Course work and grading policy
Attendance and class work
I will take attendance as required for financial aid purposes.
However the basic reason I want you to be in class is the
importance of class and lab attendance for acquiring sound knowledge
in the subject.
Please, read the lecture notes and the discussed sections
in the textbook before and
after each class session. Follow the guidelines in the reading
assignments (see the schedule).
Send (by e-mail)
questions on specific paragraphs that are difficult
for you to understand.
If you have a serious reason to be absent,
you are responsible for the work you have missed -
contact your peers or me to get information about the missed work.
Laboratory work
During our laboratory sessions we shall do various programs to
exemplify the theory and the algorithms taught in class.
At the end of each lab you will have to turn in the source code
of the programs you have developed even if they are not completed,
sent by email. Completed programs have to be sent within
two days after the lab session. Your work in the lab will be graded.
You have to do each lab assignment even if you happen to be absent.
Homework assignments
Homework assignments will contain both programming and non-programming problems.
All homework assignments have due dates. They have to be sent as attached
files by e-mail by 5 pm on the specified date. The subject
line must contain the name of the student, course number,
and the name of the assignment, for example: John Smith, CmSc155 Homework 05.
The name of the file that contains the assignment has to start with your
first name, e.g. John_HW01.doc.
Policy on late assignments
You will have the option to turn in late
(but not later than 24 hours after the due time)
two assignments without penalty.
Use this option in case of unexpected circumstances.
No other late assignments will be accepted. If you happen to
be seriously ill or some other events prevent you from meeting
the above requirements, you have to make personal arrangements
with me for a make-up work.
Exams
There will be three unit exams during the semester.
Each exam will consist of multiple choice questions,
short answer questions, and problems.
Unit exam 3 will be given on the final exam date.
Grading Policy
Your midterm grade and final grade will be based on the assigned
homework, lab work, and unit exams:
Homework assignments 40%
Laboratory work 20%
Unit exams 40%
Grades follow a normal
distribution as shown in the following table where the percentage
is
the lowest percentage allowed to obtain that grade.
| |
|
B + |
87.0% |
C + |
77.0% |
D + |
67.0% |
|
A |
93.0% |
B |
83.0% |
C |
73.0% |
D |
63.0% |
|
A - |
90.0% |
B - |
80.0% |
C - |
70.0% |
D - |
60.0% |
The following rules apply when computing the final grade:
- Necessary conditions to pass the class
- No exam failed
- Average of all types of course work greater than 50%
- The difference between the lowest average grade of the above
items and the final grade is limited by 15%.
For example, if your average on labs is 70%, you
cannot get more that B (85%) as final grade.
Policies on
Plagiarism and Honesty and Dishonesty
Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Discussing a problem with other students is encouraged,
however
you have to be able to explain and justify
each step of your solution.
Cheating results in failing the class.