Your grade is composed of the following components:
| Component | Quantity | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 1 | 140 | 140 |
| Quiz | 5 | 70 | 350 |
| Homework | 13 | 24 | 312 |
| MP | 5 | 24 | 120 |
| Group Activity | 14 | 8 or 9 | 114 |
| Lecture Activity | 24 | 2 | 48 |
| TOTAL | 1084 |
Your assignment scores (quizzes, HW, MP and final exams) will be added up resulting in a single number. This number will determine your letter grade, according to the following grading scale:
| Grade | Point Range |
|---|---|
| A | [930, 1000] |
| A- | [900, 930) |
| B+ | [870, 900) |
| B | [830, 870) |
| B- | [800, 830) |
| C+ | [770, 800) |
| C | [730, 770) |
| C- | [700, 730) |
| D+ | [670, 700) |
| D | [630, 670) |
| D- | [600, 630) |
The top 5% students will receive an A+ (assuming that they all have a score of A, which has always been the case in previous semesters).
There is significant opportunity for extra credit in this course. As you can see from the table above, you can get up to 1080 points, however the cap for the course is 1000.
The 84 extra points was set to give you flexibility. This replaces the “drop of lowest scores” or “excused absence for missing assignments”. For example, a policy of dropping the lowest HW, lowest MP and three group activities would reduce the total points to 1000. Similar results would be obtained with the drop of lowest quiz score. Since students have different needs and study habits, the extra points provide more flexibility to students.
Note that because of this extra point policy, I will not be giving excused absences for missing assessments.
Any questions, concerns, or misgivings regarding a specific grade must be raised within one week of the release of the grade. After one week has passed, the assigned grade is considered accepted and no further complaints will be considered.
We will be using Python with the libraries numpy, scipy and matplotlib for in-class work and assignments. No other languages are permitted. Python has a very gentle learning curve, so you should feel at home even if you’ve never done any work in Python.
For the homework assignments and quizzes, the coding can be done directly on PrairieLearn. If you wish to install Python and the Numpy+Scipy+Matplotlib stack, you are free to do so in any way that works. We recommend using Anaconda, which is a (free) Python distribution that includes Numpy+Scipy+Matplotlib. In addition, you should use Python 3. All demos in class will use Python 3 in a Jupyter notebook.
The course staff has created a short Python tutorial, for students that have not worked with Python before, or need some brushing up.
Check the lecture page to get information about lectures will be delivered and how to participate in the group activities. You can earn points participating in these two activities.
The first three GA are worth 8 points each. The remaining 11 GAs are worth 9 points each. The total sum of all these assessments is 123. However, the maximum score will be capped at 114 points, since we will drop the lowest GA score.
Weekly online homework sets will be assigned via PrairieLearn (PL). The due dates are indicated in the lecture schedule (the schedule may be subjected to changes during the semester). Each homework is due at 8pm on the due date.
There will be a total of 13 weekly individual HWs. Each one is worth 24 points if completed by the due date. However, students will be able to complete these assignments until the last day of classes for 23 points.
If you click on the “?” just to the right of the line about available credit, you’ll see all the dates associated with this assessment, and how I am setting the credit:
* You can receive 100% until Main End Date
* You can receive 96% until Late End Date
The “Late End Date” corresponds to the last day of classes, Dec 9 2020.
Often the HWs will include more questions (more points) than the total 24 points needed for 100% completion. However, we highly encourage you to try all questions and get them right or join office hours in case you need assistance.
There will be a total of 5 MPs assigned via PrairieLearn. These are longer programming assignments. The due dates are indicated in the lecture schedule (the schedule may be subjected to changes during the semester). Each MP is worth 24 points if completed by the due date (at 8pm). However, students will be able to complete these assignments until the last day of classes for 23 points.
If you click on the “?” just to the right of the line about available credit, you’ll see all the dates associated with this assessment, and how I am setting the credit:
* You can receive 100% until Main End Date
* You can receive 96% until Late End Date
The “Late End Date” corresponds to the last day of classes, Dec 9 2020.
Throughout the semester, you will take 5 quizzes (50-minute) that will have a mixture of short questions and short coding questions (similar to the questions that appear in your HW and practice assessments). Each quiz is worth 70 points. There is no drop of quiz scores.
All quizzes will be taken remotely via PrairieLearn using the Grainger College of Engineering Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) online service. Make sure to read the CBTF-online rules, exam instructions and what you need to do to schedule your quiz.
These quizzes will follow the CS honors code and UIUC Academic Integrity policies. You will be expected to comply with the Student Code, and the rules of CBTF-online. The list below summarizes some of the guidelines provided on these other resources:
The schedule page shows all quiz dates. Students registered in Section M will take the quiz at 9:30am Central Time and students registered in Section N will take the quiz at 12:30pm Central Time. Students that have conflict with their quiz time will be able to request to take the conflict quizzes, which are offered at 8pm Central Time (same day) or 8am Central Time (day after the quiz). These requests will be processed in the beginning of the semester, and remain the same throughout.
