Assessment (Grading)

40%Lab assignments (~11)
30%Quizzes (3) and Final Report
5%Class participation
25%Final exam

Class Participation

Your participation grade consists of:
  • Required attendance to lecture and lab
  • Active participation in lecture
  • Active engagement in the class discussion group (Piazza)

Lab assignment policy

Lab assignments are submitted electronically using the handin35 program, and are typically due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday nights. You may submit your assignment multiple times, but each submission overwrites the previous one and only the final submission will be graded. Unless otherwise stated, you should assume that a lab assignment is to be done individually. Most of the assignments after the first month will provide the option of working in pairs. Most written assignments, however, must be done individually, even if the main programming assignment for the week allowed paired programming. I will specify which written assignments can be submitted together; assume by default that you must submit written assignments individually.

Late Policy: Each individual will be given 2 late days for the semester. This will encompass any reason - illness, interviews, paper deadlines, etc. You must notify me by the original lab deadline that you plan on using late days. Since handin35 won't accept late submissions, you must also notify me when your lab is finished so that I can grab the files in your directory. Past these days, late assignments will not be accepted except in very rare, extreme circumstances. You should budget your 2 days to account for future illnesses or assignment deadlines for other courses. Even if you do not fully complete a lab assignment you should submit what you have done to receive partial credit.

Quiz policy

Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class or lab on the days posted in the Announcements section and the Schedule. Please look over these dates carefully and contact the professor in at least one week in advance if you cannot be in class for a quiz. If you do not show up for the quiz, you will receive a zero for that quiz. Quizzes are generally cumulative emphasizing the most recent material and closed notes. A study guide and study session will accompany each quiz.

In addition to quizzes, you will be asked to produce a written report at the end of the semester detailing a data structure and/or algorithm that was not covered in the course. You will write a medium-length scientific paper on the topic and present an overview of your findings to your classmates during the final week of classes.