Standard Syllabus

Semester: Fall 2020

This syllabus covers the list of Classes below. Each class has a link to additional syllabus information and resources.

Grading Policies

Late Material

You are in college, late material will not be accepted. As a human being, I am capable of making mistakes. When that happens you will find me more than reasonable. Correcting mistakes does have a sunset date, and that date is the end of class on the last regularly scheduled day of class.

Emailed Material

Unless specifically requested, no work will be accepted via email.

Weights and Scales

In general, weights for my classes follow the guide below. Some of my classes do not have one or more of these categories. In any case, each category is weighted in percentage as follows.

$$$Weight_x\% = Weight_x \cdot \sum_i \frac{1}{Weight_i}$$$

Each class has a subset of the categories below. For example, let x=quiz, then the quiz category would worth $$\frac{10}{120}= 8.3\%$$, if we did not have a Lab category in eclass, then the the quiz category would be worth $$10\%$$.

I do not generally give +/- grades. If you want to hear a nice soap-box style speech on grade inflation, ask me about that. Hence, I use the standard grade scale below. Your grade will always be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Academic Honesty: Cheating

Cheating will not be tolerated. Verified incidents of dishonesty may receive a punishment as specified in the catalog (see: Procedures for Handling Academic Dishonesty. Unless specifically communicated in class verbally or in writing, collaboration on any work in this class is considered cheating. In addition, the School of Computing has an additional policy on academic honesty. See [We need a link here]

Skipping the final exam

To skip the final exam, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must not come to class or office hours sick!
• All coursework must be completed and turned in on time.
• Your course grade before the final must remain the same if I were to give you your category test grade for your final.
• You must receive a grade offer via email prior to the end of the last regularly scheduled class.

The professor reserves the right to refuse to give a grade offer for any reason.

Corrections on Work

It is the responsibility of the student to review the homework and tests. Your teachers are not infallible and I personally am happy to correct any mistakes you find provided that you notify me in a reasonable time. What is reasonable? You have one week from the time I return your work (of any kind) to request that I review your work. For work on gradescope, please request the re-grade on gradescope, all other corrections must be emailed to me or brought to my office during office hours.

In addition, all grade changes/corrections must be made by the end of the last day of regular classes.

Extra Credit

There is only one way to get extra credit in this course. For those willing to maintain 35 hours of sleep between Sunday night and Thursday night (average 7 hours or more a night) and eat a healthy breakfast each morning (donuts do not count, at least cereal, and juice or some kind of fruit – dried fruit works if you are in a hurry), I will add 10 percent to your quizzes. There will be a question on the final exam about your participation in this opportunity. Extra credit does not factor into being able to skip the final exam.

Methods of Instruction

Quizzes cover reading assignments for each chapter as listed on eclass. You must complete the quiz for the day prior to coming to class. Dates and times are given on eclass.

Homework assignments will have a due date on the schedule.

Tests will cover chapters as shown in the schedule and online. Written chapter tests evaluate performance for each chapter covered and a final comprehensive test will cover all material.

Projects if required - see schedule.

There are three types of Projects allowed:

1. Individual projects – You may choose to do an individual programming project. You may complete a web or desktop application in .NET. No other platform will be accepted.
2. Group project – A small group may decide to work on a single project. For group projects it would be expected that the project would be more involved (or complex) than an individual project. The detailed project proposal must clearly outline the responsibilities of each of the participants so that I will be able to evaluate each participant’s part of the total project. Students must complete a presentation of their project including a demonstration.
3. Level II service project. These must be approved individually. Don't wait! See Dr. A at the beginning of the semester if you want to do a Level II service project.

Attendance Policy

Under no circumstances are you to come and see me or attend class sick. Email, call or message me letting me know you won’t be in class and why. I can add you to a hangout for class if you feel up to it. Otherwise, you are expected to be in class. Work is not allowed to be made up unless, you have a university excused absence. See: Absences. For university excused absences describe in the forgoing link, you may make up work according to the following rules:

1. Quizzes cannot be made up. All quizzes are online and you have ample opportunity to complete them before coming to class.
2. You will have one additional class period for every class period you are out for an university approved absence of illnesses or emergencies. E.g. if you are sick Monday and there is a homework assignment due on Monday, and you come back to class on Wednesday (fully well I might add), then you will have till Friday to turn in the work.
3. If you have a scheduled trip that allows you to miss class, you must make arrangements to turn in work on time.

Disability Policy

All teachers are required to follow Southern's policy. Please see the incorporated statement here: https://www.southern.edu/administration/student-success/disability/faculty/syllabusstatements.html