DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Fall 2008

SYLLABUS: CSc 2310 Principles of Computer Programming I


Computer Number:  80502

 Instructor:         J. L. Bhola
 Office:                Room 2123 Credit Union Building, 34 Peachtree Street
 Phone:               404-413-5720
 E-Mail:              jbhola@cs.gsu.edu
Class Time:       1:30 to 2:45 pm MW - CS 503
Office Hours:    MW 12.00 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. (And by appointment)


PREREQUISITES:  CSc 2010  (with a grade of “C” or better) is enforced.

TEXT: (Must Have) K. N. King:  Java Programming: From the Begining
                                                       1st edition. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2000

Software Package: JDK 1.4.0 or newer version (Download from the Internet at sunjava website –
                                http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

Catalog Description:

Fundamental principles of computer programming. Expressions, procedures, variable types, data, input/output. Emphasis on structure and clarity as well as correctness.

Course Content:

This course introduces the fundamental principles of computer programming using Java. Topics include: Writing Java programs, Objects and Classes, Class variables and methods, Decision and Loop constructs, Data types, Writing classes, etc. It is expected that the entire book will be covered – from chapter 1 to chapter 14 in that sequence.

Assignments & Tests:
                        There will be four(4) class tests and the final exam, and there will be between 4 
                         and 6 programming assignments, equally weighted.
 
                         Test 1 – 15%--- tentative schedule – Wednesday, September 10th
                         Test 2 – 15%--- tentative schedule – Wednesday, September 24th   
                         Test 3 - 15%--- tentative schedule - Wednesday, October 22nd   
                         Test 4 - 15%--- tentative schedule - Wednesday, November 19th                   

                         Finals – 15% --- Wednesday, December 10th from 12:30 pm. - 2:30 pm.
                                                 
                         Assignments – 25%.
                         Adjustments may be made to assignments in class. If a student is absent, it is
                         his/her responsibility to get such changes. NO excuses will be accepted if the
                         requirements for an assignment is changed or adjusted in class

The final letter grade will be determined based on the following criteria:
 A - 90 and above    B - 80 thru 89    C - 70 thru 79    D - 60 thru 69    F - less than 60

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Last day to withdraw  is Wednesday, October 1st, 2008.

2.While in class attendance will not directly affect the grade, any handouts and
    assignments missed will be the sole responsibility of the student. Spot attendance
    checks will be performed.

3. All tests and assignments will be done on an individual basis. Anyone found cheating
    and/or copying (in the opinion of the instructor) will receive an automatic F for that
    assignment or exam. This goes for  the person who copies as well as the person who
    allows their work to be copied. Also, the Dean of Students office will be informed.
 

4. Please refer to the handout on Programming Assignments for complete details on
    submission requirements. (Details decided per assignment).

5.

Generally, all assignments and tests will be graded and returned within ONE week. If for some reason, I am unable to do so, students will be notified.

                                  The following  policies (6 & 7) will be strictly enforced.


6. No make up test or assignments will be given, so please take this class
   very seriously, especially assignments and tests.
. If you will be absent for a test
    due to sickness, your case may be considered (i.e. you may or may not be given a make up exam) based
    upon a letter from a medical doctor written on that doctor’s letter head, stating that you
    were unable to attend school (and hence take the exam) on the given day. If you have a court appointment, get an official letter as well. Absolutely
    no make up or excuse for the final exam. If for any reason you cannot take the final exam, then you should consider applying for an Incomplete.

7. If you are taking more than one class during this semester, make sure that your final exams are not "clustered". That is, you do not have exams close to each other. Notify me before test 1 (Thursday, June 29th 2006) if this is your case. Do not wait for the last moment – i.e. 2 or 3 days before the final exam.

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%                          Program #1                        5%
            Test #2                  15%                          Program #2                        5%
            Test #3                  15%                          Program #3                        5%
            Test #4                  15%                          Program #4                        5%
            Finals                    15%                          Program #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

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 course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary."