Introduction to Computer Science using Python

Announcements

  • Our first class is Monday Jan 20th 9:30am

Class Info

Section 2: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30am–10:20, Science Center 256
Professor: Benjamin Ylvisaker
Piazza: cs 21 Q&A forum
Office: Science Center 251
Office hours:TBD or by appointment.

Other Sections: Jason Waterman (MWF 8:30am–9:20pm) | Richard Wicentowski (TR 9:55–11:10pm)

Welcome to CS21. This course will introduce fundamental ideas in computer science while also teaching you how to write computer programs. We will study algorithms for solving problems and implement solutions in the Python programming language. Python is an interpreted language that is known for its ease of use. We also introduce object-oriented programming and data structures. A deeper coverage of these topics will be presented in CS 35.

This course is appropriate for all students who want to learn how to write computer programs and think like computer scientists. It is the usual first course for computer science majors and minors. Students with advanced placement credit or extensive programming experience should place out of this course and instead begin with CS31 or CS35.

Required Textbook:

Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python by John V. Guttag
ISBN: 978-0262525008
We are using the revised and expanded edition
(a copy will be on reserve at Cornell Library)
guttag book

Goals for the course:

By the end of the course, we hope that you will have developed the following skills:

Schedule

This is a tentative schedule; it may change as we go.
                                                                                                                                      
WEEK DAY ANNOUNCEMENTS TOPIC & READING LABS
1Jan 20   Introduction to Python and Unix
For loops
§2.1, §3.2; Skip §2.1.3
Lab 0: Linux & vim
Jan 22  
Jan 24  
2Jan 27   Numbers and Strings
§2.3, §3.4
Lab 1: First programs
Jan 29  
Jan 31 Drop/Add ends
3Feb 03   Booleans, If/else
§2.2
Lab 2: Numbers and Strings
Feb 05  
Feb 07 Quiz 1
4Feb 10   While loops
§2.4
Lab 3: Conditionals
Feb 12  
Feb 14  
5Feb 17   Functions
§4.1, §4.2
Lab 4: While/random/input validation
Feb 19  
Feb 21 Quiz 2
6Feb 24   Graphics, objects Lab 5: Functions
Feb 26  
Feb 28  
7Mar 03   Top-Down Design, File I/O
§4.6, Chapter 6
Lab 6: Graphics, Objects
Mar 05  
Mar 07 Quiz 3
 

Mar 10

Spring Break

Mar 12

Mar 14

8Mar 17   More Top-Down Design
Lab 7: Top-Down Design
Mar 19  
Mar 21  
9Mar 24   Searching, Analysis of Algorithms
§9.1, §9.3.1-9.3.3, §10.1
Lab 8: Files and more Top-Down
Mar 26  
Mar 28 Last day to declare CR/NC or W
Quiz 4
10Mar 31   Sorting, Analysis of Algorithms
§10.2
Lab 9: Searching
Apr 02  
Apr 04  
11Apr 07   Recursion
§4.3
Lab 10: Sorting
Apr 09  
Apr 11 Quiz 5
12Apr 14   Defining new classes
Chapter 8
Lab 11: Recursion
Apr 16  
Apr 18  
13Apr 21   Linked lists
Lab 12: 2048
Apr 23  
Apr 25 Quiz 6
14Apr 28   Advanced Topics, Wrap-up Lab 13: Linked lists
Apr 30  
May 02  

Student Support

CS21 Ninjas are student mentors who will assist me in class and run evening study sessions in (Sci 256). The CS21 Ninjas (student mentors) are: Terry Martin, Laina Chin, Karl Sadueste, Izzi Baskin, Alex Simms, Winnie Ngo and Justin Cosentino. Karl and Izzi will be helping out in our class. You will get to meet the other ninjas in the lab and in the study sessions.

Study sessions

You are invited -- and encouraged -- to participate in Ninja evening study sessions to prepare for quizzes, to discuss programming concepts, and to get friendly assistance in working on lab assignments. Our CS mentoring team is dedicated to helping students, who have no prior knowledge of computer science, learn to program in Python while keeping their senses of humor intact. As an added bonus, free food will be provided at the sessions. The sessions are held:

Weekly Evening Ninja Sessions
Wednesday 7—9pm Sci Center 256
Thursdays 7—10pm Sci Center 256

Lab Sessions

This course features weekly lab assignments which are the largest component of your course grade. Lab attendance is required by all students, unless you have already completed and submitted the lab assignment for the week. Additionally, the cs labs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you to use for CS21 lab assignments. While you must attend the lab session for which you are registered, you may optionally attend additional lab sessions, provided space is available. In case of space constraints, students registered for the lab will have seating priority.

