Our primary goal is to understand the fundamentals of computing, with a particular emphasis on computer programming. By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• compose elementary Python programs using a combination of imperative, conditional, and iterative statements.
• use functions both to decompose problems into their component parts and to implement repetition through recursion.
• compose more complex programs involving at least three classes.
• understand some theoretical computer science topics, such as the binary representation of integers, context-free grammars, and the efficiency of alternative algorithms for a problems including sorting and searching.

I recommend John Zelle's book Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science, published by Beedle & Associates. You will not be required to use this book, but the course Web page will be updated regularly to indicate topics discussed in class, with references to sections from Zelle's book for those who want to read more.

www.cburch.com/cs/150/

There are a total of 1,000 points over the semester. Letter grades will be assigned with cutoffs at 900 for an A, 800 for B, 700 for C, and 600 for D.

Class attendance/participation	60 pts
Assignments (18, 30 pts each, lowest dropped)	510 pts
Quizzes (four, 30 pts each)	120 pts
Exams (two, 80 pts each)	160 pts
Final	150 pts
TOTAL	1,000 pts

I reserve the right to make adjustments in the entire grading scheme or in particular cases.

While I do not have a specific goal about the assigned grades, the grades I assign tend to average around 3.0. Note that I do not normally curve grades at the end of the course; instead, I monitor your progress and perform any curves as I grade tests. When I curve test scores, I add a fixed amount to all scores; as a result, some test scores may end up being above 100%. I anticipate, but will not insist, that the median test score will be around 75%. Normally, scores in the non-test categories will be higher; the average class grade will likely be a B even though the average test grade is a C.

Several points are designated for class participation. I will assign half of these points near the semester's middle, and the other half near the semester's end.

I do monitor your class attendance. If your attendance is excellent (missing one or fewer classes each half-semester), you will receive at least 60% of these attendance/participation points. If you feel your absence should be excused, please warn me about the absence a day in advance. Whether I excuse your absence is my call.

The remaining 40% of these points are for participation, including both questions during class and responses to questions during class. I may give more than full credit in unusual circumstances. Take this as an invitation: I value your active participation in class, and I expect you to show evidence of being fully tuned in during class sessions.

You will often have assignments. Until otherwise specified, feel free to work with one other student on each problem; in this case, you should jointly submit a single solution. I reserve the right to change this policy, individually or collectively, at any time.

Each assignment will be distributed through the course Web page during a class period where we meet in the laboratory (a lab day). During a lab day, you should work only on the assignment distributed that day. Sometimes you might complete the assignment during the lab period; in that case, you may show your solution to the instructor, who may approve you to leave early. The assignments get progressively more difficult; it's unlikely anybody will complete the later assignments during just the one class period.

You will normally be given a week to complete each assignment, and they will normally be due on each Thursday. Note, though, that there are more assignments than there are Thursdays; sometimes two different assignments will be out at the same time.

For each 24-hour period after the time due, I will deduct up to 10% of the points possible.

The scheduled days for quizzes and exams, listed below, will likely not change.

Mon 8 Feb	Quiz 1
Mon 22 Feb	Exam 1
Mon 8 Mar	Quiz 2
Mon 29 Mar	Exam 2
Mon 12 Apr	Quiz 3
Mon 26 Apr	Quiz 4
Tue 11 May	Final, 9:00am

Quizzes will typically be 25 minutes in length, and exams usually 50 minutes, but that's not a guarantee.

If you miss a test, you must receive advance permission from me to receive more than a 0. (Dire medical emergencies usually constitute an exception.) If you are excused from the test, I will either double your lowest quiz or exam score or administer a make-up, at my discretion. Let me know well in advance — 24 hours for exams and quizzes, and two weeks for the final. I would like to remind you that, when e-mail is impossible, telephones exist also. Do not skip a test without my prior approval!

Note that I may require you to document your reason for absence. Travel arrangements and work schedules are not adequate reasons to miss a test.

Any instances of academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating on exams or quizzes, submitting work that is not fully your own, etc.) will be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee. For details on the procedures involved with academic dishonesty issues please refer to the Hendrix catalog.

You must properly attribute any work or ideas you use in assignments for this course which are quoted or derived from others. Plagiarism includes not only copying the ideas and the written and spoken words of others, but also copying or otherwise appropriating their computer files as well. Interfering with the work of others is also a serious academic offense.

Discussing or viewing others' solutions to assignments is officially out of bounds, as is discussing or showing your own solution to others. In practice, I realize, you may help other students; this presents a problem only when the solution you submit is substantially similar to another student's. A strong correlation between your solution and a classmate's solution constitutes evidence of cheating.

Feel free to stop by my office any time you want to talk about something related to the class. I do have office hours listed on the Web page, but they are not intended to limit you. The office hours represent when I will try to be available in my office, but I'm equally available at all times that my office door is open. I'm also happy to arrange appointments.

If you're not in the building, feel free to telephone my office. And if I'm not in my office, you can send e-mail. But please try to contact me directly before e-mail: E-mail is much less efficient.

Most Hendrix students intuitively know the appropriate bounds for behavior in class. But: Cellphone use is prohibited during class, even for text-message or leaving the classroom to receive calls. Use of laptops is allowed, but only for activities related directly to what is currently being discussed; I reserve the right to prohibit them if I feel this policy is being abused.

Any inappropriate use of electronic devices (or of reading materials) is worse than an absence, since it distracts other students. It will count accordingly in the attendance/participation policy; you could potentially receive a negative score.

On tests, no electronic devices other than a simple watch are permitted.

It is the policy of Hendrix College to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Any student who needs accommodation in relation to a recognized disability should inform the instructor at the beginning of the semester. In order to receive accommodations, students with disabilities are required to contact Julie Brown in Academic Support Services at 505-2954.