Instructor: Dr. Shyamal Mitra
E-mail: mitra@cs.utexas.edu
Office Hours: MWF 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Location: GDC 6.320

Co-Instructor: Dr. Stephany Coffman-Wolph
E-mail: scoffman99@gmail.com
Office Hours: MWF 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: GDC 6.314

Text: Introduction to Programming using Python
Author: Y. Daniel Liang
Publisher: Pearson
ISBN: 978-0-13-274718-9

Supplementary Material: iClicker 1 or 2

Scope of the Course

Computing is an integral part of all natural sciences and engineering disciplines. All other disciplines require some familiarity with computers. This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of computing and programming to students who wish to minor in Computer Science. In this course we will cover basic computer architecture and software components. We will learn to program in a high level language (Python). We will learn problem solving techniques for numerical and scientific problems. We will study the syntax and special features of Python, develop our own algorithms, and translate them to computer code. No prior programming experience is required but familiarity with personal computers will help significantly.

We will be following the book quite closely. Supplemental notes will be available on the web. This course will be a tutorial introduction to programming. Unlike the traditional lecture format, our classes will be a venue for solving problems, writing programs, and exchanging ideas. Your attendance to the classes is mandatory.

iClicker

• Purchase an iClicker from the University Co-op or the iClicker web site.
• Register your iClicker. You must re-register your iClicker even if you already registered in a previous semester.
• You must register your iClicker by providing the following information:
  • your first name
  • your last name
  • your UT EID (student ID)
  • your iClicker's serial number under the bar code on the back of the device
• Make sure you bring your working, registered iClicker to every lecture.
• The frequency that we will work in class is DB. Make sure you know how to change your iClicker frequency to DB.

Assignments

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.x ( www.python.org ) on your home machine. 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. I strongly recommend that you write programs over and above what is assigned to you. Assignments will be given almost 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 me immediately.

The assignments will require a substantial time commitment over several days (an average of 8 to 10 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. If you still have not finished your assignment after two days, see me and discuss your particular situation. You have no extensions on the Tutorial Exercises from Live Lab and Coding Bat.

Specific grading criteria vary on each assignment. However, in general, programs that do not run 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, 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 critera for programming assignments. Remember Python is case sensitive. Your file names, program names, and output must match case as specified in the problem statement.

Always make a backup copy of the Python source code (i.e. the .py file) on a removable secondary storage device (e.g. a flash drive) or e-mail a copy of the code to yourself. 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 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: You have one week from the date the assignment grade is posted to dispute your grade. The student assistants will be grading the assignments. Send the student assistants an e-mail and see if you can resolve your differences. If you cannot resolve your differences, you may send me an e-mail explaining 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 (e.g. the header description in the documentation for the turnin program).

In addition, because assignments are submitted as files to Canvas, they must have the correct file name, which will be specified in the assignment writeup. The file name is case sensitive. You must also ensure that you turn in the assignment to the correct unique assignment folder. Lost assignments are typically caused by turning in an incorrect file name and/or turning a file into the wrong assignment folder. Assignments, which omit the header or are incorrect in any one or more of these requirements, will have the grade reduced by 10% of the maximum grade.

Tutorial Exercises

There will be tutorial exercises on Live Lab that will be assigned. Instructions on how to access Live Lab will be posted on the class website. We will also be working on the exercises posted on Coding Bat. Create an account on Coding Bat, only when we give you instructions to.

Quizzes

We will be having quizzes regularly throughout the semester. The quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class using iClickers. The quizzes will start after the end of the add / drop period, i.e. after 05 Sep 2017. There are no make-up quizzes. We will drop your lowest two quiz grades.

Tests

There will be three tests and no final examination. The three tests will be during class periods.

• Test 1: Wed, 11 Oct 2017
• Test 2: Wed, 08 Nov 2017
• Test 3: Fri, 08 Dec 2017

Make-up tests will be given only for the following reasons. In all cases you must provide some form of documentation.

• Ill health
• Family emergency
• Official UT conflict

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.

Grades

• Quizzes: 15%
• Tutorial Exercises: 10%
• Programming Assignments: 30%
• Three Tests (15% each): 45%

Study Groups

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.

Academic Misconduct Policy

Helping a friend understand the intent of a homework or programming assignment specification is permitted. Students who are not pair programmers and 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:

• Copying solutions, code, or programs from someone else or giving someone else your solutions, code, or programs
• Participation in a discussion group that develops a solution that everyone copies
• Posting your code to homework problems on Piazza or Facebook.
• Copying code from the internet (e.g. from Piazza or Facebook or other internet sites)
• Employing someone to write the solutions for you on homework assignment problems.

Your Responsibilities in This Class

• Your performance in this class will be determined by you! It will require a strong dedication to learning the material and may require a substantial time commitment to complete the programming assignments.
• You are expected to show up on time for class and stay for the whole lecture. If you come more than 10 minutes late to class, I may ask you to leave.
• We expect you to occupy a seat in the lecture hall and not sit in the aisles.
• You are required to have your cell phones off and out of sight at all times during the lecture. You may not make or receive calls on your cell phone or send or receive text messages during lectures.
• You may not use a laptop in class.
• You are responsible for all material posted to the class web site and sent as email. Ignorance of such material is no excuse.
• You are responsible for all material presented in the lectures. Note that lectures will include some material that is not available elsewhere.
• You are responsible for turning in your own work on all assignments. Unauthorized collusion is not allowed and constitutes a violation of the university's policies on academic integrity. See above guidelines for more information on what is or is not allowed.
• You are responsible for protecting your work from being copied by others.
• Your conduct in class should be conducive towards a positive learning environment for your class mates as well as your self.

Course Time Table

• 30 Aug 2017: First Day of Class
• 05 Sep 2017: Last day of official add / drop
• 15 Sep 2017: 12^th class day, official enrollment count is taken
• 07 Nov 2017: Last day a student may change registration to or from pass/fail basis.
• 22 - 25 Nov 2017: No class. Thanksgiving break
• 11 Dec 2017: Classes end

General Policies

Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office (471-6259 or 471-4641 TTY).