CS 47 Greensheet

Introduction to Computer Systems

Spring 2007
Instructor: John Avila

Section 3: Tuesday & Thursday 12:00 - 1:15pm, MH 422
Section 4: Tuesday & Thursday 1:30 - 2:45pm, MH 422

Course Title: Introduction to Computer Systems

Number of Units: 3

Catalog Description:
Instruction sets, assembly language and assemblers, linkers and loaders, data representation and manipulation, interrupts, pointers, function calls, and argument passing.
Pre/Corequisite: CS 46B (with a grade of "C-" or better) or instructor consent.

Course Objectives

• Understand the basic hardware components of computers and how they are used to implement computer programs.
• Understand computer representation of numbers and how computer arithmethic is carried out.
• Learn the relationship of machine language to hardware
• Work with an assembly language and see how it is related to the underlying machine language.
• Understand the conversion of higher level languages like C and Java to assembly language.

Text

Anthony J. Dos Reis, Assembly Language and Computer Architecture Using C++ and Java, Thomson Course Technology, 2004.

Course Plan

You can get a tentative schedule for the semester showing you my plan on what I expect to cover, when homeworks will be assigned, and the midterm schedule.

This is my current best estimate and there may be adjustments if necessary.

Academic Integrity

Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at SJSU, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.

Every assignment that you submit must be your own work. Anyone who copies work from another source or allows another to copy from him or her will be reported to the university resulting in disciplinary action including a failing grade in this class.

Additional Notes

• If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. University policy requires that students with disabilities register with the SJSU Disability Resource Center to establish a record of their disability.
• Please familiarize yourself with SJSU policies and procedures:
  • http://info.sjsu.edu/static/soc-fall/soc-fall.html
  • http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html
  particularly the add/drop policy. It is your responsibility to know and observe these policies. However, if there is something about a policy that you don't understand, please feel free to ask! You can also find answers to many questions at the Student Advising Center. Note that this semester the last day to drop without consequence is Monday, Feb. 5, and the last day to add is Monday, Feb. 12. After these dates it becomes very difficult to drop or add a class, so be sure you are in good shape before these dates arrive!

Grading

• grading of assignments:
  Each regular homework assignment will be worth 4 points. Homeworks are due at the START of the class on the date specified in the assignment as posted online. They will not be accepted after that except for pre-authorized cases that you must clear through me.
  
  Partial credit is given so turn in what you have even if you have not completed the assignment.
  
  
• Exams:
  There will be 2 midterm exams and one final exam.
  See the tentative schedule to determine the likely dates for the midterms.
  

  Final Exam Schedule Section 3 Wednesday, May 23 9:45am - 12:00pm Section 4 Tuesday, May 22 12:15pm - 2:30pm

  
  The purpose of this course is to learn the material. In an attempt to help those who get a slow start or who have a "bad day", I have the following policy: If your final exam grade is better than your worst midterm, I will replace that midterm grade with the grade you get on the final exam.
  
  For example, if you have a 60% on your worst midterm and you receive an 80% on the final exam, I will replace the 60% by 80% in the computation of your course grade.
  
  
• course grade:
  homework: 20%
  midterm exams: 25% each
  final: 30%
  
  
• How to compute your grade:
  (Total homework points)/(Total possible homework points) * 0.20
  + (Midterm 1 score)/(Total possible Midterm 1 score) * 0.25
  + (Midterm 2 score)/(Total possible Midterm 2 score) * 0.25
  + (Final exam score)/(Total possible final exam score) * 0.30
  = raw score.
  
  

  			raw score   Final grade
  			0.90-1.00        A
  			0.80-0.89        B
  			0.70-0.79        C
  			0.60-0.69        D
  			   < 0.60        F
        + and - grades are given at the edges of each grade range.
     

Office hours

Tuesday & Thursday 2:45 pm - 5:15 pm
and by appointment (talk to me in class or send me e-mail).