Course Information
- Instructor: Dr. Aaron Garrett (garrettal@wofford.edu)
- Class Meeting (Olin 210): MWF 11:30a-12:20p (Section A); MWF 1:00p-1:50p (Section B)
- Office Hours (Olin 204E): MW 2:00p-4:30p and TR 1:00p-3:30p; or by appointment
- Textbook: Fundamentals of Python by Kenneth A. Lambert
- Required Software Mimir Classroom (available in bookstore)
- Final Exam: 17 May 2019 from 2:00p-5:00p (Section A); 15 May 2019 from 9:00a-12:00p (Section B)
- Online Videos: There are plenty of video tutorials online. Here is just one example.
Catalog Description
Students learn to develop programs using an object-oriented language. Students are introduced to problem solving and algorithm development with emphasis on good programming style. Completion of this course with a C or higher is a prerequisite for all 300- and 400- level courses in Computer Science.
Goals
- Understand the Python syntax and semantics.
- Develop strong problem-solving capabilities.
- Gain skill in translating a problem statement into an algorithm.
- Understand the basic computing principles that underlie programs.
- Create programs that are readable and maintainable.
Computer scientists are (quite literally) the wizards of the modern world. For those of you who intend to major in CS, my goal is to put you on the path to becoming a great and powerful wizard. For those who are interested only in dabbling in magic, my goal is to teach you a few very useful spells that you can use in your career to make you far more efficient and effective.
Grades
Your grade in the course will be based on a combination of assignments, projects, and exams.
- Quizzes
- Quizzes are regular, brief assessments of conceptual understanding.
- Assignments
- Assignments are short exercises that reinforce the core concepts.
- Projects
- Projects are more complex problems that require a combination of concepts.
- Exams
- Exams are comprehensive, timed assessments of conceptual understanding.
- Homeworks
- Homeworks are ungraded (but recommended) practice with the course material.
| Artifact | Points |
|---|---|
| Quizzes (~10) | 100 |
| Assignments (~10) | 200 |
| Projects (~3) | 300 |
| Midterm Exam | 200 |
| Final Exam | 200 |
| Total | 1000 |
The usual grading scale will be applied to the accumulated percentage: 93–100: A, 90–92: A-, 87–89: B+, 83–86: B, 80–82: B-, 77–79: C+, 73–76: C, 70–72: C-, 60–69: D, 0–59: F.
Policies
Attendance
You are expected to attend class meetings and come to class prepared. That includes having completed assigned readings, problem sets, and tutorials.
You are expected to dedicate your attention to what is going on in class and to participate fully in classroom activities, including discussions. No laptops or tablets are to be used in class unless being used for a classroom exercise. (Notes may be taken using a device if needed as an approved accommodation.)
Refer to the General Policy Regarding Attendance in the Wofford College Student Handbook. The policy makes you responsible for catching up on missed classes. If you must be absent for class, please email me in advance to let me know.
Make-up exams are not available. If you have a legitimate, excused absence during the midterm exam, then you must make it up during the final exam period.
Assignment Deadlines
Late assignments will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse. All assignments are expected to be submitted by 11:55p ET on the posted deadline.
Academic Integrity
The Honor Code requires faculty, staff, and students to maintain a high standard of individual honor and integrity. While I may specify some assignments as collaborative, work represented as your own must be your own. If you have any doubt about what is appropriate for a given assignment, you should contact me for clarification.
Accommodations
If you have a disability that requires assistance or accommodation, or if you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please contact Dean Beth Wallace by telephone at (864) 597-4371 or in person by visiting the Hugh R. Black Infirmary. You must arrange accommodations during the first week of classes.
Tentative Schedule
Generally, quizzes are on Mondays, projects are due on Wednesdays, and assignments are due on Fridays.
| Meeting | Topics | Textbook | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Feb | input, print, variables | Ch. 2 | |
| 06 Feb | data types, conversion, arithmetic | Ch. 2 | |
| 08 Feb | booleans, conditionals, truth tables | Ch. 3 | |
| 11 Feb | iteration, accumulators | Ch. 3 | Q01 |
| 13 Feb | conditional iteration, nested loops | Ch. 3 | |
| 15 Feb | functions | Ch. 5 pg. 146-149 | A01 |
| 18 Feb | value-returning functions | Ch. 5 pg. 146-149 | Q02 |
| 20 Feb | string manipulation | Ch. 4 | |
| 22 Feb | file input/output | Ch. 4 | A02 |
| 25 Feb | list methods, foreach, zip, enumerate | Ch. 5 | Q03 |
| 27 Feb | tuples, list comprehensions | Ch. 5 | |
| 01 Mar | SIGCSE - NO CLASS MEETING | A03 | |
| 04 Mar | dictionaries | Ch. 5 | Q04 |
| 06 Mar | tabular data | ||
| 08 Mar | pseudorandom numbers | Ch. 3 | A04 |
| 11 Mar | numeric bases, unicode | Ch. 4 | Q05 |
| 13 Mar | P01 | ||
| 15 Mar | A05 | ||
| 18 Mar | Midterm Exam review | ||
| 20 Mar | Midterm Exam | Midterm | |
| 22 Mar | Midterm Exam | Midterm | |
| 25 Mar | two-dimensional data | ||
| 27 Mar | digital images | Ch. 7 | |
| 29 Mar | |||
| 08 Apr | recursion | Ch. 6 | Q06 |
| 10 Apr | recursion | Ch. 6 | |
| 12 Apr | recursion | Ch. 6 | A06 |
| 15 Apr | searching | Ch. 11 | Q07 |
| 17 Apr | sorting | Ch. 11 | P02 |
| 19 Apr | sorting | Ch. 11 | A07 |
| 22 Apr | turtle graphics | Q08 | |
| 24 Apr | GUIs | Ch. 8 | |
| 26 Apr | GUIs | Ch. 8 | A08 |
| 29 Apr | classes | Ch. 9 | Q09 |
| 01 May | classes | Ch. 9 | |
| 03 May | classes | Ch. 9 | A09 |
| 06 May | classes | Ch. 9 | Q10 |
| 08 May | classes | Ch. 9 | P03 |
| 10 May | Final Exam review | A10 |
Note: This syllabus is subject to change with notice.