CSci 1113 Course Assignment and Grading Rules

(Last modified 1/2018)

This is a large course with many parts, so there will be more assignment and grading policies than in most classes. Please read the following, and let the professor know if you have any questions. This file has the following sections:

The purpose of the labs is to give you a chance to do hands-on exercises involving computer science concepts and tools covered in lecture, the text, and/or homework. The labs also give you a chance to work in a low stakes, collaborative environment with much help readily available. Here are the rules for the labs:

1. In labs you can work in groups if you want. You do not need to work with the same person every week, buy you may if you wish to.
2. You'll be given each week's problems at the start of lab and will have the lab period to work on it. During the period you should be able to finish all or most of the lab.
3. Please make sure you arrive at lab on time. Coming late can be disruptive to others since most of the labs are fairly full, and since you will likely be working in pairs. (If you arrive too late to the lab, you might not be allowed to participate since labs are collaborative, and joining after others have done substantial work is disruptive and unfair to them.)
4. TAs are in the lab to answer questions, and to check your work as you complete it. Feel free to ask them questions if any of the lab instructions are unclear, or if you need help in doing the lab problems.
5. Your lab problem answers will be graded, usually by the TAs in the lab. You will have to option of redoing incorrect problems if you have extra time before the end of lab.
6. Some labs will be easier; on these you will probably get most or all the lab problems done, perhaps ahead of time. Other labs will be more difficult, and not all students will get all the problems done or correct.
7. You have until before your next lab period to get labs checked off. You may go into any office hour to finish the lab and get it checked off. However, you may not get it checked off at the start of the next lab period or not in person (i.e. via email).

Here are rules for the individual homework assignments:

1. Unless otherwise mentioned, assignments are to be done individually. You are welcome to discuss what the problems mean, general problem solving strategies, etc., but the solutions you create must be your own. This means you should not copy others' work, supply answers in part or whole to others, or make substantial enough use of others' work that (even if you do not copy verbatim) the answer you submit is not your own work. See the collaboration rules file on the course Moodle page for additional information.
2. If you have any questions about the meaning of a homework problem, please ask the professor or any TA. If you find any confusing typos or other errors in the homework problems, please notify the professor as soon as possible.
3. You are welcome to go to any of the TA office hours to receive help on assignment problems.
4. Homework assignments will be graded on correctness, completeness, and style. Correctness and completeness refer to how well the program works. Style includes good design, readability (indentations, descriptive names for variables and procedures, appropriate use of blank spaces, etc.), efficiency, and useful comments.
5. Late assignments will not be accepted after the due date, so ensure you submit then early enough. Unless the submission page is unavailable, no extensions will be given for any personal technical issues. Instead, the lowest homework will be dropped to compensate.

Here are rules about the quiz, two midterm exams and the final exam. Additional material (such as specific topics that might be on each exam) will be posted to the Moodle page prior to each exam.

1. Exam dates are on the syllabus. Please note them carefully, make sure not to miss them (make-up exams will be given only in exceptional situations: see the make-up rules section below), and make sure to arrive on time.
2. Exams will be open book/notes. Electronic devices --- calculators, laptops, etc. --- are also permitted, but may not be used on the internet (class webpage is okay) or to talk to others. Phones are not permitted.
3. Exams may be comprehensive, but more recent material will be appear more prominently.
4. Additional exam information will be posted on the class Moodle page before each midterm and the final.

Here are rules regarding make-up work:

1. For labs, you do not need to finish in the lab period. However, one week after your lab, you cannot get points for any work not checked off.
2. Homework extensions will be given only for extreme and unforeseen circumstances. You will usually get individual homework assignments a week or two before they are due. Please start them in a timely manner so that if when you run into unexpected difficulties you have time to resolve them before the due date. Lab congestion, network difficulties, lost files, printer problems, etc. are a common part of computer work. Plan on completing your work slightly ahead of time for if when these problems occur. If you do not get homework completed on time, you should turn in what you have done, as late homework is not accepted.
3. Make-up exams will only be considered for legitimate absences defined by University policies, will require appropriate documentation, and --- barring unforeseen emergencies --- will require prior notice. So please make sure not to miss any exams. And if you do have a serious conflict (such as a university-excused absence) notify the professor at least one week prior to the exam.

If you have general questions about a returned homework or exam, you are welcome to ask any of the course staff. However, if you have questions specific to the grading, or if you think the question was graded incorrectly, please do the following.

1. If you have a question about grading, contact a graduate TA directly. It is your responsibility to report grading issues (missing or incorrect grades) within two weeks of the original posting date. Grade issues reported more than two weeks following the return date may not be considered. Therefore, please promptly verify that your assignment and examination grades have been properly recorded on Moodle.

In order to be fair, we will apply these rules in a consistent manner to all students in the class. If you have a situation that is not covered by these rules, or that might merit an exception, please contact the course professor. However, exceptions will not be routinely given, but rather will be given only in truly exceptional circumstances.