You must not communicate with anyone about quiz content during the quiz period, which starts at 9:30am Central Time on the exam day (Thursdays, as listed on the schedule) and finishes on 9:30am on the following day (Fridays).
We will post more information about the CBTF proctoring service soon (also posted on CampusWire).
Quizzes will have a time limit of 50 minutes. Students that have DRES accommodations at the CBTF will have their adjusted extended time. Note that quizzes will automatically close at 10:30am or 1:30pm (even if you didn’t reach your time limit yet).
When you finish your quiz, you will see the correct answers and your score on the quiz. You will not have access to the quiz once your assigned quiz period is finished. If you want to talk about the quiz with the instructor or TA, you must wait until the quiz period is over, and then you can ask questions on CampusWire, or office hours. You are not allowed to post screen shots of quiz questions on CampusWire.
The final exam will be taken remotely via PrairieLearn using the Grainger College of Engineering Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) online service. The exam will follow the CS honors code and UIUC Academic Integrity policies.
The final exam is scheduled using the Non-Combined UIUC schedule:
Students registered in the M section (TTh 9:30-9:45pm): Friday, Dec 18, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Students registered in the N section (TTh 12:30pm-1:45pm): Friday, Dec 11, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Students will only be able to have access to the online final exam during the slot assigned to the section in which they are registered.
If you have a valid reason to request to take the the final exam during one of the conflict exam slots provided by CBTF, you can make the request directly via the CBTF website, before Dec 4. I will not be approving any conflict request after this deadline, since we need to have sufficient time to make arrangements with the proctors. Missing the final exam will result in a zero grade, since we don’t have makeup exams in this course. Make sure you make arrangements before this deadline!
Conflict final exam slots provided by CBTF
Section M: Saturday, Dec 12, 8:00am-11:00am OR Friday, Dec 18, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Section N: Friday, Dec 11, 7:00pm-10:00pm OR Saturday, Dec 12, 8:00am-11am
You must not discuss any aspect of the quizzes and final exam until all students complete the assessment. That means you must not have any conversation about the quiz content until 2pm on the Thursdays with scheduled quizzes.
You can discuss your approach with your peers. All parts of each homework set or machine problem must be your own work. You must have typed/written every part of your homework yourself. It is okay to copy code/pieces of work provided by the instructor and available on the course website (however, to keep good practice, you must acknowledge the source).
Here is your opportunity to learn, teach and interact with your peers! Exchange ideas, get creative, and make sure you carry your share of the work load.
Students that violate any of the course policies will face penalties as provided by campus rules regarding academic honesty.
Academic integrity infractions, harassment, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. See the University’s Student Code, Article 1, Part 4. Please see the Students’ Quick Reference Guide to Academic Integrity for more details.
Please see the departmental Honor Code for details on integrity and procedures.
Excuses from assessments will only be given in the following circumstances:
A. Illness
B. Personal crisis (e.g. car accident, required court appearance, death of a close relative).
C. Required attendance at an official UIUC activity (e.g. varsity athletics, band concert).
In all cases you must fill out the excused absence request form and upload the appropriate documentation.
In cases (A) or (B) an official excuse letter from the (Dean on Duty) must be uploaded with the form within 2 weeks of the due date of the missed assessment, no later than reading day. In cases of extended or unusual illness, late submission of excuse documentation will be considered.
In case (C) an official letter from the designated university official must be uploaded at least one week prior to the due date of the missed assessment.
Notwithstanding the above, at your professor’s discretion you may be required to make up any excused work or attend substitute instruction or assessment.
If you do not have proper technology equipment to continue your studies remotely, please email helpdean@illinois.edu and they will work with you to provide what is needed (you can find more information https://it.engineering.illinois.edu/services-support-students/essential-technology-students).
If you have accommodations identified by the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services (DRES), please post a private note on CampusWire with your DRES LOA.
If you have accommodations for quizzes, please provide your Letter of Accommodation (LOA) to the CBTF proctors before making the first quiz reservation. The proctors will advise you as to whether the CBTF provides your accommodations or whether you will need to make other arrangements with your instructor.
Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, substance/alcohol abuse, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance, social development, and emotional wellbeing. The University of Illinois offers a variety of confidential services including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric services, and specialized screenings at no additional cost. If you or someone you know experiences any of the above mental health concerns, it is strongly encouraged to contact or visit any of the University’s resources provided below. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do – for yourself and for those who care about you.
Counseling Center: 217-333-3704, 610 East John Street Champaign, IL 61820
McKinley Health Center:217-333-2700, 1109 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801