This syllabus is a living document; please be aware that many elements on this page will change throughout the semester, including the course schedule. It is the student's responsibility to review this page periodically for updates.
This course will introduce fundamental ideas in computer science while also teaching you how to write computer programs. We will study algorithms for solving problems and implement solutions in the Python programming language. Python is an interpreted language that is known for its ease of use. We also introduce object-oriented programming and data structures. A deeper coverage of these topics will be presented in CS35.
This course is appropriate for all students who want to learn how to write computer programs and think like computer scientists. It is the usual first course for computer science majors and minors. Students with advanced placement credit or extensive programming experience should place out of this course and instead begin with CS31 or CS35.
By the end of the course, we hope that you will have developed the following skills:
WEEK | DAY | ANNOUNCEMENTS | TOPIC & READING | LABS |
1 | Jan 21 | Introduction to Python and Unix Zelle Ch 1,2 |
Lab 0: linux & xemacs | |
Jan 23 | ||||
Jan 25 | ||||
2 | Jan 28 | Numbers and Strings Ch 3 (all), Ch 4 just 4.1,4.2,4.3 |
Lab 1: first programs | |
Jan 30 | ||||
Feb 01 | Drop/Add ends (Feb 1) | |||
3 | Feb 04 | Quiz 1 Study Guide | if/else, Booleans Sect. 7.1,7.2,7.3 and 8.4.1 (pg. 246-7) |
Lab 2: strings |
Feb 06 | Quiz 1 | |||
Feb 08 | ||||
4 | Feb 11 | Graphics, Objects Ch 5 (skip 5.5, 5.6) Notes on the Graphics Library |
Lab 3: if/elif/else | |
Feb 13 | ||||
Feb 15 | ||||
5 | Feb 18 | Quiz 2 Study Guide | Functions, Objects Ch 6 (skip 6.3) |
Lab 4: graphics |
Feb 20 | Quiz 2 | |||
Feb 22 | ||||
6 | Feb 25 | while Loops, More Functions Sect 8.1,8.2,8.3 Function worksheet on pythontutor.com |
Lab 5: snail racing | |
Feb 27 | ||||
Mar 01 | ||||
7 | Mar 04 | Quiz 3 Study Guide | Top-Down Design, File I/O Sect 9.1,9.2,9.3, Sect 4.6 (files) |
Lab 6: slot machines |
Mar 06 | Quiz 3 | |||
Mar 08 | ||||
Mar 11 |
Spring Break |
|||
Mar 13 |
||||
Mar 15 |
||||
8 | Mar 18 | More Top-Down Design Sect 9.1,9.2,9.3 |
Lab 7: text twist *DESIGN* | |
Mar 20 | ||||
Mar 22 | ||||
9 | Mar 25 | Quiz 4 Study Guide | Searching, Analysis of Algorithms Sect 13.1 |
|
Mar 27 | Quiz 4 | |||
Mar 29 | Last day to declare CR/NC or W | |||
10 | Apr 01 | Sorting, Analysis of Algorithms Sect 13.3 |
Lab 8: Authorship Detection | |
Apr 03 | ||||
Apr 05 | ||||
11 | Apr 08 | Quiz 5 Study Guide | Recursion Sect 13.2 |
Lab 9: Sorting stock data |
Apr 10 | Quiz 5 | |||
Apr 12 | ||||
12 | Apr 15 | Defining new classes Sect 10.1,10.3.1,10.4 |
Lab 10: Recursion | |
Apr 17 | ||||
Apr 19 | ||||
13 | Apr 22 | Quiz 6 Study Guide | Linked lists |
Lab 11: Swindle |
Apr 24 | Quiz 6 | |||
Apr 26 | ||||
14 | Apr 29 | Advanced Topics, Wrap-up | Lab 12: Linked lists | |
May 01 | ||||
May 03 | Final exam Study Guide | |||
May 11 |
Final exam 2pm-5pm in SciCtr 101 |
Student Support Coordinator: Frances Ruiz (Office: Sci Ctr 257; phone: x6062)
CS21 Ninjas: Samantha Goldstein, Mike Lumetta, Cynthia Ma, Sid Reddy, Leah Foster, Chris Magnano, Jocelyn Adams, Kwame Koram
Samantha and Mike will be specifically assigned to our class, but all the ninjas will be able to help you with class concepts, quizzes and labs.
