CSC 296B: Java as a Second Language, Fall 2005

Overview

Text:

Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates, "Head First Java", O'Reilly, 2005, ISBN: 0-596-00920-8

Course Description:

An in-depth study of the Java programming language, directed towards students who are already comfortable in an imperative language (perhaps even Java) and who wish to explore the wide range of capabilities of modern Java. Topics covered will include primitive and object types, inheritance and polymorphism, generics, exceptions, threads, and the use of the standard class libraries, especially collections and graphical user interfaces.

Grading:

The grade for this course will be based on the following:

• 35%: Programming projects
• 20%: Homework assignments and quizzes
• 20%: Midterm exam (Friday, November 11)
• 25%: Final exam (Friday, December 16, 1 pm)

The grading scale used for this class will be the following: A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F(0-59). I reserve the right to alter this grading scale at any time. The last day to withdraw from class is Wednesday, November 16.

Policy Statements:

• You are expected to attend all class sessions. However, I expect you to take your own education seriously, so I do not keep formal attendance records. If you miss a class, you are responsible for catching up with the material that was covered and any announcements that were made.
• Homework assignments are due at the start of class and programming projects are due by 5 pm on the assigned date. Late submissions will be accepted until the next class time at a penalty of half the grade. Extensions will be considered only by prior arrangement.
• Programming projects will be graded on style and efficiency as well as correct operation. To develop as a programmer, you are strongly encouraged to do more than the minimum assigned amount of work; the best way to learn good style and common idioms is to read and write lots of code.
• Cheating, plagiarism, submission of the work of others, etc., violates the DePauw policy on academic integrity and may result in penalties ranging from a lowered grade to course failure or expulsion. The policy and discussion of each student's obligations and rights are in the Student Handbook.
• With respect to this course, no collaboration is permitted on exams or quizzes. You may discuss homework problems and programming assignments with anyone you want (in fact, you are encouraged to do so), but you should not copy another student's work nor permit your work to be copied. The key idea is that you should understand all of the work you turn in, and you should be able to replicate it on your own. If you do not feel that you can replicate the work independently, then it is not fair (to yourself or to others) to submit it as your own work. If at any time you are uncertain what constitutes "appropriate" collaboration, it is your responsibility to clarify it with me.
• Exams in this course will be open-book and open-notes, and will cover lectures and assigned readings. More information will be available prior to each exam.
• During class time, the computer at your seat should be used for note-taking, classroom interaction, and in-class exercises. You are not permitted to read e-mail, browse the web, play games, etc. while class is in session.
• This class will be using the Java programming language. You may use your choice of IDEs (or no IDE at all), but the preferred choice will be the Eclipse 3.1 development environment, which is freely available from http://www.eclipse.org/, with versions for most operating systems. If you want to use some other environment, talk to me about it (before the assignment is due!).
• Regrade requests will be entertained for up to one week after the assignment or exam is returned to the student. To request a regrade, please write out on a separate sheet of paper your request and attach it to the assignment or exam, and give it to me. A simple request for more points without a justification is not sufficient! Keep in mind that the entire assignment or exam may be regraded, so carefully consider your requests!
• Please feel free to offer me feedback (positive and negative) about my performance or anything else related to the class. This feedback will have no effect on your grade in the class.
• Reading assignments will be given in class. They will mostly consist of readings from the class textbook, but other handouts and papers may be assigned as well.
• All information about the class, whether given in this handout or in class, is subject to change.

Calendar:

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
1		Oct. 12	14
2	Oct. 24	26	28
3	Oct. 31	Nov. 2	4
4	Nov. 7	9	11: Midterm
5	Nov. 14	16	18
6	Nov. 21	Thanksgiving
7	Nov. 28	30	Dec. 2
8	Dec. 5	7	9
9	Final Exam

DePauw University, Computer Science Department, Fall 2005
Maintained by Brian Howard (bhoward@depauw.edu). Last updated