FALL 2009

Course Description: CSC 112 is an introductory course in computer programming for students who are not majoring in computer science. Students who intend to major in computer science may also take this course as preparation for the first course in computer science, CSC 121. This course enables you to write basic computer programs in a high-level language, in this case the language C. Topics include C syntax, algorithms, computer systems, data representation, elementary programming techniques, debugging and testing of programs.

1. Text: K.N.King, C Programming - A Modern Approach , Second Edition, W.W.Norton,2008.
2. Class time: 
• 9:30 - 10:45 TR in CI 2006.  
• During class hours you will be expected to work upon and possibly complete a focused programming task. If you are unable to complete the task in class, it is your responsibility to make sure that you complete it after class. Also, it is your responsibility to demonstrate your completed work , in class, no later than the second class meeting following the class when the assignment was made.. These demonstrations will be used to determine your lab grade.

Attendance: You are expected to attend, and to actively participate in every class meeting. Active participation implies coming to class well prepared with your textbook, notes, and pens and pencils. You are expected to read the textbook before and after topics are presented in class. 


3. Instructor: Dr. Sridhar Narayan, CI 2015

   Office phone: 962-3695

   Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday 11:00 am - 12:00 noon. Other hours by appointment only.

   E-mail address: narayans@uncw.edu

4. Academic Integrity

   University Policy on academic integrity will be followed for this course. Cheating will be taken very seriously, resulting in harsh penalties. Since the skills required in this class are also required in the next class, cheating in this class will seriously hamper your ability to pass the next class.

   The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the mastery of existing knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

   It is the responsibility of every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the university community to uphold and maintain the highest academic standards and integrity of the university. Any member of the university community who has reasonable grounds to believe that an infraction of the Honor Code has occurred has an obligation to report the alleged violation to the faculty member teaching the class who, in turn, must report the allegation to the Office of the Dean of Students. This obligation is a core value of the Honor Code, and must be fulfilled by each and every member of the university.

   UNCW students affirm their adherence to the Honor Code by signing an Honor Pledge after enrolling at the university; thereafter, each student must conform to the Honor Code at all times. The absence of signing the pledge does not excuse students from their obligation to read, practice and be held accountable to the rules and spirit of the Honor Code. Students who observe or suspect an Honor Code violation are to notify the instructor in whose course the alleged infraction occurred. 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 his program, provided the following are true:
     1. You have already completed your program.
     2. You never type or dictate code for the student. You should be helping with minor details, not solving the programming problem for him/her.

   Inappropriate Collaboration

   • Showing another student (who has not completed the assignment) your code.
   • Copying 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.

   Any of these constitutes cheating and will be reported to the academic integrity council.

5. Help Debugging from Instructors

   Obviously, you may ask for debugging help from your instructor or TA. However, debugging is a skill that can be developed only by practice. It is important to learn how to 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 write your program with an approach that is a complete departure from the way described in class, you are responsible for fixing your own resulting problems.

    
6. Homework: Any lab assignment you do not complete in class automatically becomes homework. in addition, there will be several graded, independent, programming assignments. All homework must be YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL WORK. Each independent programming assignment will have a ``due date'' and is REQUIRED to be submitted as discussed in class. You may also be asked to explain any code that you are presenting as a part of the assignment.  The following late policy will be enforced: N days late means you lose N² points.
7. Tests and Grading: You will have 2 in-class written tests on the following dates:

   • Thursday September 24, 2009.
   • Thursday, November 5, 2009. 

    

   In general, no make up tests will be given; if you miss a test and have a PREARRANGED reason, your final exam grade may be substituted for it.
   Wednesday, December 2, 2009 is the last day of classes. You will have a FINAL EXAM on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am in CI 2006. If you are passing the course, and if you cannot take the final exam when it is scheduled because of an emergency beyond your control, and if you notify me BEFORE the end of classes, you may possibly receive an ``I'' in the course. Details about the format of the final will be announced later in the semester.

   • Programming Assignments: 40%. You submit these for grading as directed in the assignment. Programming assignments may not be equally weighted.
   • Lab assignments: 15%. You demonstrate these in class for credit. Lab assignments may not be equally weighted.
   • 2 in-class tests: 25%
   • Final Exam: 20%

    

   Attendance impacts your grade as described here.
   • Course grade: A = 90-100 and attendance in at least 90% of the lectures
   • B = 80-89 and attendance in at least 80% of the lectures
   • C = 70-79 and attendance in at least 70% of the lectures
   • D = 60 - 69 and attendance in at least 60% of the lectures

   The upper 30% (except the A range), and lower 30% of all grade ranges will be assigned + and - modifiers, respectively.

8. Students with Disabilities:  If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation in this course, you should inform the instructor of this fact in writing within the first week of class or as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations of the Accommodation Letter.