CSCE 155

Introduction to Computer Science I

Class Syllabus

Fall 2005

 

Instructor

 

Leen-Kiat Soh

Harold and Esther Edgerton Assistant Professor

Room 122E, Avery Hall

Tel:  472-6738

E-mail:  lksoh@cse.unl.edu

Homepage:  http://cse.unl.edu/~lksoh

Office Hours:  3:30 – 4:30 PM MWF or by Appointment

 

Teaching Assistants

 

Brandon Hauff, Lab Instructor                                            

501 Building Room 6                           

Tel:  402-472-3485                                                                 

E-mail: bhauff@cse.unl.edu                  

Office Hours:    3:25 PM – 6:25 PM W

 

Nobel Khandaker                                                                 

122F Avery Hall                                              

Tel:  402-472-  4257               

E-mail: knobel@cse.unl.edu                                         

Office Hours:    10:00 – 11:00 AM MWF                    

 

Xue Tian

122C Avery Hall

Tel:  402-472-4257

E-mail: xtian@cse.unl.edu

Office Hours:  2:00 PM – 5:00 PM R

           

Lectures & Labs

 

Lecture Section                                                          Lab Sections

Time:  2:30 – 3:20 PM MWF                                       Section 111 11:30 – 1:20 PM T          

Room 106, Avery Hall                                      Section 112 6:30 – 8:20 PM M

                                                                                    Section 113 3:30 – 5:20 PM T

 

 

Catalog Listing

 

Introduction to problem-solving with computers including problem analysis and specification, algorithm development, program design, and implementation in a high-level programming language.  Laboratory assignments develop mastery of a high-level programming language and practices.  (Honors course covering same topics as CSCE155, but in greater depth.)

 

Class Objectives

 

The objective of this class is to familiarize students with problem solving approaches using computer programming.  We study how to specify a problem, how to come up with a solution, how to convert the solution into a program, and how to solve the problem correctly using the program. The conversion of a solution to a program comes in many ways.  In this class, we focus on Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) where we build “software objects” that are distinct and standalone that programs can use to carry out more complex tasks.

 

Prerequisites

 

CSCE105; MATH103 or equivalent or appropriate scores on the Math Placement Exam

 

Text Book

 

Wu, C. Thomas. (2005).  An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming with Java, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition  (Required)

 

An InterWrite Personal Response System (Required)

 

Assignments

 

There will be several programming assignments to help you understand some of the basic concepts.  Java programming language must be used for all the assignments. The assignments are due at the class time on the indicated dates. 

You will also be required to hand in an on-line copy.  In addition, you are required to hand in a hardcopy of your code at class time on the due date.  You are expected to write well-documented, modular code.  Programs which do not compile or which do not run will not receive any credit.  Programs that compile and run will be graded as follows:

 

45% Program Correctness,

15% Software Design,

10% Programming Style,

15% Testing, and

15% Documentation.

 

Personal Response System and Just-In-Time Quizzes

 

You are required use your own personal response system (PRS) in class for “just-in-time” quizzes and questions.  I anticipate having an average of one or two such questions per lecture depending on in-class discussions and topics. 

 

Examinations


We will have two mid-term (in-class) exams and a final exam.  The dates for the tests are listed in the lecture schedule.  There will be no makeup tests. 

 

Laboratories

 

You must register for a lab section as a part of this course.  The laboratories are designed to supplement the lectures and provide hands-on experiences on topics that need additional attention.  It is a significant part of the course and you are strongly encouraged to fully take advantage of this opportunity.  You are required to read the lab handouts and the reading assignments before coming to the lab.  You are also required to take the on-line pretest prior to coming to each lab. There are 14-15 laboratories altogether.

 

Logic Problems (Honors only)

 

For students who have registered in CSCE155 Honors, you will be required to complete several computer programming/logic puzzles.  Each problem will accompany your homework assignment.  That means: the regular homework assignment’s score will contribute 85% and the puzzle’s score will contribute 15% to each total homework assignment score. 

 

Final Grade

 

You will receive a numeric score for each programming assignment and the test.   Each mid-term exam contributes 75 points; the final exam is worth 150 points.  The assignments contribute a total of 600 points.  Each laboratory carries 40 points, totaling 600 points altogether.  The PRS-based in-class quizzes contribute a total of 10 bonus points to the “Tests” score. As a matter of policy, no I (incomplete) grades will be given.   Your final grade will be based on the following table.

 

   Tests
Homework/Lab

0-149

150-164

165-179

180-194

195-209

210-224

225-239

240-254

255-269

270-284

285-300

1140-1200

F

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A

A

A

A

1080-1139

F

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A

A

A

1020-1079

F

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A

A

960-1019

F

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

B+

A-

A

900-959

F

D

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

A-

A-

840-899

F

D-

D

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B+

B+

780-839

F

D-

D

D

D+

C-

C

C+

B-

B

B

720-779

F

F

D-

D

D+

D+

C-

C

C+

C+

B-

660-719

F

F

F

D-

D-

D

D+

C-

C

C

C+

600-659

F

F

F

F

F

D-

D

D+

C-

C-

C

000-599

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

 

Academic Misconduct

 

Violations of academic integrity will result in automatic failure of the class and referral to the proper university officials.  The work a student submits in a class is expected to be the student’s own work and must be work completed for that particular class and assignment.  Students wishing to build on an old project or work on a similar topic in two classes must discuss this with both professors.  Academic dishonesty includes: handling in another’s work or part of another’s work as your own, turning in one of your old papers for a current class, or turning in the same or similar paper for two different classes.  Using notes or other study aids or otherwise obtaining another’s answers for an examination also represents a breach of academic integrity.  Sanctions are applied whether the violation was intentional or not.

 

Those who share their code and those who copy other’s code will be penalized in the same way; both parties will be considered to have plagiarized.