Syllabus

Intro to Programming I - COMP 150

Section 1: 8:00 MWF  Science 60

Fall 2003

 

 

Instructor:             Frank McCown                                       

Contact:                279-4434,  HU Box 10764,  fmccown@harding.edu   (Home: 279-9332)

Home Page:          http://www.harding.edu/fmccown  (Syllabus, Outline, class grades, useful links)

Office Hours:        Lee 120-A:   9:45 – 10:45, 3 – 4 MWF and 9:45 – 11:45 TT or by appointment

               

           

Course Description

 

Fundamental concepts of problem solving and computational algorithms will be covered as well as an overview of the computer science field.  Using the C++ programming language, a study will be made of language syntax, program control flow, algorithm implementation and modular program design.  Computer science topics to be examined include machine architectures, operating systems, algorithm analysis and design, and programming languages.

 

Textbook: Understanding Programming: An Introduction Using C++ (2nd Edition) by Scott R. Cannon.

 

Tutoring: Sci 71 computer lab.  Tutor hours are mostly in the evening and on weekends.  Tutors are upper-class computer science majors who have completed this course and more advanced programming courses.  If you ever have problems getting help from a tutor, please contact me ASAP.

 

 

Attendance

 

You are expected to be in class every day.  You may have two “free skips,” but each unexcused absence after that will result in 0.5% being subtracted from your final grade.  Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of class.  If you are late, it is your responsibility to see me after class; otherwise you will be counted as being absent.  Absences that are excused (illness, school sponsored trips, etc.) will not be held against you.  Those who attend class regularly will usually do much better than those who miss frequently.  After missing a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate and get any assignments and handouts from me.  I will not redo a lecture for someone missing class although I’d be happy to explain things further to you during scheduled office hours.

 

 

Exams

 

Two hour long exams (100 points each) will be given along with a cumulative final exam (150 points).  If you are unable to take an exam as scheduled due to a serious illness or some other emergency, it is your responsibility to call me and leave a message before the exam or as soon as you are physically able.  If an official school function takes you out of class on an exam date, it is your responsibility to make arrangements one week prior to the exam as to when you will take the exam.  Usually it will be given early, not late.

 

 

Programming Assignments

 

Approximately 3 programs will be assigned to be coded using the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET or compatible compiler.  You will usually be given about two weeks to complete each assignment.  These are major assignments which will require dedicated effort and time to complete.  You may obtain a free copy of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET to install on your own computer from \\cs-server\CS-MSDNAA on the Harding network.

 

 

Homework and Labs

 

There will be several homework assignments and in-class labs.  Homework and labs are due at the beginning of the class period the day after they are assigned.  The lowest homework or lab score will be dropped from your final grade.

 

 

*It is important that you check your e-mail regularly (everyday) because I occasionally give hints or corrections to homework assignments via e-mail.  This is also the best way to communicate with the class outside of the classroom.

 

 

Extra Credit

 

You will receive 0.1% points extra credit to be added to your final grade for each Computer Seminar that you attend.  Seminar meets every Friday at 7:00 am in Science 100.  The first seminar will begin around the 3rd week of the semester.  There will be approximately 11 seminars, thus allowing you to increase your final grade by 1.1%.  See http://www.harding.edu/comp/calendar.html for the complete schedule.

 

The McChallenge: 1% will be added to your final grade for the completion of a Windows program which will be made available to you later in the semester.  The program will be due the Friday before final exams.  You can skip the program and still get the 1% added to your final grade if you defeat me in a game of basketball, tennis, racquetball, chess, Trivia Pursuit, or any other sport/game that I know how to play.  If you lose, you’ve still got to write the program to get your 1%.  Only one challenge per semester.  Come by my office to schedule a time to play.

 

 

Grades

 

Standard letter grades: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89% C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = 0-59%

               

Final grades will be computed as follows:

                                Exams:                                                    30%

                                Programming Assignments:                    30%

                                Homework and Labs:                              20%

                                Final Exam:                                              20%

 

Important!  Keep all of your programs, homework, labs, etc. so if I marked your grade down incorrectly, the problem will be easily resolved.  Everything I hand back to you will also be very beneficial when studying for the final.

 

Late work: A maximum of 10% will be taken off each day (not each class period) a program or assignment is late, up to 50%.  Every day is counted, including weekends.

 

 

 

Assessment

 

Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process.  The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding.  Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units.  Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.
 
Near the completion of your major in the department of Computer Science & Computer Engineering, you will be assessed by a comprehensive examination covering core courses in your major.  This examination will influence your final grade in the senior capstone course.
 
Assessment of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of each student for the purpose of assigning a letter grade at the completion of this course will be based on the projects, quizzes, homework assignments, and exams that were described previously in this syllabus.

 

 

 

Comments

 

Of course I expect every one of you to hold to the highest standard of personal conduct and integrity... that means you will not cheat on tests or programs.  Cheating may result in you being dropped from the class with an F.  That doesn’t mean you can’t help others with their programs; everyone will at some time struggle and need assistance from fellow students.  But simply giving someone your source code to copy isn’t going to help that person learn and certainly will hurt them in the long run. 

 

Warning: Students who “work together” (write one program and each make a copy) on a programming assignment or lab are in danger of having one grade divided between them; programs and labs are individual assignments which are the responsibility of the individual.  Come by during office hours (or we’ll arrange a time) for assistance on programs.  Also take advantage of the tutor who will be available several times a week.

 

If you ever need assistance in this class or anything else, please don’t hesitate to come by my office or give me a call.  If you really need help in the evening and I’m not in the office, feel free to call me at home.  Please don’t call after curfew.

 

Computer science is one of the most fascinating fields you can study.  It is, however, a science and as such requires a dedicated effort to master.  It cannot be mastered without persistence and practice.  You should expect to struggle with some of the difficult concepts in this course, but do not give up.  It is possible to master the material, but you will have to work diligently to do so.  Those who do the best in this course attend class regularly, turn in homework and assignments on time (because they didn’t procrastinate), and seek help from the tutor or myself when in a rut.  Remember that I am here to help you.

 

 

 

Students with Disabilities

 

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Therefore, any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the instructor and Student Support Services at the beginning of the semester.  SSS is located in Room 109 of the Lee Academic Center (279-4028).

 

 

“The possibility that we may fail in the struggle

should not to deter us from supporting a cause

we believe to be just.”

 

Abraham Lincoln