smithj "AT" cs.sjsu.edu is usually better for reaching me than the phone (408-924-5153), since I check messages more frequently, and I'm often too busy with a student to answer the phone.
We will certainly cover Chapters 1-11, 15, 16, and 18 of the text. Note that the chapters after Chapter 15 appear on the text's web site at http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&itemId=0470105550&bcsId=3663. If time permits we will cover Chapter 17. The topics of Chapter 14 are covered in CS 46B, and should be familiar if you have already taken an equivalent of that course, but we may need to touch on them briefly for those who haven't. Many of the introductory concepts from the first half of the text will be familiar from your previous programming experience. This means that we will be able to proceed quickly through much of the text, slowing down only when Java's treatment of them differs significantly from those of other popular languages.
For each exam or assignment, numeric grades are given and intervals for each letter grade are assigned (usually 92% for A, 90% for A-, 88% for B+, 82% for B, 80% for B-, etc.). Your course grade will be determined by comparing the sum of your numeric grades to the sum of the intervals, except that I often give a grade slightly higher than this to students who have just one poor grade, or who have been improving throughout the course. My standards for the I grade, for makeup exams, and for extending assignment due dates are quite strict. At a minimum, I expect documentation of why you cannot complete the work in the expected time.
Extra credit will not be considered in the determination of grade brackets. So for example, if the range for an A- is 900-915 points, then a student who gets 20 points of extra credit and 900 regular credit points will get a grade of A (based on 920 of 1000 total points) rather than an A- (based on 920 of 1020 total points). There will be from 0 to 30 extra credit points in the course.
All tests will be open book and open notes. Electrical & electronic devices are not permitted (except for preapproved hardship cases).
The separate web pages entitled Assignments, Documentation and Style in Java, Collaboration, and Course Calendar are part of the official greensheet for this course, and you are responsible for knowing their contents. The first two of these give specifications for turning in programming assignments in this course. All four of them, along with other useful documents, are available from the class home page at
Students should know that the University’s Academic Integrity Policy is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy, require 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 website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors.
The most important consequences of the policy are that, unless unless I explicitly specify otherwise, work you turn in for this class should be entirely your own, and you should not share your work with anyone else. Some elaboration of the policy as it applies to my classes is available on the class web site.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make 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. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability.