COSC 101 - Winter 2009
Matt Evett

Contact Info...

Office: 512E Pray-Harrold Hall
Office Phone: (734) 487-1227
Messages: (734) 487-1063

Email: mevett@emich.edu
Web Page: https://emunix.emich.edu/~evett
From my Web page, you can link to our COSC 101 Web page. It has active links to the syllabus, course calendar, lab room assignments, and special notices such as extra credit opportunities. You can also find a link to test review questions found at: http://cs.emich.edu/~zbahorski/101review (or just follow the link from our class page)

Office Hours You may drop by at times other than office hours, but in that case I cannot guarantee that I'll be able to see you.

	Open Walk-In Hours:	
	MTWTh     10:30-12:30

Special Notice for all sections of COSC 101...

This course has a mandatory lab component. Your lab room assignment is listed in the course schedule and on your course confirmation. All computer work on projects is to be done during your scheduled lab time for which you are enrolled, in your assigned lab, on the day it is due according to your class calendar.

Required Course Materials available at the bookstores:...*

Lauckner, The Computer Continuum, 2005, Fourth Edition.
Coursepack for COSC 101 for Winter 2008.

*Note: Not having the pages in the coursepack is not an excuse for turning in your homework late. Check to make sure that you have a complete coursepack before your assignment is due!

Ethics and Responsibilities...

Classroom and Lab conduct:

This is a college course in Computer Science. I will remind you to respect others in the classroom and in the lab. Please wait until after class, or after the lab, to socialize. Talking in class distracts me as well as others around you. If you have any questions, PLEASE, raise your hand and ask! Others probably have the same question! But, to keep order, only one person may speak at a time. According to the guidelines of Eastern Michigan University, disable devices (such as cell phones, beepers, alarms) before entering the lecture hall or labs. These devices can adversely affect the technical equipment and are also disruptive devices.

Be here on time and stay until class is over. 1) Do not rustle papers and start packing up early. 2) Coming in late or leaving early is rude because it causes disruptions. If you will know that you will come in late or have to leave early, let me know ahead of time in person or by email. If, on occasion, you find it necessary to leave early, or some event causes you to come in late, please sit in the rear of the auditorium.

Tests, Projects, Homework and Quizzes that you turn in under your name are expected to be a representation of your own effort. You may, however discuss general information regarding assignments with other students. Copied or "joint" work will result in a grade of zero, an E for the course, and possible disciplinary action in accordance with University policy. (More on this below.)

Course Objectives...

You will develop a better understanding of how information is stored within the computer, and how information moves around inside and outside of the computer.
You will use computer terminology to better describe the use of computers in society and in the classroom.
You will develop a better understanding of the implications of the uses of computers in society yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This will also include ethical and privacy issues.
You will determine the features of a Word Processing program and use one to complete an assigned task.
You will determine the features of a Spreadsheet Program and use one to complete an assigned task.
You will determine the features of a Database Program and use one to complete an assigned task.
You will determine the features of a Presentation Program and use one to complete an assigned task.
You will integrate the popular application programs introduced during the course.
You will determine the features of a simulation program and use one to complete an assigned task.
You will be able to research any topic using a World Wide Web Browser over the Internet.
You will develop a better understanding of how computers communicate over the World Wide Web and the Internet.
You will communicate with others via E-Mail over the Internet.

Projects: (180 Points: 9 projects at 20 points each)...

This section of COSC 101 includes a lab component. All computer work on projects is to be done during your scheduled lab time for which you are enrolled, in your assigned lab, on the day it is due. (Doing a project outside of your scheduled lab without a pass is considered a "late project" whether or not it is turned in before the time your lab meets.)

You are expected to be on time for your lab! Coming in late is rude. It interrupts the students around you as well as the lab staff trying to help other students. If you need extra time on your project (those who have come to the lab on time and used all of the lab time available, and still need extra time to finish a project) will be given an extension on the project. Those who come late and do not have enough time to complete the project, will finish it in the open lab during general lab hours for reduced credit.

Reduced Credit: Turning in a late project or one that was done outside the lab:

For your "First offense": This project can be turned in any time up to the last day projects can be turned in for a loss of two points off your score - PLEASE identify this late project as your first offense and that I take off only 2 points of your score for your first offense. (Some classes don't do this.)

For the second or more late project, turned in within a week of when it was due: 10 points will be taken off your score.

For the second or more late project and the one week deadline was missed: The project is then worth one point.

Excused absences (from scheduled lab): I will consider medical, court, or death of a family member, only if requested in writing and only with written evidence. See your lab instructor or me for an extension ASAP. (You might not lose points this way! Get written evidence!)
FINAL date for handing in "late projects": The final deadline for handing in late projects (may be turned in to your lab leader or to me directly or to the secretary in 511) is by Tuesday April 14, 5PM . Once that date has passed, projects will no longer be accepted.

Homework: (60 Points: 12 at 5 points each)...

