Course Information for Computer Programming I
(CS 1500, Section 001)  Fall Term 1994

INSTRUCTOR:	Prof. John Sarraille
OFFICE:		CS-102B, Cal State University 
OFFICE HOURS:	MWF 10:30-11:30; TuTh 14:00-15:00, or by appointment
PHONE NUMBERS:	Office: 667-3345; CS Dept: 667-3185

BASIC SCHEDULE INFO:  The class is scheduled to be held from
11:15 to 12:42, each Tuesday and Thursday in D-028.  Most of
the time we will meet in D-028 (Drama Building).  When we need
to do lab work with the computers we will meet in the Computer
Science Department Laboratory in room CS-102.  

Class sessions will be a mixture of lecture, classroom lab, and
computer lab -- as circumstances dictate.  Since the exact
dates on which we meet in the computer lab cannot practically
be determined ahead of time, I will announce these sessions in
class.  Students are responsible for attending class regularly
and learning when computer labs will be done.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
1) "Pascal" by Nell Dale and Chip Weems (4th Edition).

2) "Learning the Unix Operating System" by Grace Todino, John
Strang, and Jerry Peek (2nd Edition).

EQUIPMENT:  Each of you will be given an account on the
Computer Science Department Sun 3/60 computers located in
CS-102, and you will be shown everything you need to know about
their use.  I will test the programs you write for this course
on a Sun 3/60 computer, so you must write programs that will
compile and run without errors on these machines.  If you are
used to another Pascal compiler, you will have to be careful
about this. 

The 3/60's are available for you to use in the lab during
certain hours.  Due to budgetary constraints beyond our
control, lab hours are subject to change on short notice, so
please check the postings of the lab hours just outside CS-102,
or on the doors to the Computer Science Building.  The 3/60's
can be accessed and used remotely on a 24 hour basis, both via
the campus local area network and off- campus telephone/modem
connections.  The phone numbers for making modem connections
are from Turlock 667-3130; toll-free from Modesto 523-3714,
523-3715 & 523-2173; toll-free from Merced 723-2810 & 723-2826;
and toll-free from Stockton 474-5784 & 474-5788.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  The main aim of this course is to train you
to do computer programming.  You will be learning the Pascal
programming language, but that is a very small part of the
course.  Once a person learns the truly important aspects of
computer programming, he or she can learn the use of another
programming language in two or three weeks!  The real
objectives are to acquire good problem solving skills,
algorithm design techniques, and skill in choosing ways to
represent data.  It will not be easy to gain these objectives,
but you will do well if you are patient and persistent.

Some other course goals are to learn the basics of program
testing and debugging, to find out how to use the Sun 3/60
workstations effectively, to gain facility with JOVE -- a
powerful text editor available on the Sun's, to develop
self-confidence and self-reliance, and to acquire the ability
to cope with the inherent uncertainties and complexities of
today's computing systems.

COURSE COVERAGE:  In Dale & Weems, we will cover chapters 1-9
and 11, plus several topics from chapters 10 and 12-14.  Since
we are covering 14 chapters in 13 weeks, you will have to read
a little over a chapter per week in Dale and Weems to keep up
with me.  I also expect you to read all (79 pages) of Todino
and Strang in the first 2-3 weeks of the course.  Material from
Todino and Strang will be discussed as needed, much of it in
the first two weeks of the course.

TESTS & GRADING:  The course has three main components:
homework, programs, and exams.  The homework component consists
of exercise sets due about every two weeks.  The program
component consists of assignments to write three programs.
Programming assignments will include doing a top-down design,
writing the actual program text with its documentation, and
composing program test data.  The exam component consists of
three quizzes, and a comprehensive final exam.  Each quiz and
exam will cover topics from homework, reading assignments,
programming assignments, and lecture. 

Ideally, you will do well on all the homeworks, programs and
quizzes, and your grade will be determined by giving a weight
of 10% to your homework average, 15% to each program, and 15%
to each quiz.  You don't have to take the final.  If you feel
that you need to improve your grade, you may take the final,
and I will replace your lowest quiz score with your grade on
the final (provided that your grade on the final is higher than
your lowest quiz score.)  There will be no make-up quizzes.  

One over-all exception to the above: In order to pass this
course, you must get a passing average in both the programming
component and the exam component.  To pass the programming
component, you must do all programming assignments, and turn
them in at a reasonable time.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS:  If you are having serious difficulties with
getting an assignment done on time, then discuss the matter
with me as soon as possible.  Late assignments will be
penalized 10% per calendar day late, up to a limit of 50%.
Late programs and homework overdue by more than 10 calendar
days may not be accepted at all, especially near the end of the
semester.  (Notice that this means you could fail the course
because of one late assignment.)

PROBLEMS:  If you think you may have to miss a quiz or a due
date because of circumstances beyond your control, then let me
know as soon as you find out about it.  I will do my best to be
fair with you.

GUARANTEED JOBS -- $100,000 PER YEAR:  Now that I have your
attention, let me say that I hope to be accessible and helpful
to you during this course.  I want you to get as much as
possible out of it.  But remember that education is a two-way
street.  You have to do your part by PARTICIPATING.  Spend a
lot of time reading your textbook, and stay well ahead of my
place in the lectures.  Do all assignments early or on time.
Attend class.  Listen.  Take notes.  Review your notes before
each class.  ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.  MAKE YOUR REMARKS.  If you
have something half- way important to say, say it!  You don't
have to stand on ceremony.  If you don't want to speak up in
class, get one of your outgoing classmates to ask the
question.  Bring a little enthusiasm and sense of adventure and
fun with you when you come to class!  Come to office hours or
see me after class if you want to discuss something
one-on-one.