The CS Ninjas will assist me in class and run study sessions in the main CS lab (Science Center 240) on the following evenings:
Day | Time | Location |
Mondays | 7-9pm | Sci Center 240 |
Wednesdays | 7-10pm | Sci Center 240 |
You are encouraged to participate in these study sessions to prepare for quizzes, to discuss class concepts, and to get friendly assistance in working on lab assignments. Our CS mentoring team is dedicated to helping students, who have no prior knowledge of computer science, learn to program in Python while keeping their senses of humor intact. As an added bonus, free food will be provided at the sessions.
The CS lab is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to use for CS21 lab assignments. In addition, the CS21 professors will be in the CS labs at the times listed below to help CS21 students with lab assignments. The professors expect you to attend at least one lab section per week unless you have already completed your lab assignment. You are free to attend whichever lab section you choose to attend or to attend multiple sections.
Time | Professor | Location |
1:00-2:30 Mondays | Knerr | Science Center 240 |
2:30-4:00 Mondays | Knerr | Science Center 240 |
1:30-3:00 Tuesdays | Griffin | Science Center 240 |
3:00-4:30 Tuesdays | Griffin | Science Center 240 |
If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Leslie Hempling in the Office of Student Disability Services, located in Parrish 130, or e-mail lhempli1 to set up an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. Leslie Hempling is responsible for reviewing and approving disability-related accommodation requests and, as appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities an Accommodation Authorization Letter. Since accommodations may require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible. For details about the Student Disabilities Service and the accomodations process, visit the Office of Student Disability Services.
You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Leslie Hempling in the Office Of Student Disability Services.
To receive an accommodation for a course activity, you must have an Accomodation Authorization letter from Leslie Hempling and you need to meet with me to work out the details of your accommodation at least one week prior to the activity.
40% | Labs |
30% | Quizzes |
25% | Final Exam |
5% | Class Participation |
Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class on the days posted in the Schedule. Please look over these dates carefully and contact the professor in advance if you cannot be in class for a quiz.
If you are not present at the start of class on the day of a quiz, but make it to class before the end, then you may take the quiz. Otherwise you will receive a zero for that quiz.
Lab assignments will be posted on the Schedule on Friday and will be due before midnight the following Friday night. You are strongly encouraged to start early and to attend the study sessions for extra practice.
You will submit you assignments electronically using the handin21 program. You may submit your assignment multiple times, but each submission overwrites the previous one and only the final submission will be graded.
Late assignments will not be accepted except in extreme situations and only if you contact me at least a day before the deadline with a legitimate reason for needing extra time, such as an illness.
Even if you do not fully complete an assignment, you should submit what you have done to receive partial credit. Unless otherwise stated, labs are to be completed individually. Please carefully read the statement on academic integrity for more information.
Programming is not a dry mechanical process, but a form of art. Well written code has an aesthetic appeal while poor form can make other programmers and instructors cringe. Programming assignments will be graded based on style and correctness. Good programming practices usually include many of the following principles:
Academic honesty is required in all work you submit to be graded. You may not submit work done with (or by) someone else, or examine or use work done by others to complete your own work. Your code should never be shared with anyone; you may not examine or use code belonging to someone else, nor may you let anyone else look at or make a copy of your code. This includes sharing solutions after the due date of the assignment.
All code you submit must be your own with the following permissible exceptions: code distributed in class, code found in the course text book, and code worked on with an assigned partner. In these cases, you should always include detailed comments that indicates on which parts of the assignment you received help, and what your sources were.
Discussing ideas and approaches to problems with others on a general level is fine (in fact, we encourage you to discuss general strategies with each other), but you should never read anyone else's code or let anyone else read your code. You may discuss assignment specifications and requirements with others in the class to be sure you understand the problem. In addition, you are allowed to work with others to help learn the course material. However, with the exception of your lab partner, you may not work with others on your assignments in any capacity.
"It is the opinion of the faculty as a whole that for an intentional first offense failure in the course normally is appropriate. Suspension for a semester or deprivation of the degree in that year may also be appropriate when warranted by the seriousness of the offense." - Swarthmore Student Handbook
Please see me if there are any questions about what is permissible.