COS 111, Spring 2001: Home Page
Princeton University
Computer Science Department

Computer Science 111
Computers and Computing

David Dobkin
Amit Sahai

Spring 2001
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Reading

Required

Computer Science: An Overview - - sixth edition , by Glenn Brookshear.
This book is the course's basic text. We will read most of it: chapters 0 through 5, 10 and 11. The book is an overview of the field of computer science, and does not focus on programming, and does not present any particular language thoroughly. Success in the course will require a thorough understanding of the lectures. The text is secondary to the lectures.

The following supplementary texts have been put on reserve in the Engineering Library:

Principles of Computer Science by Cullen Schaffer
An Invitation to Computer Science by G. Michael Schneider and Judith L. Gersting.
These texts have been used as the primary text in COS 111 in the past. They are also overviews of computer science, but each with its own, somewhat different emphasis from the text by Brookshear. Some students may find these helpful for alternative explanations of material.

The New Turing Omnibus, by A. K. Dewdney.
The Dewdney book is a collection of short, mostly self-contained chapters covering a large number of discrete topics in computer science. Many of the topics we cover in this course are discussed, often at a level of mathematical sophistication or background well beyond the level of this course. It is intended for student enrichment.

Communication

This course will be essentially ``paperless''. After the second week, all assignments will be posted only on the course Web site. (See details below.) ``Hand-outs'' will be posted on the course Web site as well. Important announcements on all aspects of the course will be made on the ``What's new'' page (accessible from the course home page.) Students are responsible for monitoring the postings under ``What's new''. Schedule changes will be made on the on-line schedule page. and announced under ``What's new''. The only paper we will exchange is your solutions to the problem sets, which we will grade and hand back.

You are encouraged to use electronic mail to set up appointments, leave messages, and ask quick questions (like ``What was that reference you gave today in class?'' or ``I've been at McCosh Infirmary all week, what do I do to make up my lab?'') However, old fashioned face-to-face talking is still best for clarifying confusions and other technical discussions.

Problem sets (9)

Nine problem sets, drawn mainly from the Brookshear text, will be assigned. Each should take at most 2 hours to complete, not counting the reading. Problem sets are due by 5 PM sharp on Thursday, starting the second Thursday of class. No credit will be given for late assignments, unless there are extraordinary circumstances and/or prior arrangements. The last problem set is due during reading period. The lowest problem set grade will be dropped; therefore, students may choose to skip one problem set. Students may collaborate on problem sets, but must turn in separate solutions. The problems assigned will be posted on the Web each week and are accessible from the course schedule page. After the first assignment, this is the only place the assignment will appear and students are responsible for looking up each assignment on the Web. The first assignment is handed out in class as well as appearing on the Web. Students must complete 7 out of nine problem sets to pass the course.

Labs (8)

There will be eight hands-on computing laboratory exercises to be done during a scheduled laboratory period. Labs begin Monday, February 12, 2001. Students will use Intel PCs with Windows NT. The labs are designed to be easily completable in less than three hours during the scheduled lab sections. Assistants will be in the labs to help out. Most labs require about one hour of preparatory reading. Students obtain the lab assignments from the course Web site, accessible from the course schedule page. Printed copies of only the first lab assignment will be distributed. To receive credit, students must complete labs in the week they are assigned, unless there are extraordinary circumstances and/or prior arrangements. Students must complete all 8 labs to pass the course.

All lab sections take place in room E-203 of the Engineering Quadrangle.

Labs will be scheduled as we determine the course enrollment. The pool of labs times is likely to be 3 of the following:

Instructions for signing up for labs will be given here and in class once the section times for COS111 have been determined.

Examinations

There will be an open-book in class mideterm given on Thursday, March 15, 2001 and an open-book final examination given during the Fall-term exam period.

Grading

Course grades will be computed according to the following rules:

The lowest problem set grade will be dropped; therefore, students may choose to skip one problem set. Students must complete all labs, and 7/9 of the problem sets to pass the course.