Instructor: Dr. Shyamal Mitra
Office Hours: MWF 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: GDC 6.320 or GDC 6.302
E-mail: mitra@cs.utexas.edu
Do not send mail on Canvas.
Student Assistant: Jian He
E-mail: jianhe@cs.utexas.edu
Office Hours: TF 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: GDC 2.902
Student Assistant: Juanito Taveras
E-mail: juanito.taveras@utexas.edu
Office Hours: ThF 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: GDC 2.902
Student Assistant: Po-Chen Wu
E-mail: pochen@utexas.edu
Office Hours: MW 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: GDC 2.902
Student Assistant: Ridwan Syed
E-mail: ridwan@cs.utexas.edu
Office Hours: TTh 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: GDC 2.902
Required Text: Python 3 and Data Structures
Authors: Bailey, Lysecky, Vahid
Publisher: Zyante
ISBN: 978-1-5418-2550-5
We will learn how to analyze and design software. We will learn how to create reusable software components and to compose programs from already available components. We will learn about some basic data structures and algorithms and how to match the data structures and algorithms to problems. We will test and evaluate programs for their functionality and their performance.
We will be following the required text book closely. I will provide notes in class that will be posted on the web for topics that are not covered in the book. Unlike the traditional lecture format, our classes will be a venue for solving problems, writing programs, and exchanging, ideas. Attendance to the lectures is mandatory. If you are not there for any lecture you need to send me an e-mail explaining why.
There will be programming assignments that you can complete in the CS Lab. You may choose to use your own computer to work on these assignments. If you work on your home computer, you will have to download and install Python 3. There is a graphical development environment (IDLE) that comes with Python that you can also install.
The only way to learn programming is to program. Doing the programming assignments is crucial to performing well in class. There will be on the average one to two assignments every week. Each assignment will have a clearly stated due date and time. Assignments start out being easy but get harder over the semester. If you are having considerable difficulty with Assignments 2 and/or 3, please see the Instructor immediately.
The assignments will require a substantial time commitment over several days (an average of 10 to 12 hours per week should be expected). Be sure to budget sufficient time to complete assignments before the deadline.
Turn in your assignments on time. This permits grading to start promptly after the submission deadline so that assignments maybe returned promptly. If you do not finish an assignment by the deadline you have a maximum of two days to turn your assignment in. However, there is a penalty of 10 points (out of a 100 points) per day. Your assignment is one day late until the midnight of the day after it is due, two days late from then until midnight of the second day. We will accept your assignment after two days if there is a compelling reason.
Specific grading criteria vary on each assignment. However, in general, programs that do not compile correctly on the CS Lab configuration will receive no more than 80% of the possible points. Other point deductions are given for such things as: incorrect results, missing features, bad solution logic, no documentation etc. No matter what configuration of software that you have on your home computer, the assignment that is turned in must run successfully on the CS Lab configuration in order to be graded. Here is the general grading criteria for programming assignments.
All assignments must be submitted using the web based Canvas program. You must always make a backup copy of the Python source code (i.e. the .py file) on your removable secondary storage device (e.g. flash drive). This will be necessary in cases where your program gets lost, is corrupted, or if there is some dispute over what was turned in when.
For assigned programs, the source code (.py file) must be turned in. The source code must be a text file that can be run through a Python 3 interpreter. Word processing files (those created with Microsoft Word, for example, and ending with .doc extension ) will not be accepted.
If you want us to debug your program, come to us during our office hours with your laptop and we will go through the program with you. Do NOT just e-mail the program to us for debugging. We will not respond to e-mails that have full length programs that have to be debugged.
Grade Dispute: Scores for assignments will be posted on Canvas. You have one week from the date the assignment grade is posted to dispute your grade. The student assistants will be grading the assignments. Visit the TAs and see if you can resolve your differences. If you cannot resolve your differences, you may visit me to explain the situation. We will not entertain any grade disputes after one week.
Assignment Identification: All assignments must be submitted with the proper header, containing your name (as registered), your unique section number, and the assignment number at the top of the assignment. The format for the header will be specified in the assignment. That specification will over ride any other header specification.
In addition, because assignments are submitted as files on Canvas, they must have the correct file name, which will be specified in the assignment handout. You must also ensure that you turn in the assignment to the correct unique section folder - that is, the section you are currently registered in. Lost assignments are typically caused by turning in an incorrect file name and/or turning a file into the wrong section folder. Assignments, which omit the header or are incorrect in any one or more of these requirements, will have the grade reduced by 5% of the maximum grade.
There will be assigned readings from the text and exercises that follow the readings. You must do the readings and exercises by the due date and time.
There will be three tests and no final examination. The three tests will be on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. There will be makeup tests on Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. You need to give me documented evidence that you cannot take the test on Wednesdays to be allowed to take the makeup tests.
| Test | Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test 1 | Wed, 21 Feb | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | JES A121A |
| Makeup 1 | Thurs, 22 Feb | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | UTC 1.104 |
| Test 2 | Wed, 28 Mar | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | PAI 4.42 (51335) RLM 4.102 (51340) |
| Makeup 2 | Thurs, 29 Mar | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | UTC 1.104 |
| Test 3 | Wed, 02 May | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | PAI 4.42 (51335) GSB 2.126 (51340) |
| Makeup 3 | Thurs, 03 May | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | UTC 1.104 |
Make-up tests will be given only for the following reasons. In all cases you must provide some form of documentation.
Questions concerning test grades should be given to me in writing along with your test within the next class day that the test is handed back. We will not entertain any disputes after that time.
All scores will be entered on Canvas. Check your scores regularly on Canvas to make sure that we have entered them correctly. Remember the average score as shown on Canvas is not correct. It does not weight the average with weights as shown above.
A student can earn 5 points extra credit on the total sum of the three tests for filling out the electronic evaluation for the class.
We will be using Piazza for general discussion of class related questions rather than the discussion board on Canvas. Please do not post solutions to any problems on Piazza.
Helping a friend understand the intent of a homework or programming assignment specification is permitted. Students who work together too closely (e.g. design their solution together) should be aware that this is a form of cheating called COLLUSION and is subject to academic penalties. Penalties for academic misconduct include a failing grade in this course.
The homework, programs, and exams must be the work of students turning them in. University policy (see Dean of Students' policies on academic integrity) will be followed strictly. We will be running a sophisticated program on all submitted assignments to detect plagiarism. If we do detect any cases of academic dishonesty, we will assign a grade of F to all students involved and refer the cases to the Dean of Students.
Acts that exceed the bounds defined by the approved collaboration practices will be considered cheating. Such acts include:
Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office (471-6259 or 471-4641 TTY).