CS 35: Algorithms and Object-Oriented Computing

Computer Science Department
Swarthmore College

Spring 2004

Professor: Richard Wicentowski
Email address: richardw@cs.swarthmore.edu
Office: Sproul 35
Telephone: (610) 690-5643
Office hours: Wednesday 9:30-11:30, and by appointment

Course web page: http://www.cs.swarthmore.edu/~richardw/cs35

Required text:
Weiss, Data Structures and Problem Solving Using Java, 2nd edition. (ISBN 0-201-74835-5)

In addition, you will likely find various online sources helpful. Links to these sources are available on the course web page.

Course description:
This course completes the broad introduction to computer science begun in CS 21 and CS 22. It provides a general background for further study in the field. Topics to be covered include object-oriented programming in Java, advanced data structures (including priority queues, trees, hash tables, and graphs) and algorithms, software design and verification.

Grading:

	15%	First Exam
	15%	Second Exam
	20%	Final Exam
	45%	Homework and Lab Assignments
	5%	Class Participation and Attendance

• Exams:
  
  
  • There will be two in-class exams and a final exam.
  • The date of the first in-class exam is likely to be held Tuesday, February 24.
  • The second exam will be held on Thursday, April 8.
  • The final exam will be held during exam week.

• Homework and Lab Assignments:
  • In general, homework assignments will be distributed on Tuesdays and will be due by midnight the following Monday.
  • Lab assignments will be done in class the day that they are assigned. In some cases, lab assignments will be part of your weekly homework assignment.
  • Homework and lab assignments will always be posted to the class web page. In addition, errors and/or clarifications to the assignment will be made on the class web page. It is always your responsibility to check the class web page for such clarifications before turning in an assignment.
  • No credit will be given for late homework submissions. However, since completing the assignments is crucial to your understanding of the material, you are encouraged to complete any assignments which you do not sumbit on time.
  • If a program is not working perfectly, turn it in with detailed comments as to which parts are complete, and which are not.
  • Each program will be assigned a grade according to not only its correctness, but also its design, efficiency and documentation.
  • Pair Programming: On all homework assignments given in this class, you are encouraged to work with a partner of your choice.

• Class participation
  • You should attend and actively participate in all class sessions.
  • Inevitably, students who do not attend regularly do poorly on tests and assignments.
  • You will often be given tasks which you are to work on during class time. While these tasks will not receive a grade, your successful completion of these is an important component of your in-class participation.

• Academic honesty is required in all work you submit to be graded.
• Working with one partner of your choice is allowed on all homework assignments and the final project.
• You may not submit work done with (or by) someone else.
• You may not examine or use work done by others to complete your own work.
• You may discuss assignment specifications and requirements with others in the class to be sure you understand the problem. In addition, you are allowed to work with others to help learn the course material. However, you may not work with others (or other teams) on your assignments in any capacity.
• All code you submit must be your own with the following permissible exceptions: code distributed in class, code found in the course text book, code worked on with your partner, and code worked on with the clinician. In these cases, you should always include detailed comments that indicates which parts of the assignment you received help on, and what your sources were.
• ``It is the opinion of the faculty that for an intentional first offense, failure in the course is normally appropriate. Suspension for a semester or deprivation of the degree in that year may also be appropriate when warranted by the seriousness of the offense.'' - Swarthmore College Bulletin (2003-2004), p. 51 (excerpted from The Faculty Handbook)
• Please see me if there are any questions about what is permissible.