Washtenaw Community Collegeann Arbor, MI

CPS120: Course Syllabus

Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI

Instructor: Paul J. Millis

Office Phone Number: (734) 647-7508

Email:

Office Hours: Before and after class and by appointment

Course Number & Title: CPS 120, Introduction to Computer Science

Course Description:

This is a course in introductory problem solving and programming techniques that introduces students to computers and computer programming. It is assumed that you have a basic high school mathematics background, although no prior computer science is assumed. Topics covered will include the general characteristics of computers, the properties of algorithms, techniques of problem solving and testing of computer programs in C++.

This course is designed to provide knowledge related to the following objectives:

Basic concepts and vocabulary

Internal representation of data

Programming concepts

Operating systems

Programming languages and software

Databases

Data communications

Meeting Time:

Section N1 meets Tuesdays from 0600-0810PM Tue TI130 and 0600-0810PM ThrTI112 from Feb 19 to Apr 29)

Tentative Schedule:

Since this is the first time this course is being taught, I reserve to make appropriate changes to the schedule as we go along. I will notify you of all changes that are made at the earliest possible juncture and all changes will be posted to the class web site.

Sn / Date / Topic / Readings / Worksheets / Programs / Handouts
1 / 02/19/02 / Logistics, Introduction / 1.1 - 1.3 / Computer Basics / Syllabus, Assignment Grading, General Information 1-7
2 / 02/21/02 / IPO, Storage, Introduction to Programming / Appendix A / Assignment_#1A / C++ Compiler, General Information 8-11
3 / 02/26/02 / Software, Electronic Communication / OS Commands
4 / 02/28/02 / Networking, Communications and Security / Assignment_#1B
5 / 03/05/02 / How Computers are Programmed / 2.1 - 2.2 / Programming process, Programming practices
6 / 03/07/02 / How Algorithms are Developed / 2.3 / Pseudocode, Test plans
7 / 03/12/02 / Computer Mathematics / 1.4 - 1.8 / Computer Mathematics / Basics of C++
8 / 03/14/02 / Variables and Constants / 3.1 - 3.3 / Variables / Assignment_#2 / Programming Standards, Program Documentation Standards
9 / 03/19/02 / Programming Concepts / 3.4 - 3.5, 4.1 / Operations / Logic Gates
10 / 03/21/02 / Mid-Term Exam
11 / 03/26/02 / Screen I/O / 3.6 - 3.7 / I/O
12 / 03/28/02 / Decision Making / 4.2, 4.3 / Programming Structures / Assignment_#3 / Control Statements
13 / 04/02/02 / Loops / 4.4 / Looping
14 / 04/04/02 / Functions / 5.1 - 5.4 / Functions / Assignment_#4 / Functions
15 / 04/09/02 / Data Files and Structures / 7.1 - 7.5, 6.1 / Data Files / Pointers
16 / 04/11/02 / Strings / Strings / Strings of Characters
17 / 04/16/02 / Arrays / 6.3 / Arrays / Assignment_#5 / Arrays
18 / 04/18/02 / Searching and Sorting / 6.4 -6.5 / Extra Credit
19 / 04/23/02 / MS Access / SQL / SQL / Introduction to SQL
20 / 04/25/02 / Final Exam

Text:

Recommended Reading:

Other Sources:

Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days (4th Edition) by Jesse Liberty, published by Sams, April 2001; ISBN: 067232072X

Programming Logic for Business by Laura Saret, published by McGraw-Hill Higher Education, November 2000; ISBN: 0073660965

A Guide to Programming Logic and Design - Introductory by Joyce M. Farrell published by Course Technology, March 1999; ISBN: 0760011486

An Introduction to Programming with C++, Second Edition by Diane Zak, published by Course Technology, December 2000; ISBN: 0619033592

Starting Out Quickly with Visual C++ by Doug White, published by Delmar Publishers, June 2001; ISBN: 1576760693

Disks:

You will need approximately 12 floppy disks with labels. One floppy should contain your working files. You must bring this floppy disk to every class in case the instructor would like to see your past work or work in progress. Another disk must be used regularly to backup your working files. If a file on another disk ever becomes corrupted or accidentally deleted by you or the instructor, you are required to be able to produce a backup of the deleted file. The other disks will be used to submit program assignments to the instructor and will not be returned to you.

