Department of Computer Science
Georgia State University
Spring 2008

Syllabus:CSC 2311: Principles of Computer Programming II  

Pre-requisites: CSC 2310 Principles of Programming 1.

Text: Problem Solving with C++: The object of programming by Walter Savitch; Prentice Hall 1999 (Fifth edition).

Software Package: Microsoft Visual C++ Version 6.0 (Professional Edition.) or C++.net

Goal Of this Course:

• To build on the material learned in Principles of Programming 1.
• To enable students to know the basic syntax and semantics of C++ and be able to apply it by writing executable programs that adhere to the requirements of the program.
• So that students will be able to take higher level classes that require programming using C++ without having much difficulties with syntax, etc.
• To enable students to develop accurate algorithm and then code that algorithm in C++.

• The programming language used will be C++.
• The plan is to cover the entire text (Chapters 1 - 16).
• Chapters 1 - 4, 7 and 9 will be covered fairly quickly and during the first couple of lectures. (Students will be expected to use their knowledge acquired from Principles of Programming I to cover these chapters).

1. Files - open, close, append, redirection - Chap. 5.
2. Classes and functions - Chap 6 & 8 respectively.
3. Strings - Chap. 10.
4. Pointers Chap 11.
5. Recursion - Chap.12
6. Linked-List - Chap. 14
7. If time permits, the other chapters that remains.

• Test 1 worth 16% (Confirmed date: Thursday, Jan 31 ^st)
• Test 2 worth 16% (Confirmed date: Tuesday, Feb 26 ^th)
• Test 3 worth 16% (Tentative date: Thursday, March 27 ^th)
• Test 4 worth 16% (Tentative date: Thursday, April 17 ^th)
• Final exam worth 16 % (Tuesday, April 29^th at 12:30pm - 2:30pm)  & (Tuesday, April 29^that 2:45 pm - 4:45pm)
  
• Some programming assignments (4 to 5, equally weighted) worth 20%.

• A: 90 and above;
• B: 80 through 89;
• C: 70 through 79;
• D: 60 through 69;
• F: less than 60

• Last day to withdraw and receive a possible "W" or "WF" is Monday, March 3^rd,2008.
• 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.
• 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. And the Dean of Students Office will be notified.
• Please refer to the handout on Programming Assignments for complete details on submission requirements. (Details decided per assignment).
• All assignments are due within 10 minutes of the beginning of class on the due date.
• All assignments turned in must be on an IBM compatible 3.5 inches floppy disk, consisting of the source code (all .cpp and .h files) and an executable file. Students must also turn in a print out of the source code (all .cpp and .h files).
• Any assignment turned in without the executable or the source file will immediately lose 50%.

• 1 day late (each lecture day is counted as one day) will result in a lost of 10 points.
• 2 days late (each lecture day is counted as one day) will result in a lost of 20 points.
• More than two days late will result in 0 point.
• 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.

 NOTE: 1. The last assignment of the semester cannot be turned in late.
              2. I will not give extra assignments or test to help to boost students’ grades.

No make up test will be given. 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. Absolutely no make up or excuse for the final exam. If for some medical reason you cannot take the final exam, then you should consider applying for an Incomplete.

Clashes:

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, January 31^st 2008) 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                  16%                          Assignment #1                        4%
            Test #2                  16%                          Assignment #2                        4%
            Test #3                  16%                          Assignment #3                        4%
            Test #4                  16%                          Assignment #4                        4%
            Finals                     16%                          Assignment #5                        4%
              Total Weight = 80%                                     Total Weight = 20%

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: 80, 90, 80, 85, 90 and  Assignment scores: 80, 70, 50, 80, 0

Step 1. WAT    = (16*80 + 16*90 + 16*80 + 16*80 + 16*90 )/80 = 85

Step 2. WATA = (16*80 + 16*90 + 16*80 + 16*80 + 16*90 + 4*80 + 4*70 + 4*50 + 4*80 + 4*0)/100 = 79.20  ≈ 79

Step 3. Rule: FCS = Minimum of 85 and 79 = 79

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

Test scores: 73, 60, 70, 60, 65 and  Assignment scores: 100, 100, 100, 100, 100

Step 1. WAT    = (16*73 + 16*60 + 16*70 + 16*60 + 16*65)/80 = 52.48 ≈ 52

Step 2. WATA = (16*73 + 16*60 + 16*70 + 16*60 + 16*65 + 4*100 + 4*100 + 4*100 + 4*100 + 4*100)/100 = 72.48  ≈ 72

Step 3. Rule: FCS = Minimum of 52 and 72 = 52

Step 4. 52 is in the range below 60.  Student Y receives a F.
      

Note: Even though Student Y  did well in assignments which gave him/her an overall average of 72%, when the exams and assignments are considered, he/she still receives an F because he/she did bad in exams.

Conclusion: Every student should do GOOD in both Exams and Assignments to get a Good Grade!!!!!!                                                 

Disclaimer:

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