Homework Assignments:
There will be about 6 bi-weekly homework assignments of equal weight.
Homeworks will mostly consist of written problems. Homeworks will be posted on the homework page. For each homework assignment, any score of 60% or higher will be rounded up to 100%.
You are engouraged to discuss rough ideas and thoughts about a homework assignment with your other classmates. However you have to write up your solution on your own. You are not allowed to read, copy, or rewrite the solutions written by others (in this or previous terms). See the section on Academic Integrity. Homeworks are to be submitted on paper in class. If you cannot attend the class you are welcome to submit your homework by email to the instructor, by sliding it under the instructor's office door, or by any other means you can think of to get the homework on time to the instructor.
Homework grades will be made available on Blackboard.
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 two weeks to complete the
assignment), contact the instructor prior to the due date to get a
homework extension.
The weighted average will determine your letter grade roughly as follows:
A >= 90%; B >= 80%; C >= 70%; D >= 60%; F < 60%
During the lectures we will use slides as well as the
board. The instructor will take pictures of the board during the lectures. Those pictures
as well as the slides will be available on the webpage, such that you can
see what has been covered if you happen to have missed a class.
There is however no guarantee that the pictures will be complete.
If you are stuck on a problem and unable to get to the instructor for help,
then we suggest you try and use hints from a
publicly available source such as a textbook or journal article. The
source should be cited and you have to write the solution in your own words. It should
be apparent to us that you understand the solution for full credit. You are required to adhere to the Code of Academic Conduct.
Every cheating will be reported to the Associate Dean.
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.
Term Project:
There will be one term project on a topic in computational geometry of your choice. Please discuss the topic of your project with the instructor. You have to obtain prior approval from the instructor for the project topic before working on it. Example topics, including current research options, will be made available in class and on the class webpage, but you are also encouraged to identify a topic on your own. The term project can consist of theoretical research and/or programming. Grading will be based on a detailed project report and on a short presentation at the end of the semester, either in class or with the instructor.
Exams:
There will be no final. There will be one midterm exam around the first week of March. The midterm will be closed-book and closed-notes, but you are allowed to bring a cheat sheet (one letter page, single-sided).
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.
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.
Class Participation:
You are required to actively participate in class. Good means of participation are for example asking questions,
answering questions, solving problems on the board, etc.
Grading:
Grading will be based on the following
weighted scale:
There will also be extra credit options for class-related activity such as attendance at Computer Science seminars. Extra credit options have to be approved by the instructor ahead of time and will be made available to the whole class.
Handouts, Slides, and
Pictures:
The class web page will have links to
all class handouts as they become available. Blackboard:
Assignment grades will be available on Blackboard. You are also encouraged to use the discussion tool on Blackboard.
Academic Integrity:
You are engouraged 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
written by others (in this or previous terms).
Last modified by Carola Wenk,
cwenk -at- tulane -dot- edu,