We will also use abstraction to make computational processes easier to think about. You will learn the relationship between the form of a procedure and that of the computational process it generates, including the resource consumption of that process. Also, you will learn how to prove that a procedure has the desired effect, and why such proofs are not always possible. Although there are no formal prerequisites. you should understand the material that is typically covered in high school algebra.
The textbook for the course will be Hailperin, Kaiser, and Knight's Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Scheme. We will cover Chapters 1-9.
http://www.gustavus.edu/~wolfe, so
check there if in doubt.
All course materials will be available through my World Wide Web page. The URL for this course is http://www.gustavus.edu/~mc27. In general, I will generally not distribute hardcopies of handouts unless they are of help during class.
Regarding class days, the policy is that you will be responsible for all material, whether or not you are in attendance when it is covered or distributed.
Note that if you turn in each homework problem as soon as you can do it, rather than saving them for the assignment due dates, you will have more opportunity for revision and resubmission before the cutoff dates listed above. Particularly for the last homeworks before each cutoff date (and exam), I can't guarantee you'll have time for a revision cycle otherwise.
I may also announce an earlier cutoff date for any individual problem I consider important for us to discuss in class.
The homework portion of your course grade will simply be determined by the fraction of the homework problems you eventually mastered.
You will have eight programming projects throughout the semester; for six of these, you will need to write a report that presents your work. Much, but not all, of the work for these projects can be done during the lab time. During this time, you will be able to ask the lab instructor (Karl Knight or San Skulrattanakulchai) for help or guidance.
The lab instructor will also be the one who grades the reports. When he grades these reports, he will evaluate the code for accuracy, efficiency, clarity, and style. Additionally, he will consider how well your report achieves the goals he has established for that report as a piece of writing. For example, he will consider how well your report outlines the main problem of the project, describes how your code fits together to solve this problem, and explains why your solution is a good one. Be sure to follow the writing guidelines he provides.
All lab assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day indicated. You are permitted to submit one lab assignment up to 72 hours late without penalty. (This policy is intended to accommodate illness or serious conflict. Please do not ask for additional exceptions unless your situation is particularly unusual.)
However, we reserve the right to subjectively adjust your final grade. Please see your instructor if you have any question how you stand. Exams will be closed-book and closed-notes. You may, however, use a single 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper with hand-written notes for reference.
Any grade disputes should be made before the final exam. We will fix obvious grading errors promptly (and will thank you for pointing them out).
Each project assignment will include specific expectations for that project's report, including the audience for which it should be written. You should pay careful attention to this information.
Any substantive contribution to your solution by another person or taken from a publication should be properly acknowledged in writing. Failure to do so is plagiarism and will necessitate disciplinary action.
The same standards regarding plagiarism apply to team projects as to the work of individuals, except that the author is now the entire team rather than an individual. Anything taken from a source outside the team should be be properly cited.
One additional issue that arises from the team authorship of project reports is that all team members must stand behind all reports bearing their names. All team members have quality assurance responsibility for the entire project. If there is irreconcilable disagreement within the team it is necessary to indicate as much in the reports; this can be in the form of a "minority opinion" or "dissenting opinion" section where appropriate.
If you have a learning, psychological, or physical disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, I would be happy to refer you to the college's disability services coordinator, and to cooperate in the accommodation process. It is generally best if this can be done as soon as possible.