Syllabus

Prerequisite: One of CS 111, CS 112, or permission of the instructor is required to enroll in CS 240. CS 230 is recommended.

Recommendations: We advise taking CS 230 before CS 240. This is the smoothest path into the core CS curriculum and offers more time to develop independence. Nonetheless, CS 240 is accessible to motivated students who have succeeded in CS 111 or CS 112. CS 240 requires a large time commitment and workload, even among CS courses. We advise against taking CS 240 as part of a 5-course load. Talk to us if you have heavy external time commitments, intend to elect credit/non grading, or have any questions.

At least one copy of each text is available in the microfocus for use within the CS department area. Please do not remove them from the lab areas. Return them to the shelf when you are done.

We use one primary textbook that you should acquire:

We provide and use other textbooks mainly during the first 1/3 of the course:

Course work for CS 240 consists of reading and class exercises, laboratory exercises, assignments, and exams.

Reading and class exercises: Each topic on the course schedule includes reading to try before class and review after class. Class meetings and group exercises assume cursory familiarity with basic ideas from assigned readings, but not deep understanding. Effective technical reading is an acquired skill. The first reading assignment includes tips on how to read.

Lab (15%): Weekly 3-hour lab meetings apply concepts in the course and start or prepare for code assignments. Attendance is required at all lab meetings. The lab experience is key to the course. Full lab policies are listed on the lab page. Lab work includes:
Assignments (60%): The heart of CS 240 is a series of challenging assignments that apply computer systems concepts in hardware and software.

Exam (20%): take-home exam Oct 27 - Nov 2, covering the computer hardware implementation and hardware-software interface part of the course

Quizzes (5%): Several times throughout the semester, short quizzes (1-3 problems) will be given during class without prior notice. Your lowest quiz grade, at least, will be dropped.

This course complies with the Wellesley College grading policy (http://www.wellesley.edu/registrar/grading/gradingpolicyfaq). While that policy asks faculty to hold each 100- and 200-level course with 10 or more students to an average of no higher than 3.33 (B+), it does not require faculty to grade on a “curve.” There is no arbitrary limit on the number of A’s, B’s, C’s etc., and every student will be assigned the grade they earn and deserve according to the grading standards of the college. In past semesters, the challenge of this course has naturally yielded unadjusted grades meeting this standard.

Late Policy: Each student is allotted 4 × 24-hour late passes to use during the semester. Each pass may be redeemed to delay one assignment deadline for one student by exactly 24 hours within the semester. (e.g., turning in an assignment 1 hour late or 23.5 hours late both cost exactly one late pass.) Partners must each redeem a late pass to delay a pair assignment deadline. After the late pass budget is exhausted, additional late days cost 10% of the grade. Any number of available passes may be applied to any assignment deadline. Late passes may not extend any deadline past the end of final exam period. Passes are non-transferable and are void on exams. Consult the instructor and your class dean for alternative arrangements in case of severe extenuating circumstances.

Late passes may be earned by attending optional peer mentor group meetings at the rate of .5 passes per meeting attended. Late passes may only be used in 24-hour increments, i.e. when 1 full pass has been earned.

The section describes how the Honor Code applies to CS 240 course work, defining standard acceptable resources, assistance, and collaboration. Specific assignments may explicitly override these rules or definitions. Violations of the guidelines below are considered violations of the Honor Code and handled accordingly. If in doubt, ask (permission, not forgiveness)!

Reading and class topic exercises are ungraded and allow unrestricted use of resources, assistance, and collaboration.

Assignments ( and ) are subject to these rules:

Collaboration: You are welcome and encouraged to discuss concepts, ideas, and strategies for assignments at a general level with other CS 240 students. The level of collaboration allowed depends on the type of assignment:

Time Commitment: CS 240 requires a large time commitment and workload, even among CS courses. Expect to spend more time outside of class and lab than in them. Talk to your instructors early if you are concerned about the feasibility of investing significant time each week due to commitments such as a heavy employment schedule, care for a family member, etc. We are happy to work with you to streamline your time in CS 240 so you can do your best in the course.

