revised 7 April 2012
updated 2 May 2013
| CSC 207 | Grinnell College | Spring, 2013 |
| Algorithms and Object-Oriented Design | ||
Although much of this course is reasonably stable, you should expect
on-going refinements throughout the semester. In particular, the Supplement
Problems for this course have not been revised from past course offerings.
Check schedules and other materials on a regular basis for updates.
| Class/Lab Index | Supplemental Problems | Instructor | Textbooks | Schedule ( .dvi format / pdf format / postscript ) | ||||
| Course Work | Deadlines | Collaboration | Cell Phones | Accommodations | Grading | Tutors and Mentors | ||
CSC 207, Algorithms and Object-Oriented Design, explores object-oriented problem solving using the Java programming language (a language widely used for large-scale applications and systems). Topics and themes covered include:
Office: Science 3811
Telephone: extension 4208
E-mail: walker@cs.grinnell.edu
Office hours are posted weekly on the bulletin board outside Science 3811, with additional hours possible by appointment. You may reserve a half hour meeting by signing up on the weekly schedule, but please sign up at least a day in advance.
Although a textbook is not required for this course, many students appreciate a tutorial and reference book that coordinates well with the topics and organization of the course. For these students, the following text is recommended:
In addition, the following on-line references may be useful:
Java Programming Language:
Eclipse Integrated Development Environment:
While the schedule for this course is expected to evolve, a Tentative Class Schedule is available in .dvi , pdf, and postscript formats.
All programming for this course must meet reasonable standards for clarity, readability, maintainability, and efficiency. Also, submitted programs must compile appropriately, tests should demonstrate program correctness, and some commentary is needed to explain why programs produce correct answers. See Notes on Program Standards for details on writing and testing programs according to basic standards.
Course Work will involve a combination of the following activities.
Supplemental Problems extend the range of problems considered in the course and help sharpen problem-solving skills. Through the semester, three supplemental problems will be required.
Laboratories: Laboratory sessions introduce specific features of Grinnell's computing environment, highlight concepts and constructs introduced in class, allow instructor assistance in a "hands-on" setting, and supplement normal office hours.
Approximately ten labs require a formal write-up, explaining what work you have done, showing any programming you have done, indicating tests or experiments run, and giving your conclusions. Labs designated [Req] on the Tentative Class Schedule are required -- labs designated [EC] may be done for extra credit. In order for extra-credit labs to provide reasonable benefit, any such lab being submitted for credit must be turned in within 2 weeks of when it is scheduled for coverage in class. As with written homework, extra credit may not raise a student's average on laboratories above 120%.
Many lab activities should be done in groups of two or three, although you may work individually on labs after Lab 8. Only one write-up is expected per group.
Lab Write-ups are due for specified labs. Turning in a lab involves two parts:
Tests: Two take-home tests are tentatively scheduled to be distributed on Tuesday, March 5, and Tuesday, 16 April. Each take-home test will be in two parts, with sections due on the following Tuesday and Friday.
Exam: The take-home final exam will be distributed during class on Monday, 6 May, and due at noon on Wednesday, 15 May.
Extra Credit Opportunities: Computer science is a wide-ranging discipline, and courses can cover only selected pieces. To encourage students to expand their horizons, students may earn 2 points extra credit for each Thursday Extra or other departmental talk, by attending the talk and writing a short (4-8 sentence) summary or response. Logistically, when a reasonable statement is received, the student will receive 1 point extra credit counted toward supplemental problems and 1 point extra credit counted toward labs. Additional extra credit opportunities may be announced through the semester.
Deadlines are shown on the Tentative Class Schedule , and work is due at the start of each class specified. A penalty of 25% per class meeting will be assessed for any assignment turned in late, even work submitted at the end of a class. However, an extension of at least one class period is automatically granted if the department's Linux network is down for an unscheduled period of three or more hours during the week preceding the assignment. Normally, a program or laboratory write-up is due every third class meeting.
Although dates for labs, programming assignments, tests, and the final exam are firm, I understand that circumstances arise when you are not able to attend class.
Absolute Deadline: All homework must be turned in by Friday,
11 May at 5:00 pm;
laboratory reports or programs received after
that time will not be counted in the grading of the course.
Collaboration often will be allowed on laboratory exercises and problems from the textbook, but collaboration normally will NOT be allowed on supplemental problems and tests. To avoid confusion, the rules for collaboration on homework are included in the specification of each assignment.
Cell phones, text-messaging devices, and other social-networking connections may not be used in this class. If you bring such equipment to the classroom, it must be turned off before the class starts and stay off throughout the class period. Use of such equipment is distracting to those nearby and will not be tolerated.
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Directory of Academic Advising. Feel free to talk to me if you have questions or want more information.
This instructor's grading philosophy dictates that the final grade should ultimately be based upon each student's demonstration of her or his understanding of the material, not on the performance of the class as a whole nor on a strict percentile basis. The following scheme is proposed as a base for how the various assignments and tests will be counted in the final grade.
| Lab Write-ups: 25% | Supplemental Problems: 25% | Tests: 30% | Exam: 20% |
This document is available on the World Wide Web as
http://www.walker.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/207.sp13/index.shtml
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created 10 May 2011 revised 7 April 2012 updated 2 May 2013 |
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| For more information, please contact Henry M. Walker at walker@cs.grinnell.edu. |
