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CSC 231 - Introduction to Data
Structures |
Course Syllabus – Fall 2022
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Section |
Section Day |
Section Time |
Section Location |
|
CSC 231-800 |
TR |
9:00am - 10:40am |
Synchronous Online via Zoom |
Schedule (See Canvas)
INSTRUCTOR
Curry Guinn
E-mail: mailto:guinnc@uncw.edu?subject=CSC%20231
Office hours: Via Zoom
on MW 11:00am-12:00pm and by appointment
Phone: (910) 962-7937
COURSE DESCRIPTION
CSC 231 - Introduction to
Data Structures is the second course in the three course
sequence: CSC 131, CSC 231, CSC 331. The prerequisite for CSC 231 is CSC 131
(with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better), and the co-requisite is CSC
133 (Discrete Structures). Topics in CSC 231 include the study of basic data
structures and their applications. Lists and trees; searching and sorting
algorithms; hashing; analysis and design of efficient algorithms.
Note: A grade of
"C" (2.0) or better is required for taking courses for which CSC 231
is a prerequisite.
TEXTBOOK
Problem Solving with Algorithms and
Data Structures using Python, by
Miller and Ranum, second or third edition. Publisher: Franklin
Beedle. This is available free online at
https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published//pythonds/index.html
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· PyCharm IDE - Requires Python 3 to be installed on your machine. Follow the steps below.
· Textbook website: http://interactivepython.org/courselib/static/pythonds3/index.html
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for CSC 231 are:
1 Students develop knowledge of basic data structures for storage and retrieval of ordered or unordered data. Data structures include: arrays, linked lists, binary trees, and hash tables.
2 Students develop knowledge of applications of data structures including the ability to implement algorithms for the creation, insertion, deletion, searching, and sorting of each data structure.
3 Students learn to analyze and compare algorithms for efficiency using Big-O notation.
4 Students implement projects requiring the implementation of the above data structures.
GRADING
- Programming
Projects
- All homework must be
YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL WORK.
- You may be asked to explain any code that you submit as a
part of the assignment. Inadequate explanations may lead me to believe
that your submission was plagiarized.
- Independent programming
assignments
will be assigned weekly.
- Some programming
assignments may carry more weight than others.
- Course Grade
A modified 10-point scale will be used to compute your course grade. Pluses and minuses ( + ) will be assigned solely at the discretion of the instructor. Factors that affect this judgment are the distribution of grades, improvement during the semester, and attendance.
|
90 - 100 A |
|
80 - 89.5 B |
|
70 - 79.5 C |
|
60 - 69.5 D |
- Quizzes 10%
- Programming Assignments and Labs: 25%
- Test
1: 15%
- Test 2: 15%
- Final
Exam: 35%
Late Policy
There are no makeups for Quizzes. Quizzes
administered on Canvas will have a clearly defined due date and time and will
be posted with a minimum of 48 hours notice.
There are no makeups for missed midterms or final exams. The
schedule for midterms and the final exam is already posted. In the event of a change, an announcement
will be made in class and via email.
Homeworks will be submitted
online. To receive full credit, the online submission must be made by the time
and date specified in Canvas. Late
assignments will be automatically docked 10 points per day, with
Saturday/Sunday counting as one day.
Attendance
Policy
Attending the synchronous class meetings is required. While the meeting will be recorded so that students may review the material afterwards, a lack of attendance is strongly correlated to poor student performance. About 30%-40% of the material in this course is presented only in class. It is not in the textbook. Therefore, the following policy will be used:
If a student is not present for:
|
1-3 course meetings |
No change in final grade |
|
4 meetings |
A plus/minus deduction from the final grade. [In other words, if a student has an A, the recorded grade would be A-. If a student has a B-, the recorded grade would be C+.] |
|
5 meetings |
Two plus/minus deductions. [e.g., an A becomes a B+, a B- becomes a C.] |
|
6 meetings |
Three plus/minus deductions. [e.g., an A becomes a B, a B- becomes a C-.] |
|
7 meetings |
Four plus/minus deductions. [e.g., an A becomes a B-, a B- becomes a D+.] |
|
8 meetings |
Five plus/minus deductions. |
|
9 or greater meetings |
F for the course. |
Zoom
Policy
Course meetings will occur in Zoom. Please obtain both a microphone and a webcam if you do not already have that hardware. A microphone and a webcam are required for the course.