Weekly Lab Sessions
1:05—2:35pm Tuesdays Knerr Science Center 256
2:45—4:15pm Tuesdays Knerr Science Center 256
1:05—2:35pm Thursdays Ylvisaker Science Center 256
2:45—4:15pm Thursdays Waterman Science Center 256

Accessing the CS labs after hours

You can use your ID to gain access to the computer labs at nights and on the weekends. Just wave your ID over the microprox reader next to the lab doors. When the green light goes on, just push on the door handle to get in (the door knob will not turn). If the green light doesn't go on, then we need to enter your microprox number into the system. Email local-staff@cs.swarthmore.edu if you have problems with this. If the building is locked, you can use your ID to enter the door between Martin and Cornell library. For this class, your ID will give you access to the labs in rooms 238, 240, and 256.

How to Succeed in CS 21

Academic Accommodations

If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Leslie Hempling in the Office of Student Disability Services (Parrish 113) or email lhempli1 to arrange an appointment to discuss your needs. As appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities a formal Accommodations Letter. Since accommodations require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible. For details about the accommodations process, visit the Student Disability Service website.

To receive an accommodation for a course activity, you must have an Accommodation Authorization letter from Leslie Hempling and you need to meet with me to work out the details of your accommodation at least one week prior to the activity.

You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Leslie Hempling in the Office Of Student Disability Services.

Grading

Grades will be weighted as follows:
40%Lab assignments
25%Quizzes
25%Final Exam
10%Class Participation

Quiz policy

Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class on the days posted in the Announcements section of the Schedule. Please look over these dates carefully and contact the professor in advance if you cannot be in class for a quiz.

Lab policy

Lab assignments will typically be assigned in class at the beginning of the week and will be due before midnight on Saturdays. You are strongly encouraged to start early and to attend the study sessions for extra practice.

You will submit you assignments electronically using the handin21 program. You may submit your assignment multiple times, and a history of previous submission will be saved. You are encouraged to submit your work regularly.

Even if you do not fully complete an assignment, you should submit what you have done to receive partial credit.

Programming Style

Programming is not a dry mechanical process, but a form of art. Well written code has an aesthetic appeal while poor form can make other programmers and instructors cringe. Programming assignments will be graded based on style and correctness. Good programming practices usually include many of the following principles:

Also, look over the Python Code Style Guide for more details and some examples of good code style.

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is required in all your work. Under no circumstances may you hand in work done with (or by) someone else under your own name. Your code should never be shared with anyone; you may not examine or use code belonging to someone else, nor may you let anyone else look at or make a copy of your code. This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining solutions from students who previously took the course or code that can be found online. You may not share solutions after the due date of the assignment.

Discussing ideas and approaches to problems with others on a general level is fine (in fact, we encourage you to discuss general strategies with each other), but you should never read anyone else's code or let anyone else read your code. All code you submit must be your own with the following permissible exceptions: code distributed in class, code found in the course text book, and code worked on with an assigned partner. In these cases, you should always include detailed comments that indicates on which parts of the assignment you received help, and what your sources were.

Failure to abide by these rules constitutes academic dishonesty and will lead to a hearing of the College Judiciary Committee. According to the Faculty Handbook: "Because plagiarism is considered to be so serious a transgression, it is the opinion of the faculty that for the first offense, failure in the course and, as appropriate, suspension for a semester or deprivation of the degree in that year is suitable; for a second offense, the penalty should normally be expulsion."

Please contact me if you have any questions about what is permissible in this course.

Links that are related to the course may be posted here. If you have suggestions for links, let me know.

Vi Quick Reference
Python style guide From Prof. Tia Newhall
Using Unix
Basic Unix Commands
Python Documentation (Note: we are using v2.7)
Graphics reference
How To Think Like a Computer Scientist: Python for Software Design
Dive Into Python
(A Semi-Official) Python FAQ Zone
pythonchallenge