Computer Science 111
Fundamentals of Programming I

General Information

Instructor	Dr. Simon D. Levy
Office	Parmly Hall 407B
Phone	458-8419
email	simon.d.levy@gmail.com
Home page	https://simondlevy.academic.wlu.edu/
Lecture	MWF 2:45-3:45 PM, Parmly 405
Lab	Thurs 1:30-4:30, Parmly 405
Office Hours	MWF 10:45-11:45, MW 3:45-4:45, and by appointment. I’m usually in my office outside of class time and lunchtime.

Brief Overview

This is an introductory course in programming and problem solving. Topics include

the design and implementation of algorithms for solving problems
an introduction to syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the Python programming language
a survey of various types of programming applications such as numerical computation, text processing, graphics, image processing, and networking

Classroom work will consist of lecture, discussion, and lab experimentation. Written work will consist of several programming projects and exams.

Course Objectives

After taking this course, you should be able to

apply your problem solving skills and knowledge of data structures to a wide variety of computational problems
understand the syntax and semantics of the Python programming language
describe a program’s functionality in plain English
detect, diagnose, and fix errors in a program, using systematic testing and debugging techniques
understand the ethical and historical context of computing
undertake further study of computer science

Readings

The following textbook is required:

Lambert, Fundamentals of Python: First Programs , 2nd Edition (Course Technology, 2018, ISBN-13: 978-1337560092).

Grading

The written work for the course will consist of

Programming projects (50% of the grade)
Three hourly exams (30% of the grade)
A comprehensive final exam (20% of the grade)
Programming projects (labs) are due in your Sakai dropbox at 11:59PM Monday. Programs turned in with syntax errors will receive no credit.

The grading scale will be 93-100 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 63-66 D; 60-62 D-; below 60 F.

Attendance and Other Policies

It is very important that you attend lectures. There will be considerable information given in class that is not available elsewhere.
Attendance in lab is required.
Prompt arrival at labs and lectures is expected.
The use of laptops and mobile computing devices is permitted during class so long as they are being used for the course such as for taking notes and locating information related to the course. These devices are not to be used during class for texting, phone calls, reading email, social networking, completing assignments for other courses, or shopping.

Academic Integrity

Programming projects, homework exercises, and exams should be written individually. It is extremely simple to tell when someone has copied someone else’s program. Deliberate concealment of sources constitutes plagiarism and will result in a failing grade for the course and a report to the EC. You are better off turning in nothing than turning in someone else’s work.

Accommodations

Washington and Lee University makes reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. All undergraduate accommodations must be approved through the Office of the Dean of the College. Students requesting accommodations for this course should present an official accommodation letter within the first two weeks of the (fall or winter) term and schedule a meeting outside of class time to discuss accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to present this paperwork in a timely fashion and to follow up about accommodation arrangements. Accommodations for test-taking should be arranged with the professor at least a week before the date of the test or exam.

Final Exam

The final exam for this course will be given during the final exam week. You can take this exam during any of the regularly scheduled exam periods that week. You must supply an exam envelope to the instructor or the department administrative assistant no later than noon on the last day of class. You must specify a provisional day and time on the envelope, which you are free to change on the clipboard provided outside the door of Parmly 407 any time that week. Email or phone requests to reschedule will not be accepted.

The exam will be given in Parmly 405, and you should arrive promptly before the appointed time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will have to reschedule your exam. If you are more than 15 minutes late to the last exam period on Friday morning, you will receive a grade of 0 on your exam.

Students who have approved academic accommodations must make arrangements to use those accommodations directly with the instructor no later than the last day of class. Students approved for extra time will receive that time at the tail end of the morning exam period or before the beginning of the afternoon exam period (for example, ending at 1:30 PM for a morning exam or beginning at 12:30 PM for an afternoon exam). Students approved for a low-distraction testing location should reserve that space during the last week of classes, following instructions distributed by Dean Price (sophomores, juniors or seniors) or Director of Disability Resources Lauren Kozak (first-years).

Schedule

	Monday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
02 Sept Week 0			Lab 1 project1.zip	Introduction Chapter 1
09 Sep Week 1	Overview of the programming process Chapter 1	Data types, literals, variables, expressions, and I/O Chapter 2	Lab 2	The Software Development Lifecycle
16 Sep Week 2	Control: definite iteration Chapter 3	Control: if statements and selection Chapter 3	Lab 3 project3.zip	Control: conditional iteration Chapter 3
23 Sep Week 3	Strings Chapter 4	Number systems Chapter 4	Lab 4 project4.zip	Working with files Chapter 4
30 Sep Week 4	Defining simple functions Chapter 5	Working with lists Chapter 5	Lab 5 project5.zip	First hourly exam
07 Oct Week 5	Lists and functions Chapter 5	Working with dictionaries Chapter 5	Reading day	Reading day
14 Oct Week 6	Top-down design and recursive functions Chapter 5	Default and optional parameters / higher-order functions Chapter 6	Lab 6 project6.zip	Managing the namespace Chapter 6
21 Oct Week 7	Graphics Chapter 6	Graphics Chapter 7	Lab 7 project7.zip	Graphics Chapter 7
28 Oct Week 8	Object-based programming Chapter 7	Image Processing Chapter 7	Lab 8 project8.zip	Second hourly exam
04 Nov Week 9	GUI programming Chapter 8	GUI programming Chapter 8	Lab 9 project9.zip	Defining classes Chapter 9
11 Nov Week 10	Defining classes Chapter 9	Defining Classes Chapter 9	Lab 10 project10.zip	Review for Exam
18 Nov Week 11	Third hourly exam	Networks and client/server programming Chapter 10	Lab 11 project11.zip	Persistence
02 Dec Week 12	Networks	Searching Chapter 11	Lab 12 project12.zip	Sorting Chapter 11