![[Basics]](../graphics/basics.gif)
![[Requirements]](../graphics/reqbtn.gif)
![[Grading]](../graphics/grading.gif)
![[Policies]](../graphics/policy.gif)
Class Meeting
| Instructor: | Julia Benson-Slaughter | |
| Semester: | Fall Semester 2008 | |
| Section 200: | MWF 9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. | Room E-0280, Dunwoody Campus |
| Section 202: | MWF 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. | Room E-0280, Dunwoody Campus |
| Section 210: | MWF 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. | Room E-0280, Dunwoody Campus |
| Section 212: | TTH 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | Room E-0280, Dunwoody Campus |
Course Description
This course provides an overview of selected major areas of current computing technology, organization, and use. Topics surveyed include the history of computing, data representation and storage, hardware and software organization, communications technologies, ethical and social issues, and fundamental problem-solving and programming skills. Hands-on projects enhance and reinforce the ideas presented in class.
Course Requirements
Prerequisite
Exit or exemption from all Learning Support and ESL requirements
Note: Typing skills are not required, but are extremely useful for this class. If you cannot touch-type at least 20 words/minute with fewer than three errors, you are strongly urged to spend some time working with typing tutorial software. Such a program is available online at keybr.com or on computers in the Georgia Perimeter College computer lab.
Textbook and Supplies
- Computer Science Illuminated, Third Edition. Nell Dale and John Lewis, Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Textbook bundle includes Explorations in Computer Science *(CD and lab manual). R. Mark Meyer, Jones and Bartlett Publishers. All bundle components are needed.
- Textbook Web Site (resource materials)
- A portable memory stick/flash drive on which to save your lab and class work. This will be ESSENTIAL in order to work on the programming component of the course.
- One pack of green Scantron sheets.
Communications
I frequently make announcements and reminders of due dates and other important events at the beginning of class. These announcements and updates will normally also be posted in Technobits, our course blog. You are expected to check the blog on a regular basis for general updates and information. Individual questions and requests should be addressed to me either in person or via email.
Assistance
You can get assistance with your assignments in several ways. I hold regular office hours on class days, where any student can drop in to ask questions and get help. I am also available during non-work times for limited assistance via email, instant messenger, or telephone. Emails and phone calls will receive a response as soon as reasonably possible; however, at certain times, particularly weekends, it may be as much as 48 hours before I can get back to you. Most contact information is posted online; any additional contact information will be given out in class.
Additionally, limited free tutoring in computer science may be available (pending funding) in the ISS lab on the top floor of the Learning Resources Center. The times when the computer science tutor is available are posted in the ISS lab and in the classroom. This is the only additional tutorial help in computer science provided by the college. The college does not provide referrals to or references for paid outside tutoring; if you need to find such an individual you will need to do so on your own.
Grading
Summary of Grading
| Item | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Assignments | 45% |
| Tests | 30% |
| Final exam | 25% |
Assignments
Assignments consist of all the in-class and outside work for a particular topic. Assignments are organized by unit, each unit covering a major topic.
| Assignment type | Points credit |
|---|---|
| Homework exercises | 10 points per question, including extra credit questions |
| Essays | 50 points (40 points for content; 10 points for writing mechanics/spelling/grammar) |
| Labs |
10 points per exercise for labs in lab manual (10 - 50 points total for a lab) |
| Projects | 100 points or as indicated for the specific project. |
Most, though not all units, will include a specific, related, social or ethical issue for study and discussion. For each of these issues, you will need to read the relevant material from the textbook or indicated web sites, further investigate the issue on your own, and write up your findings in a minimum one-page essay. Essays are due as specified on the course schedule, and are graded both on how well you support your position and your writing mechanics.
For the entire semester, there will be approximately 1400 points credit for assignments, not including extra credit, available.
Late work and resubmissions
All work is to be turned in at the beginning of the class when it is due. Any work which is turned in late will receive a penalty of ten percent deducted off the top from the grade for every class that the assignment is late. No work will be accepted more than two class periods late under any circumstances. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of and keep up with due dates for work.
Once assignments have been submitted, graded, and returned, they may optionally be corrected and resubmitted for FULL ADDITIONAL CREDIT within three class days of their return. Note that this only applies to assignments, not tests, and only points lost due to incorrect answers may be regained this way. Late points may NOT be regained by resubmission.
Requirements for submitting assignments
All assignments should include the student's name and section number. All work should be submitted on paper unless the assignment specifically states it should be handed in electronically.
- Homework exercises may be neatly handwritten or typed.
- Essays and projects must be typewritten or printed, double spaced, single-sided, with no larger than one inch margins, using a font no larger than 12 point. Handwritten essays, or essays not otherwise meeting these standards, will be returned UNGRADED. The specified minimum length of an essay does NOT count headings and reference citations.
- Labs should include the answers to lab exercises, neatly handwritten or typed, plus printouts of all specified screenshots.
- Programs must include a printout of the actual program itself plus screenshots of the results from executing the program. If the program does not execute, it should not be submitted until it does so.
Attendance and Class Participation
Tests and Final Exam
Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes will have four in-class tests during the semester. Tuesday/Thursday classes will have three in-class tests during the semester. At least one test will be given and returned before the midpoint of the semester. The tests together account for 30% of your course grade.
There will be a comprehensive final examination at our scheduled final examination period in our regular classroom. This final examination accounts for 25% of your course grade.
All tests are required. No test grade can be dropped.
Missed tests
There is no provision for making up missed tests due to lack of facilities for doing so. In a case where a student misses a test due to illness, a death or serious illness in the immediate family, scheduled court appearances or other similar legal events, or an unexpected and unchangeable work conflict, the student may be allowed to substitute the final exam grade as the missed test grade at the instructor's discretion. Students will be required to produce written documentation in support of their request (e.g. a note from the doctor or supervisor; a copy of a legal summons, etc.).
Extra Credit Policies
This course already involves a substantial workload, and it is the instructor's philosophy that students need to focus on the work already assigned rather than taking on additional work. Limited extra credit opportunities are available as follows:
- Extra credit may be available on selected assignments for work above and beyond the minimum requirements. Extra credit on assignments generally requires thought above and beyond minimum requirements for the course, and your answers are graded based on how well you support your answer. Simple yes or no answers to these problems will NOT be given credit.
- Extra credit questions are often incorporated into the tests or on the final exam.
- Students with no more than one absence will receive two points extra credit added to their final average. Students with no more than three absences will receive one point extra credit added to their final average. For this purpose, coming late to class or leaving class early twice will count as one absence.
- Students who post entries or comments to Technobits, the Dunwoody CSCI blog, will receive up to two points extra credit added to their final average.
- Students who actively participate in classroom activities and discussion will receive up to two points extra credit added to their final average, at the instructor's discretion.
Grading Scale
Letter grades for the course are based on a standard 100-point grading scale, with 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F.
Attendance and Withdrawal Policy
Regular attendance is the most critical factor in your success in this class. You are expected to attend all classes and examinations as scheduled, and to remain in attendance for the full class period.
As per college requirements, attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. Your course grade will not be penalized for poor class attendance; however, an excellent attendance record will be rewarded with extra credit at the end of the term (see above).
Students will not be withdrawn from class by the instructor if they have attended at least one class meeting. Any student wishing to withdraw from the course must submit a withdrawal form to the Registrar's office by the published deadline. Students withdrawing before the midpoint of the semester will receive a grade of "W". Students withdrawing themselves after midpoint will receive a grade of "WF" unless hardship withdrawal status is granted by the department head or academic dean.