WCC E-Mail Account:

You will need to use your WCC Email Account for the course. You cannot log onto the computers in the computer lab without enabling your account.

Methods:

Programming assignments must be completed outside of class. You will have to spend a significant amount of time in the completing the programming and homework assignments, especially the final seven weeks of the course. It is strongly encouraged that you install the Visual C++ compiler or another available compiler on your home computer so that you will be able to complete your work there. Otherwise, you are expected to use the college's computer labs.

You must check your email frequently since the instructor will may make important class announcements via email and on the class home page. You will also be expected to visit the class Web regularly for announcements, lecture notes, and assignment information.

The make up of the final grade will be: 10% Attendance / Participation / Quizzes, 20% Homework, 25% Programs, 20% Midterm Exam, 25% Final Exam.

Unless an assignment is specifically designated as a group project, all students submitting duplicate programs (or slight variations) will be penalized at the instructor’s discretion, even the student who did all or most of the original work.

It is expected that each student will endeavor to make his or her work unique. It is every student's responsibility to seek help from the instructor if he or she has difficulty with program assignments.

Quizzes may be given at the beginning and/or end of a number of classes. Students who are not present for a quiz, unless they have an emergency and have informed the instructor will receive a zero. There is no makeup opportunity for quizzes. However, I may drop the lowest score on quizzes to allow for emergencies students have during the term.

Most exercises and assignments will be taken from the text, supplied handouts, or Internet resources. Students are liable for any assignments, assignment modifications, or other announcements made in class or over the class mailing list. If a student fails to obtain an assignment or learn of an assignment modification during class, it is his or her responsibility to obtain a copy of the information from a classmate and to inform the instructor.

Late programming assignments and homework assignments will be accepted but they will be worth fewer points. If your program does not compile or work correctly, you should still submit it.

Most printed assignments will be returned during class. Keep all assignments returned to you. The instructor will not change a grade without seeing your graded paper. Also, keep the source files for your assignments on your working disk and your backup disk for the rest of the semester. Do not change a source file after handing in the assignment.

Grading:

Pts / Activity
10 / Attendance / Participation / Quizzes
20 / Homework
25 / Programs
20 / Mid-Term Exam
25 / Final Exam
100 / Total Points

Final letter grades will be assigned as follows:

From / To
A / 93 / 100
A- / 90 / 92.999
B+ / 87 / 89.999
B / 83 / 86.999
B- / 80 / 82.999
C+ / 77 / 79.999
C / 73 / 76.999
C- / 70 / 72.999
D+ / 67 / 69.999
D / 63 / 66.999
D- / 60 / 62.999
F / 0 / 59.999

Academic Integrity Statement:

All work submitted (programs, tests, quizzes, homework assignments) must be your own and not copied in whole or in part from another student or textbook.

Exams and Programming Assignments:

There will be two exams in this class, a midterm on 3/21/02 and the final on 4/25/02. These tests will contain multiple choice and true & false questions as well as debugging and programming problems. The mid-term will be more conceptual and the final more practical in nature

Worksheets will be due at the next class after they are assigned.

Programming assignments will be due one week after they are assigned

Make-up opportunities for exams:

Due dates of all programming assignments will be announced as far in advance as possible. Students may not makeup quizzes, homework assignments, or programming assignments unless specific arrangements have been made with the instructor. Zero grades will be given for missed quizzes, homework, and program assignments if the instructor has not been consulted in advance.

Make-up exams will be given only for emergency circumstances. The instructor reserves the right to make a decision in all such cases. If an emergency does arise, you must call or email the instructor as soon as possible before the exam in order to arrange for a make-up. If communication is not made with the instructor before the exam, the instructor reserves the right to allow or not allow a make-up exam. A make-up exam must be taken as soon as the emergency circumstances allow. It may also be necessary to take the make-up exam at another location, such as the testing center. In any case, make-up exams may follow a different format and contain a different number of exercises or essays than the original exam.

Class attendance policy:

Class attendance is mandatory and will be taken each class period. If you have a need to miss a class, please inform the instructor by email Quizzes missed due to absence or leaving a class early cannot be made up. Students will receive a zero for any quizzes missed. If a student is absent, he or she must have a classmate pick up any handouts that may have been distributed.

Class cancellation:

Check the WCC Web Site at Washtenaw Community College to find out if class has been cancelled due to inclement weather.