot attend lecture when homework is due, for some honorable reason, you must make arrangements to submit your homework directly to the instructor. Do not ask another student to submit your homework for you. This is to reduce the temptation to cheat (see below).

Working Together

Students are allowed, and even encouraged, to collaborate on homework problems. Collaborators and reference materials must be acknowledged at the top of each homework assignment. However, homework solutions must be written up independently. A student who is looking at someone else's solution or notes, whether in print or in electronic form, while writing up his or her own solution is considered to be cheating. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with severely.

Writing assignments, on the other hand, must be accomplished through individual effort. Students may get help on grammar, sentence and paragraph construction from the Writing Center or from others who are not taking this course, but all technical work must be done individually. Writing assignments that are found to have as much as a single sentence copied will receive a grade of zero. This penalty applies to both the copier and to the copied. So, do not allow another student to look at your writing assignment.

Exams