Details
Synopsis
Computer Science is not about computers, any more
than astronomy is about telescopes --
Edgar W. Dijkstra
CS100(J,M) offers an introduction to elementary computer
programming concepts. The course emphasizes techniques of problem analysis
and the development of algorithms and programs. You must register for either
of two versions of CS100 which both use Java and MATLAB:
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CS100J: 12 weeks of Java and 2 weeks of
MATLAB.
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CS100M: 7 weeks of MATLAB followed by 7 weeks of Java.
Neither course presumes previous programming experience.
But, you must have a firm background in mathematics and at least one semester
of calculus to take CS100M. Refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/ugrad/FirstCourse.html#CS100
for more information about both courses.
Alternatives
If you are shopping around for a "first course'' to take
in computer science, you need to evaluate your current programming expertise.
Refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/ugrad/FirstCourse.html
for more information about the courses that may suit your needs better
than CS100.
Requirements
CS100(J,M) assigns homework and exams to develop and
test your programming skills. You will be required to:
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(J, M) Attend lectures and section
and take any quizzes given there.
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(J, M) Study and use the course material.
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(J, M) Monitor the course website for CS100J
or CS100M.
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(M) Monitor the newsgroup;
exam questions may cover material posted there.
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(J, M) Do exercises
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These assignments provide short problems that help you build
programming skills.
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Some of these assignments involve in-class quizzes.
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(J, M) Do larger programming projects.
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These assignments provide longer, application-oriented problems.
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You will learn how to solve "large" problems by decomposing
them into smaller tasks.
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(J, M) Take prelims and final exam.
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Consider the tests an opportunity to learn about your strengths
and weaknesses to help improve your programming skills.
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For CS100(J,M), exams account for a majority of your course
grade.
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You should check the university
schedule and the course syllabus for exam
dates!
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(J, M) Retrieve all graded work (exercises, projects, quizzes,
prelims)
Staff
CS100(J,M) staff comprises instructors,
teaching
assistants, consultants, and a course administrator.
Review the Staff page for more information.
Classes
and Facilities
We require that you attend lecture
and section. We also hold occasional review sessions. Review the Times&Places
page on the course website for more information.
Course Material
Both CS100J and CS100M require
that you program in Java and
MATLAB. You will use CodeWarrior
for the Java programming environment. For the full list of required and
optional course material, review the Material
page on the course website.
What To Do Now
Please do the following tasks ASAP:
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Review the descriptions
of CS100J, CS100M, and alternative courses.
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Review the CS100J and CS100M websites
to understand differences in course policies:
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Pick a course! (You might need to attend
both for awhile to help decide.)
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Pick and attend a section that belongs
to the course you have chosen.
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Start and complete Project
1 (P1) for either course.
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Credit awarded to you for programming
assignment P1 in one version of CS100 may be transferred to the other version
of CS100 if you decide to switch versions.
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Credit for the subsequent programming
assignments may not be transferred.
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You might wish to consider doing both
course's assignments if you cannot decide which course to take.
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Don't worry: we'll make sure your grade
gets credited.
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Demos?
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Fill out the Registration
Form (found online) before the P1 due date
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Fill out the Waiver
Form (Signed Statements) (found online) and turn it in to lecture before/on
the P1 due date.
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Check the Prelim and Final exam schedules
(here or here) now
for conflicts.
-
Refer to Syllabus
for readings in J and M.
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