CS1044 Summer 1999

Introduction to Programming with C++

Course Philosophy and How to Study

Course Requirements

This course covers C++ programming in great detail at a very fast pace.

Reading Requirements: C++ is a time intensive subject to cover in a summer session. In order to gain a full understanding, Students should expect to read an average of eighty pages a day for five out of seven days each week.

Email Requirement: All students will need to either have Email or obtain it immediately.

Personal Computer Requirement: All students are expected to have access to a personal computer.

C++ Compiler Requirement: All students are expected to have access to a compiler (i.e. purchase one).

Time Requirement: Normal college time requirement is 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class. Usually, that would mean for a 3 credit (48 lecture hours) semester class, the students would be expected to put in 144 hours outside of class. With the time-condensed limitations of a summer session, 144 hours divided by six weeks is 24 hours outside of class every week. However, this is a programming-intensive course. The actual time requirement is probably double the usual course requirement, especially if you haven't programmed before.

Class Format

Each class is split into three segments. The first hour will be devoted to Q&A for the programming and reading assignments. The second hour will be a lecture. The third hour will either be another lecture or will be a "team lab assignment."

It is recommended that students write down questions they encounter while reading the text or working on assignments and then ask those questions at the beginning of the next class.

The idea behind the "team lab assignment" is that students can often learn a great deal quickly by participating in a group environment. There will be plenty of opportunity for individual programming with the regular homework assignments.

Homework Assignments

Homework assignments are to be submitted through email before class on the due date. Please do not discuss homework assignments with anyone other than the Professor. I recommend that you work out the homework assignments ahead of time and turn them in by the weekend before they are due.

If you don't complete a homework assignment by the due date, submit what you have finished and move onto the next assignment. There isn't enough time available in this course to worry about software bugs that you couldn't find. You may even discover that your "incomplete" program satisfied my requirements for an 'A' on the particular assignment.

Attendance

It is recommended that you do not miss any classes. If you do have to miss a class, you should be able to follow what was discussed by looking at the lecture slides and reading the texts. Please do not fall behind in the reading or the homeworks just because you are out of town.

How to Study

Read the Dale, Weems, and Headington text. Then bring up the sample programs and compile and execute. Then read the Savitch text and try his sample programs. Then make changes to the programs, re-compile, and execute. Identify what changed. Continue trying to make modifications to the sample programs.