Your final grade will be based on a weighted average of the following components:
|
Assignments |
20%
|
|
Quizzes |
20%
|
|
Exam 1 |
20%
|
|
Exam 2 |
20%
|
|
Final Exam |
20%
|
All homeworks are weighted equally and all quizzes are weighted equally.
At the end of the semester, we will compute a weighted average for each student and assign letter grades. In general, the mapping from numerical score to letter grades looks like this: >= 93.33 is an A, >= 90.00 is an A-, >= 86.67 is a B+, >= 83.33 is a B, >= 80.00 is a B-. >= 76.67 is a C+, >= 73.33 is a C, >= 70.00 is a C-, >= 60.00 is a D and < 60.00 is an F.
Depending on the overall performance of the class, we may adjust this mapping.
There will be three exams, all open book and open notes:
Please mark these dates in your calendars. If you have any conflicts regarding the exam dates, please contact your instructor as soon as possible.
There will be a quiz during the first 10 minutes of every Monday lecture. These quizzes are intended to reinforce previously introduced concepts, and also to provide a motivation for new lecture topics.
At the end of the semester, we will drop the lowest quiz score so that if you miss a quiz for any reason it will not affect your grade. However, if you miss a quiz, you cannot make it up under any circumstance.
Please come to class on time, so you have enough time to do the quiz. All quizzes will be collected promptly so that lecture can start on time.
We will assign a weekly problem set intended to give you a working knowledge of the concepts presented in class. Assignments will be submitted electronically and due by 11:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. See the Course Syllabus for assignments and due dates.
All assignments are intended to take the same amount of time, but the actual time varies from student to student and assignment to assignment. For many students, most assignments take roughly 10 hours.
In order for us to grade and return assignments promptly, we cannot accept late assignments. If you have not completed an assignment, you should still turn in whatever you have for partial credit. In extenuating circumstances (e.g., sickness, personal crisis, family problems, religious holidays), you may request an extension.
Many of the assignments will be challenging. Keep in mind that programming often consumes more time than you think it will. Start your problem sets early so that you have time to think about the the problems and ask questions if you hit an impasse. Waiting until the last minute is a recipe for disaster.
Also, keep in mind that computers do break down and that, outside of laboratory hours, you may have to compete with other students for a machine. Plan accordingly.
Instructions for turning in each assignment will be included with the assignment.
The mandatory weekly, 2-hour laboratory sessions consist of both written and online problem-solving exercises. The exercises provide hands-on practice with new material and with problems similar to the weekly homework assignments.