Challenging Assignments: We study core systems design and implementation concepts and apply them in assignments that often require extensive hands-on work with real computer systems rather than simply solving sets of cute toy problems. CS 240 labs and preparatory exercises familiarize you with relevant concepts and tools at a small scale, but completing an assignment requires deeper investment in learning, thinking, and the time for both. Powering through assignments on the due date does not work.

Real computer systems are often large and complicated. Likewise, CS 240 assignments rarely come with formulaic problem-solving recipes or step-by-step instructions to complete a task. Mindlessly following someone else’s exhaustive instructions is a job for computers. The job of a computer scientist is to think critically and learn how to construct or apply new ideas and tools. The solutions themselves are never as important as the insights you gain in the process of finding solutions and understanding their context. CS 240 code assignments require you to read and reason about specifications, apply concepts from class, learn something new beyond what was covered in class, consult documentation, think critically about design choices, synthesize plans for implementation, implement your designs, evaluate or debug the results, and explain your approach. It might be messy; it is all important.

Independence and Self-Reliance: A core goal of CS 240 is to develop independence, confidence, and self-reliance as a learner, critical thinker, and computer scientist. We expect you to take charge of your learning and embrace an exploratory, self-reliant approach to learn strategies and accomplish tasks. We push you to accomplish a lot and experience the reward of doing so under your own power. Our instructors and tutors often answer your questions by asking you more questions to help you construct solutions yourself. Our staff is not here to step you through a task or lead you to a solution. Rather, we help you learn how to solve problems on your own and, on a deeper level, we help you learn how to figure out for yourself how to solve problems. Enthusiasm, determination, careful preparation, and a “can do, figure it out” attitude on your part are rewarded with enthusiastic support from us for learning the rest of the skills you need to grow into the role of independent, self-reliant computer scientist.

There are several types of academic support available outside of regular class and lab meetings:

• Regular Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions meet twice weekly for structured activities reviewing concepts from class or preparing for assignments as well as tips about problem-solving strategies, working incrementally, and using software tools. These optional sessions are led by a trained alum of the course.
• Regular drop-in hours with tutors support questions on assignments or concepts.
• Regular drop-in hours or scheduled appointments with instructors support questions on assignments, concepts, course logistics, or anything else. (Email or catch us after class to schedule an appointment outside drop-in hours.)
• Peer Mentor Group meetings between your trained mentor and your cohort will happen throughout the semester and offer you support, guidance in how to succeed, and discussion of solutions to past assignments.
• Questions, studying, or group work with your classmates, subject to the honor code.
• Individual tutoring through the PLTC.

Expectations: In general, we expect you to make a genuine effort to answer your own question before asking for help on an assignment. It is rarely wise to spend hours stumped on a single issue before asking for help, but at least a few minutes of common sense exploration often nets effective results. Compiler error message? Try looking it up in the assignment or associated tool documentation to understand the error. Crashing program? Try to employ debugging strategies and tools listed in the assignment.

Preparation is your ticket to assistance: Each code assignment includes a required preparatory exercise to help understand foundations for the assignment. Weekly lab activities and SI sessions often spend time on these exercises. To promote independence and to help make the best use of everyone’s time, we require that you complete this preparation before asking instructors or tutors for assistance with the main assignment tasks. We are happy to answer questions about the preparation itself, but we will defer questions on core assignment tasks until the preparation is complete.

Please share suggestions and comments about the course at any time. Feel free to speak with me about concerns or suggestions about how we can make the course more accessible to you. We will do our best to help. An anonymous feedback form is available if you would prefer.

Students with disabilities who are taking this course and who need disability-related accommodations are encouraged to work with Jim Wice (781.283.2434 or jwice@wellesley.edu), the Director of Disability Services. Jim’s office is located in the Pforzheimer Learning & Teaching Center on the third floor of Clapp Library. If you have a physical disability or a learning disability, Jim is the person to see to arrange for accommodations. If your learning disability is undocumented or if you are uncertain as to whether you have a disability, Jim can arrange for you to be tested.

Students whose religious observances conflict with scheduled course events (e.g., labs, exams, etc.) should contact the instructors in advance to discuss alternative arrangements.

A compilation of tips from CS 240 staff and students. Have more? Let us know.