Department of Computer Science

Georgia State University

CSc 2010 Syllabus – Fall  2008

Room 321 - GCB 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. TR

Computer Number 80497

Instructor:     Jaman Bhola,2123 Credit Union Building, 34 Peachtree Street.
Tel:                (404) 413-5720
FAX: (404) 413-5717
email:            jbhola@cs.gsu.edu

Office Hours:  1:00 – 2:00 p.m.TR, and others by appointment.

Text: Invitation to Computer Science – 3^rd Edition by G.M. Schneider & J.L. Gersting, Java Version, Thomson Course Technology, 2007

Course Content:      "A breadth-first introduction to the discipline of computer science.  Topics include algorithmic foundations, hardware concepts, virtual machine concepts, software systems, applications, and social issues." HTML. As much as the text will be covered as possible, starting from Chapter 1 and proceeding sequentially. It is expected that students should have the text and they should always try to read ahead of lectures.

Withdrawals:  The last day for regular withdrawal is Wednesday, October 1^st , 2008.

Course Requirements:  This is an introductory course.  However, this is a difficult course which demands that all students attend all classes!  Regular completion of all reading, homework, and other outside assignments, are absolutely essential for success in this course.

Course Grades:  The course grade will be derived from: class tests (4), a number of homework assignments, and a final exam.  The following is the percentage breakdown:

                                                   TEST 1                                  15%

                                                   TEST 2                                  15%

TEST 3                                  15%

                                                   TEST 4                                  15%

                                                  ASSIGNMENTS                    25%

                                                  FINAL EXAM                      15%

                                                   TOTAL                                100%

NOTE: Assignments will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date.

           Test 1 will be on Thursday, September, 11^th  (Tentative date)

           Test 2 will be on Thursday, September, 25^{th (}Tentative date)

Test 3 will be on Thursday, October, 23^rd  (Tentative date)

<> Test 4 will be on Thursday, November, 20^th (Tentative date)


Final Exam will be on Tuesday, December 9^th , 2008 at 2:45 pm - 4:45pm -  321 - GCB.

The nominal grading scale is as follows:

A  --> 90  -  100                B  -->  80  -  89          C  -->  70  -  79     D  -->    60  -  69       F  -->    Bellow 59

If a class is not held on a test, exam or assignment due day, the test, exam or assignment will take place on the next class session.

There will be no make up test. A missed test or exam will result in 0 points.

Contact me in advance in case of a disaster such as illness. An original letter addressed to me on a letterhead paper from a physician or hospital or court stating that you could not take the test or exam as scheduled is necessary for me to consider your case.

Assignments:

Any attempt to turn in an assignment after 2:35 p.m. on the due date is considered late AND POSITIVELY & ABSOLUTELY, NO LATE ASSIGNM ENT WILL BE ACCEPTED. All assignments MUST be turned in by hand in class - NO EMAILED ASSIGNMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED.

ADIVCE: Turn in what you have regardless if you are finished or not.
A full answer is required for all assignments. If part of the answer exist in the text, then it is the students' responsibility to write out that part in the answer submitted. Should the student only reference that part of the answer that exist in the book, he/she will not receive credit for that part of the answer. It would be treated as if it was an incomplete answer.

Absolutely no make up or excuse for the final exam. If for some medical reason or ANY OTHER reasons, you cannot take the final exam, then you should consider applying for an Incomplete.

<>
PLAGIARISM: All work submitted for grading must be the student’s own work. Plagiarism will result in a score of 0 for the work or dismissal from the course and the Dean of Students office will be notified.  No copying from another student’s work is allowed. It is the students’ duty to allow no one to copy his or her work. If it is found, in the opinoin of the instructor, that one student copy from another, both papers will be given 0 regardless of who copied from whom.

Absence from class:  Students are responsible for all materials covered in class and assigned. Should a student be absent from class, it is his/her responsibility to get the notes, etc. for that missed class. More important, should there be assignments, it is the students' responsibility to obtain such assignments. No excuse will be accepted for assignments not turned in because the student was absent when such assignment was given.

Grading: Assignments and exams will be graded and returned in approximately one week after it was collected or given respectively. Should there be a delay, the students will be notified.

NOTE: I will not give extra assignments or test to help to boost students’ grades.

Grading Explained:

“It is the policy of the Department of Computer Science that each instructor of record of any 1000-, 2000-, or 3000-level computer science course compute each student’s final course score so that the student’s performance on any/all work done outside of class and submitted for a grade cannot raise the student’s final course score but can lower it.  In this context, the final course score is the numerical percent that is mapped into the letter grade for the course.”

“The following shows the tests and assignments and their weights. The course material on which the homework is based will also be thoroughly tested on in class, including, in the case of programming language instruction, programming syntax, documentation, and design."

In-class Homework
Tests  Weights Assignments  Weights
            Test #1                  15%                          Assignment #1                        5%
            Test #2                  15%                          Assignment #2                        5%
            Test#3                   15%              Assignment #3                        5%
            Test#4 15%                          Assignment #4                        5%
            Finals                    15%                          Assignment #5                        5%
Total Weight = 75%  Total Weight = 25%

Each item will receive a percentage score. These scores will be used to compute a Final Course Score (FCS) and a letter grade for the course according to the following four-step procedure.

Step 1. Compute the Weighted Average of Tests (WAT).
Step 2. Compute the Weighted Average of Tests and Assignments (WATA).
Step 3. Rule: FCS = Minimum of (WAT and WATA).
Step 4. Convert the FCS to a letter grade using the following ranges:
A: 100-90, B: 89-80, C: 79-70, D: 69-60, and F: 59-0.

Examples.

Student X

Test scores: 75, 70, 75, 70 80 and  Assignment scores: 88, 90, 95, 80, 85

Step 1. WAT    = (75 + 70 + 75 + 70 + 80)/5 = 74

Step 2. WATA = (15*75 + 15*70 + 15*75 + 15 * 70 + 15 * 80 +  5*88 + 5*90 + 5*95 + 5*80 + 5*85)/100 = 77.4  ≈ 77

Step 3. Rule: FCS = Minimum of 74 and 77 = 74

Step 4. 74 is in the range 70 - 79.  Student X receives a C.

Student Y

Test scores: 73, 60, 70, 60, 70 and  Assignment scores: 88, 90, 95, 80, 85

Step 1. WAT    = (73 + 60 + 70 + 60 + 70)/75 = 66.66 ≈ 67

Step 2. WATA = (15*73 + 15*60 + 15*70 + 15* 60 + 15 * 70 + 5*88 + 5*90 + 5*95 + 5*80 + 5*85)/100 = 71.85  ≈ 72

Step 3. Rule: FCS = Minimum of 67 and 72 = 67

Step 4. 67 is in the range 69-60.  Student Y receives a D.

Disclaimer:

This syllabus represents a general plan for the course and deviations from this plan may be necessary during the duration of the course.