School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Computer Science
CSci 131 -- Algorithms and Data Structures I
Prof. Michael B. Feldman

Spring 2000 -- Frequently Asked Questions
latest update Jan. 18, 2000

This page may be updated during the semester as more questions arise. You should check this location frequently to see if the page has been updated since your last visit.

What is this course about?

This course is about software construction, algorithms, and data structures. The three main "threads" that run through the course are:
  • software construction, with emphasis on reusable generic software template components
  • advanced data structures: advanced array structures, stacks & queues, linked lists, graphs, and trees
  • algorithm performance prediction: "big O" notation
The first half of the course is mostly about software construction; the second is mostly about data structures, and "big O" runs throughout the course.

We trust our lives and our businesses to software. Software is important, and we will be emphasizing the importance of good software design. I hope this will be fun for you, and that you'll be proud of your accomplishments here in writing software that doesn't crash.

The prerequisite is CSci 51 or a closely equivalent course. We use Ada 95 as the coding language here.

I didn't take 51 and I don't know any Ada. Am I going to be OK in this course?

Probably, depending on the kind of equivalent course you took. If you had a good course that covered 51-level material but used C or C++ or Pascal as the coding language, chances are you will do fine here, if your mind is open to another programming language. If you choose a career in software development, you'll be learning new languages and tools every few years. You might as well start now!

Ada is derived from Pascal; many sudents have found it easier to learn than C or C++. You can get "up to speed" in basic Ada syntax and style by reading the first 8-9 chapters of the book used in CSci 51.

If your only other course was (say) at high-school level in BASIC, you are much better off taking 51 first. Speak to me if you have any doubt. We've taught this course with Ada for many years, and seen many, many students do quite well here even without an earlier course that used Ada.

Why are we using Ada 95 in this course?

We, like about 150 other colleges and universities, are using Ada 95 in this course because we are convinced it is absolutely the best choice for a course of this type. We have used Ada in this course since 1985, and Ada 95 since 1995, and it works!

Think of Ada as an "industrial-strength" Pascal. One of Ada's strong points is that the compilers are very helpful. Once you've gotten a program to compile, it is quite likely to run correctly.

Another strength is that Ada has excellent features for developing software components. It is much newer than C and about the same age as C++. Ada 95 is a slightly extended Ada.

Is this a "filter course" designed to weed out students?

Absolutely not! Our goal in this course is that every student should succeed here, and we are here to help you do so.

Is this a difficult course?

It's not intended to be difficult. Any course, in any subject, is easier for some students than for others.

Does this course have a heavy workload?

CSci 131 is not intended to be a very heavy course. On the other hand, software development courses usually require somewhat more of your time than liberal-arts "reading" courses. For every in-class hour in this course, you should expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class.

Do I have to go to lecture?

Lecture attendance counts 5% of your grade. Some days attendance is taken; other days it isn't. If you must miss a lecture, you are still responsible for all work covered, so ask a friend to take notes for you.

Do I have to go to lab?

Each week's lab session will require you to do a small assignment that helps you learn that week's material. If you go to the lab and work productively on the assignment, you get credit for that lab; if you don't, you don't. Lab work counts 10% of your grade.

What if I miss a lecture or lab, and therefore don't get a copy of a handout?

Each handout will be distributed in class once. All handouts are on the class web site, http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~csci131/spring00. If you miss a handout -- or lose one -- just visit the web site and get a copy there.

Do you give out lecture notes or post them on the web?

No, I don't. I don't read from prepared notes. I do use viewgraphs, but I often change them at the last minute or write on them during lecture.

How is grading done?

Your semester grade will be calculated as follows:
  • Lecture Attendance 5%
  • Laboratory Assignments 10%
  • Midterm Exam 20%
  • Final Exam 30%
  • Software Projects 35%
I will eliminate the lowest project grade for each student. That is, if there are 9 projects, only your best 8 scores will count in the final grade.

Do you grade "on a curve"?

I keep grade records strictly "by the numbers"; at the end of the semester, I compute a final average for each student. I then assign a grade that represents my experienced judgement as to how much you got out of the course. I have no predetermined cutoff points for As, Bs, Cs, etc. If every student does well, every student gets a high grade.

What about these software projects?

A project every two or three weeks, Each project will build on the work done in previous projects, so it is in your interest to keep up with the project work. There will probably be 6 projects.

Each project will be graded on a 0-20 point basis. An incomplete submission is better than none; you will get credit where credit is due. I will accept late projects, subject to a "late fee" of 4 points per week of lateness. Each project is due at the start of the class on the due date; projects submitted after the lecture has begun will be counted as one week late.

Can I work with a friend on the projects?

Projects must represent the results of your own work. I cannot prevent your speaking with friends to sketch out a solution. But if you collaborate on the detailed design or coding, or copy a program from an acquaintance, then submit the results as your own work, I will charge you with plagiarism, and I will win. Please read the handout on Plagiarism and Collaboration. Also read the GW Code of Academic Integrity.

I have my own computer. Can I use it in this course?

Yes, but the main location of all the programs you will need is on the SEASCF server called "hobbes". We suggest that you start the semester using your computer as a terminal to log into hobbes over the Internet. Once you have a good sense of how the projects and software development tools work, you can install them on your own computer using the CDROM in the back of the textbook. Once your project is done, you will still need to test it on hobbes. We will provide more information on this.

Tell me about examinations, please.

There will be a one-hour midterm and a two-hour final exam, both strictly timed. These will be open-book, open-notes exams. If you are coming to class regularly, and keeping up with the reading and the projects, you should not need to "cram" for the exams. Exams will require a mixture of reading and interpreting short program segments, writing short program segments, and short "essay" questions.

Will there be unannounced "pop quizzes"?

There may be one or more unnanounced quizzes during the lecture or lab period. If everyone is coming to class regularly, participating actively in the class, and keeping up with the reading, there will be little need for "pop quizzes".

How do I withdraw from the course?

Under University and SEAS regulations, here are the rules for withdrawing from courses:
  • During the first four weeks: you can withdraw using a simple Drop/Add (Registration Transaction) form. The course disappears from your transcript.
  • After four weeks but before Preregistration begins: you can withdraw using a simple Drop/Add but the grade W appears on your transcript. This has no effect on your grade-point average.
  • After Preregistration begins but before the end of classes: this is considered a "late withdrawal." You must complete a SEAS Late Withdrawal form, which requires the signatures of the instructor, your advisor, the EECS Department Chair, and the SEAS Associate Dean. I will always sign a late withdrawal form, as long as classes have not ended for the semester. I will not sign a withdrawal form after the last class!

Do you give Incompletes?

Under University regulations, and my own policies, here are the rules for Incomplete grades:
  • A grade of I (Incomplete) may be assigned only when the student has really special circumstances such that (s)he cannot finish the work of the course. I follow the University regulations, and do not give Incompletes unless the situation is truly unusual. Do not ask for an Incomplete just to gain more time to finish projects or raise a low grade. I will almost always say no.
An Incomplete grade is undesirable. Under GW rules, you are required to remove the I by completing the work of the course. Taking the course a second time does not (NOT!) remove the original I. Under SEAS rules, an Incomplete not removed within one year becomes an F.