CMPS 12A: Introduction to Programming
Winter 2006

3/25/06 - I have finished the grading for the quarter. You may pick up your final exams during my office hours next quarter (times/days TBD).

Course grading: Course grades were calculated as documented in the class web page: Programming assignments (20%), Midterms (40%). Final (40%). Although they were required, a number of students didn't submit one or both of the ungraded programming assignments. To reward those that did, I added a 3% bonus per submitted ungraded assignment to the homework average of each student that submitted them. The course grades were calculated on a 90/80/70 scale, with plusses and minuses given for grades in the upper and lower ranges of each grade.		Course Grade Number A+ 9 A 15 A- 5 B+ 6 B 13 B- 3 C+ 9 C 9 D 8 F 14
Lab grading: Lab grades were based on attendance—the percentage of labs attended—and performance—the percentage score on the in-lab quizzes and evaluations. The lab grades were computed on a 90/80/70 scale by adding (attendance + performance/10). In other words, as promised, the lab grade was primarily based on attendance but I gave a bonus to those people who demonstrated that they learned the material while they were there.		Lab Grade Number A 55 B 17 C 0 D 10 F 9

3/16/06 - Now that the quarter is winding down I want to tell you how great it has been teaching this class this quarter. The amount of class participation and the amount of improvement I have seen from everyone has made teaching this class a genuine pleasure. Good luck on the final exam—Scott

3/16/06 - Assignment #6

This assignment is optional. If your grade on this assignment is higher than your average on the other assignments, I will count it. If not (including if you don't do it), I will not count it.

The assignment: Rewrite Life1D to be object-oriented. Create and use at least three classes: One for Cells, one for a Row of cells, and one for the Rules. You may use my version of Life1D (link below) as the basis for your object-oriented program.

The assignment is due any time before the final exam.

3/14/06 - My code for Life1D.java is available here.

3/14/06 - Matt's practice final is available here.

3/2/06 - Grade adjustment on Midterm 2—as we discussed in class, I am adjusting the grading on midterm 2 as follows: I am dropping the lowest scoring question from each person's exam and dividing the result by .9 (i.e. grading out of 90 possible points instead of 100). If you left class early, taking your exam with you, I can't adjust your grade unless you give it to me (after I return from my travels).

Prof. Helmbold will return the exams in my possession. You will notice that I haven't written a new grade on your exam. I have, however, written them in my grade list. To calculate your new grade, drop your lowest score (not including the extra credit), sum up the remaining scores (including the extra credit) and divide the total by .9.

3/2/06 - I will be out of town next week attending a workshop and meeting related to my research. Professor David Helmbold will teach class on Tuesday and Professor Ira Pohl (co-author of our book) will teach on Thursday. I will have limited email access while I am away so any questions beyond what is covered in the book will probably have to wait until I return.

3/1/06 - I have finished grading Midterm 2. The answer key is available here.

2/21/06 - Matt, our tireless MSI learning assistant, has created a review for Midterm 2. Here it is.

2/19/06 - In reference to our discussion of the efficiency of different sorting algorithms the other day, here is a nice discussion of sort efficiency. (thanks to Michael Beckman for the reference). Note the difference between the O(nlogn) algorithms and the O(n^2) algorithms. It takes < 1 second for the O(nlogn) algorithms to sort 100,000 items, while it takes almost 15 minutes—about 2500 times longer—for the O(n^2) algorithms.

2/17/06 - Assignment 5 is posted. It is due in two weeks, on Thursday, March 2. It is a graded assignment. I suggest you start it now.

For your convenience, I coded up a solution so you could see how it works. My version is available here: Life1D.class. Note that this is the .class file, not the .java file. You can execute this file using "java Life1D".

You may find it easier to read in the rules as 8 digits separated by spaces instead of one string of digits with no spaces, as I did.

I strongly recommend that you start this assignment soon. It is a little more challenging than the previous ones.

2/17/06 - The second midterm will be Tuesday, February 28.

2/17/06 - For your reference, solutions to Homeworks 1 through 4 are available here:

Course Notes

General Lab Information

TAs and Tutors

Lecture Supplements

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): See if your question is here!

Required Text:

Java by Dissection, 2nd Edition by Pohl and McDowell.

Prof. McDowell, who coauthored the book with Prof. Pohl, has generously made a pre-publication copy for the book available to us in in PDF form. You can download the chapters here (The username and password will be made available on the first day of class). Alternatively, you can purchase a printed copy of the new edition at the Slug Books Co-op.

Evaluation:

• 8 Homework/programming assignments (20%).
• 2 Midterms (40%).
• Final (40%).

Ungraded practice assignments: In addition to the four graded programming assignments, there will be four, ungraded programming assignments. For these assignments you are free to consult freely with any of your classmates. The experience gained in completing these assignments will help you with the graded assignments and the exams, which must be solely your own work.

Facilities: This quarter you will using the Unix operating system for your programming assignments. You will use submit for turning in homework.

Homework: Turn in homework by using the submit procedures. It will not allow late work. Late work will not be accepted or graded. The program should be submitted in whatever form it is in - it is possible to receive some partial credit for a program that is not working. Homework is graded in terms of it being done in a good style, being correct, being concise, being readable, and being efficient.