CS112 Introduction to Computer Programming

The Governor's School @ Innovation Park

Fall 2016 Syllabus

Course Information

Course Outcomes

• An ability to use procedural programming language concepts including expressions, decision statements, simple data types, Boolean logic, input/output, loop constructs, and procedures.
  
• An ability to combine programming techniques to solve problems of varying degrees of difficulty.
  
• An ability to refine computer programs through testing and debugging to ensure proper operation.
  
• An ability to find and understand programming language documentation to learn new information needed to solve programming problems.
  

Prerequisites

C or better in MATH 104 or MATH 105 or specified score on math placement test, or MATH 113 with a C or better.

Course Assessments

Your grade will be based on the following: 

• Readings/homework: Readings from the textbook and supplement materials relevant to each lecture are listed in schedule. You will increase your understanding of lectures by reading associated textbook sections ahead of time.
• Late Submissions: 10% penalty for each late day. No submission will be accepted after the answers are discussed in class. 
• Labs: In every class, we will dedicate a section for labs where students will work on exercises and get immediate help. During lectures we will discuss programming concepts and instructors will provide demos of programming relevant to assignments.
• Programming Assignments: There will be 6 programming projects during the semester. Programming projects are significantly more difficult than labs, require more planning, and in general no implementation level details will be given: you are free to use your creativity here, as long as you conform to the inputs and outputs expected of your functions. 
• Late Submissions: Each student will be given a total of 2 extra days to use at their discretion for each 9-week session. This means you can end with 4 extra days for Assignment 6. Once all extra days are used, 20% will be deducted for each late day. Assignments may get harder over time, so be careful not to use all extra days early on. Having a laptop die or losing source code is not an excuse for turning in an assignment late — students are responsible for maintaining their own backup copies of code. 
• Quizzes: There will be short quizzes to ensure you stay up-to-date on course topics during the semester.
• Tests: There will be 2 tests and a midterm during the regularly scheduled lecture time.
• Final Exam: At the end of the first semester, a comprehensive and cumulative exam will be given on: December 20, 2016.

HONOR CODE: You are free to discuss ideas for the coursework with other students; however no joint work is permitted. Ask your instructor in case of a doubt. Any submitted work must be yours alone. All work will be manually or automatically assessed for cheating. Honor code violation may result in failing the course or referral to the Honor Committee.

• Read the CS Department Honor Code
• Read the University Honor Code

Grade Composition

• 1st 9-Week Session:

  Programming Assignments	40%
  Homework/Labs	20% (Lowest score dropped)
  Test 1 & Midterm	20%
  Quizzes	15% (Lowest score dropped)
  Class Participation	5%

• 2nd 9-Week Session:

  Programming Assignments	50%
  Homework/Labs	20% (Lowest score dropped)
  Test 2	10%
  Quizzes	15% (Lowest score dropped)
  Class Participation	5%

• Semester Grade:

  1st 9-week	40%
  2nd 9-week	40%
  Final Exam	20% (5% for Lab Final Exam)

Note: Per GMU Computer Science departmental policy, a failing grade on the final exam (<60.0%) will result in a failing grade (F) for the entire course, regardless of performance on other assignments.

Tentative Course Schedule

General Policies: (Please Read Carefully)

• Communication: Students will check email (GMU) daily and Blackboard for class announcements, agenda of the week including homework, web-assignments, and class notes.
• Make-Up policy: In order to make up work, student must have an excused absence. Student receiving excused absence will be responsible for making an arrangement for make-up work within two days (quiz or test only) after his/her return. Student needs to complete the makeup test in the first class after return. Absences must be excused within the timeframe specified in The Governor's School Student Handbook. * Only notes from doctor’s offices and school counselors are considered as official documents for excused absence in order to make up major tests.
• Classroom Behavior and Discipline: Please refer to Student Handbook.