This course is the second course for computer science majors, following the guidelines established by the Association for Computing Machinery. It builds on the material of the first course, but with more emphasis on the object-oriented paradigm. This course also partially satisfies the requirements for Understanding the World Through Science of the common curriculum.
Ralph Morelli. Object-Oriented Problem Solving: Java, Java, Java. Prentice Hall, second edition, 2003.
Most course-related information (this syllabus, homework and reading assignments, etc.) will be made available via the World Wide Web. The course Web page is a starting point for Web-accessible course material; you can find it linked from my home page (http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~bmassing), directly at http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~bmassing/Classes/CS1321_2003spring/, or via Tiger's Lair (http://bb.trinity.edu/).
Many other books on Java are available. However, there are many online resources, which together with the textbook will probably be sufficient for this semester and a bit beyond.
Grades in this course will be determined by the results of two major exams (a midterm and a final), several in-class quizzes, several homework assignments, and class participation, weighted as follows.
| Component | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Midterm exam | 100 |
| Final exam | 200 |
| Quizzes | 50 |
| Homework | about 500 |
| Class participation | 50 |
Numeric grades will be calculated as a simple percentage, by dividing points earned on the above components by maximum points. These numeric grades will then be converted to letter grades based on a curve, but in no case will the resulting letter grades be worse than students would receive based on the following scheme.
| Numeric grade | Letter grade |
|---|---|
| 90 - 100 | A |
| 80 - 89 | B |
| 70 - 79 | C |
| 60 - 69 | D |
| 0 - 59 | F |
Exams are comprehensive but will emphasize the most recent material. They are scheduled as follows. Please plan accordingly.
About every other week there will be a short in-class quiz. Dates will be announced via the course Web page. They will usually cover material from recent classes and reading; the questions will be similar in format to those you are likely to see on the major exams. There will be about six quizzes over the course of the semester, and the lowest grade will be dropped.
Several homework assignments will be required for successful completion of this course. The assignments in this course will all be based around a single problem. Each assignment will require you to produce a solution to a specific part of the problem so that all can be used together in the end for a single application. Detailed requirements, including due dates and times, will be provided as part of each assignment. You are encouraged to use the department's network of Linux machines, but unless otherwise specified for individual assignments, you may use any other system that provides a suitable environment.
Regular class attendance is strongly encouraged; class participation grades will be based largely on attendance.
Course-related announcements will sometimes be made by sending e-mail to the Trinity e-mail addresses of all registered students. Students are strongly encouraged to read mail sent to their Trinity addresses frequently. An archive of such announcements will be provided via the course Web page.
Exams can be made up only in cases of documented conflict with a university-sponsored activity or documented medical emergency. Quizzes cannot be made up, but the lowest quiz score will be dropped, so you can miss one quiz without penalty.
Unless otherwise stated for a particular assignment, homework will be accepted up to one class period late, but no more, at a penalty of 10 percent off per working day. This penalty may be waived or additional time allowed at the instructor's discretion in cases of illness or conflict with a university-sponsored activity.
If you have unusual circumstances (as we all sometimes do), please discuss these with the instructor as far in advance as possible.
Unless otherwise specified, all work submitted for a grade (homework assignments, quizzes, and exams) must represent the student's own individual effort. Discussion of homework assignments and course material among students is encouraged, but not to the point where detailed answers are being written collectively. Answers that are identical beyond coincidence are in violation of Trinity's Academic Integrity Policy and will result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, a failing grade on that assignment for all parties involved. You are responsible for the security of your work, both electronic and hard copy.