Princeton University Computer Science Department

Computer Science 111 Computers & Computing Sanjeev Arora

Spring 2004

Directory

• General Information (this page)

• Schedule, readings, hw, labs

• Web links of interest

Course Summary

This is a one-semester introduction to computers  for students from the humanities and social sciences who have little or no computer experience. No mathematics or science background is assumed. The laboratory is complementary to the classroom work, uses PCs, and is based on the Internet and the World Wide Web. The first introductory lab helps them get comfortable with computers; subsequent labs explore a broad spectrum of practical applications, and gives gentle introductions to programming (in Visual Basic), graphics, digital sound and spreadsheets. Lectures focus on fundamental and interesting ideas and involve a fair bit of class discussion.

If you're not sure this course is for you, please click here for a comparison of the department's three introductory courses.

Administrative Information

Lectures: TTh 1330-1450, Room: 105 CS Building (Small Auditorium)

Professor: Sanjeev Arora - 307 CS Building - 258-3869 arora@cs.princeton.edu (email is the faster way to reach me)
                  Office hour: Tues 3--4pm and Fri 1:30pm-2:30pm, or by appointment.

Undergraduate Coordinator: Tina McCoy - 410 CS Building - 258-1746 tmmccoy@cs.princeton.edu

Teaching Assistant: Philip Shilane-313 CS Building, 258-6126, pshilane@cs.princeton.edu
                 Office hours: Thurs 3--4pm, or by appointment
                 Lab hours: Tues 7:30-8:30

Course Materials, Problem Sets, Labs, Exams

There is no text. Reading material will be handed out in class or placed on this website for downloading. Expect a couple of hours of reading each week.

Problem sets will be handed out almost every week and are due in class on the following THURSDAY at 1:30pm.

Labs There will be eight hands-on computing laboratory exercises to be done during a scheduled laboratory period in Friend center Room 005. Labs begin the week of 2/9 . Students will use Intel PCs with the Windows operating system. The lab assignments should take less than three hours and  require about one hour of preparatory reading. Students obtain the lab assignments from the course Web site. To receive credit, students must complete labs by 5PM Friday of the week they are assigned, barring extraordinary circumstances and/or prior arrangements. Students must complete all 8 labs to pass the course.
Lab sessions are at Wed 1:30 to 4:20 p.m, and Tues, Wed from 7:30 to 10:20 p.m. You may use the lab at other times depending upon availability, but the Lab TA will be on duty only during the above time slots.

Late policy: You can submit any Problem set or lab assignment late, upto 5pm on the Monday after the deadline. You lose 50% of the credit unless if there were extenuating circumstances. (Medical excuses require a doctor's letter.)

Exams: One take-home, open book exam around midterms week and one open-book in-class final exam during finals week.

Grading

To receive even a passing grade students must finish all course requirements (assignments, labs, exams, attend all lectures and participate fully in class discussions).

Letter grades will use the following approximate weighting:

• Class discussion: 20% ( Grade will reflect the quantity and quality of the student's contributions, including ability to make connections with other students' remarks, raising overlooked issues, making good summaries, etc.)
• Midterm exam 15%
• Final exam 25%
• Problem sets 20%. (The lowest problem set grade will be dropped.)
• Lab assignments 20%

Collaboration policy

You are allowed (even encouraged) to collaborate with classmates on problem sets and lab assignments, with the following provisos:

• You have to write up your solution on your own. While writing your solution, you should not look at a friend's solution, even if you two were in the same study group.
• You cannot seek help from people not enrolled in the course (unless if such tutoring is arranged by the university).

Collaboration on exams is forbidden.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT VIOLATE THESE RULES, NOR HELP ANYBODY ELSE VIOLATE THEM (EVEN INADVERTENTLY). ALL VIOLATIONS WILL BE REPORTED FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

Ground rules for class discussions

A significant part of your grade depends upon your contribution to class discussions. You will often receive a reading assignment and discussion points to help you prepare for class discussion. At any time during class discussion be prepared to summarize the discussion for others.

Here are some guiding principles:

• Prepare before each lecture. You may be called upon to contribute even if you do not raise your hand.
• If you don't understand something, please raise your hand. Chances are that others are in the same boat.
• The class will be a safe environment for voicing opinions. All of us will sometimes be wrong, and not all of us will agree on all issues. No pejorative remarks (or body language) please. 
• Listen! Eagerly raising your hand, or shaking/nodding your head vigorously while somebody else is speaking shows that you aren't willing to hear them out.    (One exception is if I am rambling and you are utterly lost. Then do raise your hand to ask a question.)
• The flip side of the previous rule is to be concise and to-the-point when you have the floor.