Homework Assignments:
There will be eleven homework assignments of equal weight which are usually due
within one week. The lowest homework score will be dropped. Homeworks will consist of written problems and of programming problems. We will use Python as our program language in class.
Homeworks will be posted on the homework page.
You are encouraged to discuss rough ideas and thoughts about a homework assignment with your other classmates, but you have to write up your solution on your own. You are not allowed to read, copy, or rewrite the solutions or code written by others (in this or previous terms or from the web). See the section on Academic Integrity. Also note that we will use automatic checkers to detect software plagiarism. Homeworks are to be submitted electronically on Blackboard, unless stated otherwise on the homework assignment. Homework grades will also be available on Blackboard.
In all your homework assignments you are responsible for showing that you have a thorough understanding of what you submit as your own work. On programming assignments, you are required to add explanatory comments as well as thorough test cases in order to receive credit for the assignment. If major similarities to other students' submissions are detected, your homework will be flagged. Each flagged homework submission will be given 0 credit, however you can regain the credit by arranging a meeting in person with the instructor and explaining your thorough understanding of your submission to the instructor. Credit can be regained this way for a maximum of two flagged homeworks.
Review of the grading of a homework or an exam must be
requested within 2 weeks after the graded exam/homework is returned to you.
Be aware that such a review will consider the exam/homework as a whole, and
as a result your grade is just as likely to go down as it is to go up.
There are no late days of any type for homework assignments. Late
homework will not be graded for credit. In extra-ordinary cases (a
two-day cold does not count since you have one week to complete the
assignment), contact the instructor prior to the due date to get a
homework extension.
Attendance in the labs as well as active participation during the labs is required. If you miss too many labs or do not participate, your class grade may be docked by up to 10% at the instructor's discretion.
The weighted average will determine your letter grade roughly as follows:
+/- grades will be given for borderline cases.
During the lectures we will use slides and the board, and we will discuss program code. The instructor will take pictures of the board during the lectures. Those pictures, slides, as well as program code will be available on the class web page, such that you
can see what has been covered if you happen to have missed a class. There is
however no guarantee that the material will be complete.
This term we will be using Piazza for class discussion. The system is
highly catered to getting you help fast and efficiently from classmates,
the TAs, and myself. Rather than emailing questions to the teaching
staff, I encourage you to post your questions on Piazza. Our Piazza discussion page is located at https://piazza.com/tulane/fall2013/cmps1500/home
You are encouraged to discuss rough ideas and thoughts about a homework assignment with
your other classmates, but you have to write up your solution on your
own.
You are not allowed to read, copy, or
rewrite the solutions or code
written by others (in this or previous terms or from the web).
Also note
that we will use automatic checkers to detect software plagiarism.
You are required to adhere to the Code of Academic Conduct.
Every cheating will be reported to the Associate Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College.
If two people are caught sharing solutions then both the copier
and copiee will be held equally responsible. Cheating on an exam will
result in failing the course.
In all your homework assignments you are responsible for showing that you have a thorough understanding of what you submit as your own work. On programming assignments, you are required to add explanatory comments as well as thorough test cases in order to receive credit for the assignment. If major similarities to other students' submissions are detected, your homework will be flagged. Each flagged homework submission will be given 0 credit, however you can regain the credit by arranging a meeting in person with the instructor and explaining your thorough understanding of your submission to the instructor. Credit can be regained this way for a maximum of two flagged homeworks.
Exams:
There will be one midterm and one final exam.
The midterm and the final exam will be closed-book and closed-notes, but you are
allowed to bring a cheat sheet to each exam (one letter page single-sided).
The midterm will be non-comprehensive, but the final exam will be comprehensive.
Late Policy:
Without prior arrangements, missed exams and homework assignments result in
a grade of zero. In order to take a make-up exam, contact the instructor
prior to the exam if you have to miss it
for some valid reason; documentation may be required. Notification after
the exam will result in a score of zero.
Labs:
One lab period will be used to conduct the midterm exam; please refer to the schedule.Grading:
Grading will be based on the following
weighted scale:
At the instructor's discretion, your grade may be docked by up to 10% if you miss too many labs or do not participate in the labs.
A >= 90%;
B >= 80%;
C >= 70%;
D >= 60%;
F < 60%Handouts, Slides,
Pictures, Videos:
The class web page will have links to all class handouts as they become available. Blackboard and Piazza:
Submissions for homeworks should
be uploaded to Blackboard.
Assignment grades will be available on Blackboard.Academic Integrity:
Last modified by Carola Wenk,
cwenk -at- tulane -dot- edu,