CS/COE 1501
Algorithm Implementation
Course
Information and Policies
Required Text: Algorithms in C++
(Robert Sedgewick, ISBN: 0-201-51059-6)
Optional
Texts: Algorithms in Java Parts 1-4
(Robert Sedgewick, ISBN: 0-201-3620-5)
Algorithms
in Java Part 5 (Robert Sedgewick, ISBN:
0-201-36121-3)
Recommended
Text for W Section: Handbook of Writing for the Mathematical Sciences (Nicholas J. Higham, ISBN: 0-89871-420-6)
Languages/Environments: Java
Course Web Site: http://www.cs.pitt.edu/~kirk/cs1501
Course Policies (both sections):
General Requirements
Exam
One:
|
25%
|
Exam
Two:
|
25%
|
Programming
Projects:
|
40%
|
Quizzes:
|
10%
|
- Attendance will be
taken in recitations where the programming projects will be assigned.
Students who skip recitation should not expect course staff to individually
reiterate this material during office hours.
- Attendance and
participation in lecture and recitation may be used to decide borderline
grades.
- Each student is
expected to do his/her own work.
For a first offense, a student caught collaborating/cheating in any
way will receive a zero for the exam/homework/project in question. In the event of a second offense, the
student will receive an F for the course and may be subject to stronger
action. Note: Submissions that are alike in a substantive way (not
due to coincidence) will be considered to be cheating by ALL involved
parties. Protect yourselves by
only storing your files in
private directories, and by retrieving all printouts promptly.
- Students are encouraged
to attend all lectures, which frequently include material that is not
directly taken from the text. If a
student misses a lecture, he/she is still responsible for the material
covered and is advised to copy the notes from a classmate.
- An abundance of
information, including announcements, handouts, review sheets and
solutions will be posted on the CS1501 Web page throughout the term. Students are expected to be aware of all
information that is posted on the CS1501 web pages, and should access them
frequently.
- All graded materials
that a student receives back should be saved in a safe place until after
the term has ended and he/she has received and accepts his/her final
grade. In this way, any grade
discrepancies can be easily resolved.
Exams
- Please see Important
Dates below for exam dates.
- Exam Two may be
partially cumulative.
- Students are expected
to be present for both exams.
Make-up exams will only be given in the event of an emergency, and
only if I am informed in advance. If you cannot
contact me directly, send me email or call the CS department (624-8492) and leave a
message. Failure to notify me prior
to missing an exam will result in a zero for the exam.
Programming Projects
- There will be
approximately 5-6 equally weighted Programming Projects assigned
throughout the term.
- Unless otherwise
instructed, programs are to be written in Java. Thorough knowledge of Java by the
students is assumed (through the courses CS401 and CS445 or their
equivalents). Programs may involve
some advanced features of the language and good reference books (e.g.
CS401 and CS445 textbooks) are strongly recommended.
- In addition to
programming, projects may involve write-ups and analyses. These should be well written and will be
graded for both form and content.
- Projects will be given
out electronically (via the CS1501 Web page) and will be discussed in
recitations or office hours -- NOT
in lecture.
- Projects will be
submitted electronically to a submission directory set up for the
course. More details on submission
guidelines will be provided on the course Web site.
- On-time projects must be received at the submission
site by 11:59 PM on the due date. Projects submitted after that time will
be graded as late submissions.
- Projects will be
accepted late up to the specified late due date, but 15 points will
be deducted from the grade if the assignment is late. No assignment will be accepted
after the specified late due date.
- Students are expected
to have a backup disk (or AFS
directory) for every assignment they turn in. In this way, if there is any problem with the copy that is
handed in (corrupted data, etc) the backup can be used for grading
purposes.
- Factors that will
determine the grade given to a Programming Project include correctness of
the algorithm and the program code, good programming style, documentation,
and analysis and write-up of results.
- More details on the
programs will be given with the first assignment.
Quizzes
- Quizzes will be given
during recitations, and will be announced at least one week before they
are given. They will generally include material covered in the previous class(es) and recitation(s).
- Two quizzes will be
given, each counting for 5% of the final grade.
- As with exams, quizzes
can only be made up if you contact the recitation instructor in
advance. If you miss a quiz without informing the recitation
instructor, you will receive a zero for that quiz.
Additional Requirements for W Section
- The write-ups for the W
Section students will be substantial and will have significant weight
toward the overall assignment grade.
They will also be graded with scrutiny for proper writing
form. Writing issues will be
discussed in the W section recitation.
- At least one paper will
be subject to one or more revisions after feedback from the course
instructor or grader. The grade for
the paper or papers will be based on the overall sequence of revisions,
and not on just one version of the paper.