When you connect to a class meeting, please make sure that your displayed name is in the format <FirstName LastName>, e.g., “Mary Jones”.
Your webcam does not always have to be on, but it will be required during any synchronous testing. When your webcam is not on, please have a professionally appropriate image of yourself as the default image. Your student ID image is perfectly fine.
Using Zoom in a professional manner is important job training as many tech jobs are being done remotely. Zoom and similar tools will be a part of your professional career even after we have the pandemic under control. Here are some tips:
· Mute your microphone always unless you are speaking.
· Make your default image be professionally appropriate and, in general, similar to your UNCW ID photograph.
· Do not use any Zoom Video Filters. They are unprofessional and distracting.
· Make sure objects visible in your background are professionally appropriate. E.g., no smoking paraphernalia, alcohol bottles, posters with inappropriate images, etc. Common sense.
· Do not smoke or drink alcohol during a Zoom meeting.
· Do not Zoom from bed.
· Drinking coffee or water is fine, but don’t eat while on camera.
· Wear clothing that is appropriate for a face-to-face class. If you wouldn’t wear it on campus, don’t wear it in Zoom.
Inappropriate behavior will result in being evicted from
the Zoom meeting and reported to the Dean of Students.
Academic Integrity
University Policy on academic integrity will be followed for this course. Cheating will be taken very seriously, resulting in severe penalties. The academic integrity policy for each class varies. Please follow the policies below:
Appropriate Collaboration
· Sharing class notes with another student.
· Discussing anything that was covered in class.
· Helping a fellow student locate a bug in their program, provided the following is true:
§ You never type or dictate code for the student. You may help the student resolve a particular issue. You may not solve large parts of the programming problem for them.
Inappropriate Collaboration
· Showing another student (who has not completed the assignment) your code or answers to a problem.
· Copying problem solutions or code from another student.
· Verbally providing other students with the solution to the program. (This would be along the lines of giving them the key to solving the problem when they need to think it through themselves.)
· Helping other students during a test or quiz.
· Doing another student's work.
· Posting course material (including test/homework/quiz problems) on any internet site, message board, IM, email thread, social media, etc.
· Submitting assignments/test/quiz problems that are plagiarized from any internet site, message board, IM, email thread, social media, etc.
Any of these constitutes cheating and will be reported to the academic integrity council.
Help Problem Solving from Instructors
You may ask for problem solving help from your instructor or TA. However, problem solving is a skill that can be developed only by practice. It is vital for you to learn how to successfully struggle through problems on your own. If you are genuinely stuck, we will be willing to help you as far as your code matches the techniques described in class. If you come up with an approach that is a complete departure from the way described in class, you are responsible for fixing any resulting problems.
Intellectual Property and Copyright
Any dissemination of class notes, lecture slides, recordings, handouts, copies of exams, or any other course materials without permission of the instructor is prohibited by UNCW policy. UNCW Copyright Use and Ownership Policy (http://www.uncw.edu/policies/documents/01210.copyrightpolicy.pdf ) specifies that class notes and related materials are considered derivative of original intellectual property of the course instructor. Therefore, the instructor (not the student) owns the copyright and must provide specific permission to distribute and/or reuse those materials for anything other than personal use and scholarship by the student. Commercial use, display, or dissemination of such notes, copies, or recordings—as well as posting to websites--will generally constitute an infringement of copyright and the Honor Code. Materials that qualify as student-owned are listed in the policy.
Students with Disabilities
Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555). Please give me a copy of the letter you receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class accommodations you may need. If you require accommodation for test-taking, please make sure I have the referral letter no fewer than three days before the test.
Notification of Illness
Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact the Abrons Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280.
Learning Strategies
You are expected to take an active role in your learning in this course. This includes regular attendance, paying attention in class, reading the textbook, and completing all course requirements. You are encouraged to study with your classmates outside of class.
Policies
UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911.