Each homework assignment corresponds to a chapter from the book. For example, homework #1 in the coursepack will refer to questions at the end of chapter 1 in the textbook. Refer to your class calendar for due dates. For another option to the coursepack homework assignments, visit our course Web page and link to the homework description. Homework is to be turned in at the beginning of class (first 5 minutes) on the day that it is due. Graded Homework can be picked up by you from your teaching assistant. Note when your teaching assistant has office hours. Late Homework:

I will consider medical, court, death of a family member only if requested in writing and only with written evidence.

Any homework handed in after the first 5 minutes of class on the day it is due is considered LATE.

Any late homework handed in after the first five minutes* of class and before the next class period shall have 50% deducted from the score. (*You will have until the first 5 minutes of the next time the class meets for late credit.)

Homework turned in after the five-minute deadline the following class meeting will not be accepted.

Quizzes: (70 points)...

Quizzes may be given at any time during the lecture. You are responsible for material covered in the class as well as assigned readings.
THERE ARE NO MAKEUPS FOR QUIZZES.

Tests: (300 points: 3 tests at 100 points each)...

You are responsible for the reading assignments from the text book as well as lecture, videos and handouts presented in class.
Test review questions with answers are available at: http://cs.emich.edu/~zbahorski/101review
Absence is NOT an excuse.
You may retake only one test at the end of the semester. The retakes will be given only at the time scheduled for our final exam by the university. DO NOT miss two tests during the semester and expect to make them both up! You will be allowed to make up ONLY ONE TEST!

Extra Credit Points: (up to 50 points of extra credit available)...

Studycards: I will provide you with ONE 4"x6" study card for each test. If you wish to use the card during the test, then you MUST follow these guidelines: one card per test; name in upper-right corner of lined side (if it has one); you can write on both sides; only hand-written cards will be permitted. Study cards showing effort (with more than just a couple of lines of notes or definitions) are worth 3 points of extra credit. (Extra credit is given for note cards for each test except the retake on the day of the final exam.)

Pretests: A computerized version of a randomly generated test like the one you will take, will be available in the scheduled lab and open lab (520 P-Harrold) about one week before your test. You can earn 3 points of extra credit just for taking the pretest when it is scheduled in your lab. You can take the pretest without credit outside of your scheduled lab at the following Web site: http://inqsit.emich.edu/inqsitor/index.cgi

Lab Extra Credit Points: In your Scheduled lab, if time permits, extra credit activities are available each week when projects are given. These are only available during your scheduled lab and cannot be made up.

Computer-related Newspaper Articles: If you do not have the class handout, go to our class Web page and link to the computer-related newspaper article description.

Course Grades:

The criterion on which your final grade is based is STRICTLY ENFORCED!... You must first meet the minimum requirements to pass this course:

1) Complete AT LEAST 8 of the 10 Projects.
2) Receive a minimum of 60% of the possible points.

Points are accumulated as follows:
Projects (9 projects, 20 points each) = 180 Points
Homework (12 homework assignments, 5 points each) = 60 Points
3 Tests (all 3 tests are counted) = 300 Points
Quizzes = 70 Points
Total = 610 Points

After the minimum requirements have been determined, the final grade is based on the total accumulated points from the three test scores, your homework assignments, projects, quizzes, and any extra credit points received.
It is your responsibility to check your grades either posted or by checking with me personally for accuracy of reporting. Promptly, inform your teaching assistant or me if an assignment has not been correctly recorded. Check your grades often. Don't wait until the end of the semester!
The spreadsheet is periodically checked for people who have already missed more than one project. These people may have their information shaded or otherwise marked on the spreadsheet posted on the bulletin board across from the 520 lab. If this happens to you, YOU ARE IN DANGER OF FAILING!

Grading Scale:

you first need to meet the minimum requirements

At the end of the semester, I switch over to the point system (from the percent system). To determine your final grade for this course, look up the number of points you have attained.

You will need this many points to get this grade 564 & UP = A
546 - 563 = A-
534 - 545 = B+
503 - 533 = B
485 - 502 = B-
473 - 484 = C+
442 - 472 = C
424 - 441 = C-
412 - 423 = D+
381 - 411 = D
354 - 381 = D-
0 - 353 OR completed fewer than 8 projects = E

Cheating policy:

Students are required to attend to the policy on academic irregularity outlined in the EMU student handbook. In addition, collaboration among students in solving programming and homework assignments is forbidden. If I receive programs or homework assignments that are substantially equivalent, or which are not the original work of the student submitting the material, I will not hesitate to punish all involved parties to the fullest extent, up to and including assignment of a failing grade for the course, and referral to the Office of Judicial Student Services for possible punitive action at the University level, which may include expulsion from the University. In addition, the University and the computer science department maintain policies regarding proper behavior on its computer systems. Failure to adhere to these policies can result in loss of computer privileges, and possible legal action.

COSC 101 - Winter 2009 Matt Evett