Work in this class will include readings from the textbook and from additional sources I provide, some programming assignments and some paper assignments, two one-hour exams, a two-hour final exam, and in-class activities including collaborative exercises and written quizzes.
The total course load is intended to be 12 hours per week (including class time); the load should be spread evenly across the semester.
Grading: Final grades are primarily determined by exam scores and homeworks, although unusually good (or bad) quizzes and participation can affect the final grade by up to a full letter.
Exams: The exams are scheduled for February 26 and March 31. The final exam is scheduled for exam period 1. There will be no makeup exams for any reason. If you miss one exam for an extremely legitimate reason, your final grade will be based on the other two exams. If you miss an exam without a legitimate reason, you will receive a zero. If you miss two exams for any reason, you cannot pass the class.
Assignments: The weekly programming assignments are designed to give you an opportunity to apply and practice the material we cover in lecture. Some of these will be group projects; others you should do alone. I will make it clear which ones are which.
It is never acceptable to present someone else's work as if it were your own. Unless stated otherwise, I will assume that all work you hand in is yours and yours alone. If you work with another student, you must acknowledge that student's contribution in writing on your assignment. If you get help from me or a TA that constitutes a significant part of the assignment, you should acknowledge that, too. If you are not sure, err on the side of caution.
When you are working in groups, make sure that you learn the material yourself. If you ride on the coat-tails of others, it is easy to convince yourself that you are learning the material when you are not.