22C:50 Policies, Summer 2004

Part of the 22C:50 Introduction to System Software On-Line Collection
by Douglas W. Jones
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Department of Computer Science

Time and place: 12:00 Monday to Friday, 113 MacLean Hall.

Textbook: Course Notes, at Zephyr Copies.
Auxiliary Text: Kernighan and Ritchie, The C Programming Language, 2nd Ed, reserve, Math Library.

Exams will be comprehensive, covering all material up to the date of the exam, with an emphasis on integrating material covered by recent homework. Students with serious conflicts, such as illness or religious holidays may make alternate arrangements (in advance, if at all possible).

Grades will be based on homework, programming assignment and exam scores, as follows:

40% -- Homework, 10 to 12 assignments, 4% each;
only the 10 highest scores will count towards the final grade.
20% -- Programming Assignments (5 at 4% each).
10% -- Midterm Exam I, tba.
10% -- Midterm Exam II, tba.
20% -- Final Exam, tba.

Note: If this offering of 50 follows the pattern set by its predecessors, average homework scores will be around 3.5 out of 4, while the average midterm and final scores will be closer to 5 out of 10 and 10 out of 20. As a result, excellent homework and programming assignment scores can only partly compensate for poor exam scores.

Assignments will be due at the start of class! Late work will be assigned a 1-point penalty, and will not be accepted later than three lectures after the due date barring unusual circumstances. Homework must be turned in on paper, electronic submission is not acceptable. Your name must be legible at the top of each page (in case multiple pages get separated). If we can't read your name or your work, you will receive no credit!

The Web will be used to distribute assignments, answers to exercises (when time permits). Everything will be indexed on the World Wide Web at the following URL:

http://homepage.cs.uiowa.edu/~dwjones/syssoft/

Some fine print that must be repeated here, as a matter of policy:

   Students caught cheating for the first time may be given a penalty up to an automatic F in the course. Such an F cannot be removed from the transcript. Penalties up to expulsion may apply to second offences.
   You are encouraged to discuss homework problems with others in the class; this is usually a good learning tool. On the other hand, do not share or discuss your solutions prior to turning them in!
   Temporary grades of I (Incomplete) will be granted only on the basis of negotiation prior to the final exam. If extended illness or other matters beyond your control interfere with your ability to satisfactorily complete the course, see me as soon as possible!
   If you have any disagreement or communications problem with the teaching assistant, bring it to me. Only if I cannot resolve it should you contact the department chair (14 MLH); due process continues to the dean of the Liberal Arts college and then up through the university administration to the Board of Regents.
   If, for any reason (including but not limited to long or short-term disability), you need any kind of special accomodation please contact me, either after class, during office hours or by E-mail.