Exploring the limits of what computers can do

Grading

Grades will be tentatively weighted as follows:

  • 40% homework assignments
  • 25% Tests
  • 25% Final Exam
  • 5% Classroom attendance
  • 5% Active class participation

Most lab assignments will consist of in-class exercises and will not be graded. Homework assignments are separate from lab exercises.

To participate actively in class, you must consistently either ask questions, volunteer to provide answers when called on, come to office hours, and/or contribute to class discussions on Slack. I will also periodically ask questions via zoom polling. Completing the poll will contribute towards your active participation grade.

Homework Policy

Homework is real. Written homework will typically go out Friday afternoon and be due the next Thursday evening. You'll be able to work with a partner on several but not all homework assignments; each homework assignment will specify if working with a partner is allowed. You must write your solutions in LaTeX and submit .tex (and any supporting files) using git. Resources for LaTex are here. Submitted .tex files which do not compile are worth zero points.

Extra credit is imaginary. In many of the homework assignments, there will be one or two extra credit problems. These problems are completely optional -- do not feel obligated in any way to complete these problems. Extra credit is awarded in imaginary points (multiples of √(-1)); only the real component of your grade determines your letter grade. At best, the imaginary component might be used to make up some credit lost by not handing in assignments on time. Please contact me if you have questions about the extra credit policy, or real and imaginary numbers.

Late days. Each student will be given 5 late days for the semester. This will encompass any reason---illness, interviews, paper deadlines, hackathons, etc. You can use at most two late days on any single assignment. For partnered assignments, both students need to have late days to use them. If only one partner has late days remaining, you cannot use late days for the assignment. Once you use up your late days, further late assignments will not be accepted except in very unusual extreme circumstances. Even if you do not fully complete an assignment, you should submit what you have to receive partial credit.

You do not need to notify my ahead of time to use late day(s). Instead, push your completed submission to github, and then email me to inform me of the late submission.

Absences and extensions. If you feel that you need an extension on an assignment or that you are unable to attend class for two or more meetings due to a medical condition (e.g., extended illness, concussion, hospitalization) or family emergency, you must provide your instructors with official documentation from the dean's office or student health center. Their documentation will help us to provide the appropriate accommodations.

Test and Exam Policy

There will be 5 low-stakes tests this semester, released during week 3 and approximately every two weeks after that. All tests will be released using gradescope. In order to make tests as low-stakes/low-stress as possible and to allow for occasional internet connectivity issues during a test, your lowest test score will be dropped. Your test average (worth 25% of your final grade) will be an average of your four highest test scores.

All tests and exams will be given on Gradescope. You are permitted to consult your class notes, the course textbook, a basic calculator, and the course website. Do not consult other sources (including but not limited to Google searching, wikipedia, stack exchange, ...) During the test period, do not commnunicate at all with other students about the test.