CSC238, Fall 2002, section L0101
Main Course Webpage
This is the main course webpage for CSC238: Fall 2002, session L0101.
Please use the links below and in the menu bar to the left to find the
information you need about this course.
If you do not see a Menu on the left, then your browser does not
support frames. In that case, click here for the menu.
Contents
Contact Information
- Instructor: Mohammad R. Salavatipour.
- e-mail address: mreza-at-cs-dot-toronto-dot-edu
- Lectures: Monday and Friday, 10-11, in MB 128.
- Tutorials: Wednesday, 10-11, in MB 128, RS 208, RS
310, GB 304, and GB 404.
Note: Your fixed tutorial section has been announced. See
announcements.
- Office hours: Monday, 3-4, in SF3207.
- Office: SF3208.
Generally, the best way to contact me is by e-mail. I try to answer e-mails within 1-2 working days.
Often it is within the same day but if you
send me an e-mail on Friday or Saturday, don't expect to get a quick response.
In case of an emergency,
you may call the DCS main office at 978-6025 or my office at 978-8700.
Please note that my office phone is not a private
phone. So use it only if it is really an emergency case.
Course Information Sheet and References
Here is the course information sheet in Postscript
format and in
PDF format.
(Download a free Postscript viewer.)
Text Book
The course text book is: "Course notes for CSC238/B38: DISCRETE MATHEMATICS", by Vassos Hadzilacos,
2002-2003 edition.
Additional References
- "Foundations of Computer Science", by A.V. Aho and J.D. Ullman, W.H. Freeman and Company, 1995.
- "Introduction to Algorithms", by Cormen, Lieserson, Rivest, Stein, McGraw-Hill, 2001.
(This is more advanced).
Grading Scheme
- Five Assignments at 6% each: 30%
- Two term tests at 15% each: 30%
- Final Exam: 40%
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to pass the course, you must achieve a mark of at least 40% on the final examination.
In other words, you will automatically fail the course if your mark on the final exam is less than 40%
irrespective of your computed final mark.
Also, for any problem in an assignment or term test (but not for the final
exam), you will receive
20% of the mark for that problem if you only write "I don't know how to answer
to this question", and nothing else !!
Important dates
Date |
Event |
Mon, Sep 9 |
First lecture |
Wed, Sep 11 |
First tutorial!! (Check announcements to find out your tutorial
section) |
Wed, Sep 18 |
Assignment 1 posted,
|
Wed, Oct 2 |
Assignment 1 due, Assignment 2 posted |
Wed, Oct 9 |
Term test 1 |
Mon, Oct 14 |
Thanksgiving, No lecture |
Wed, Oct 16 |
Assignment 2 due, Assignment 3 posted
No tutorials, instead lecture in MB 128 at the same time |
Wed, Oct 30 |
Assignment 3 due, Assignment 4 posted |
Sun, Nov 3 |
Last day to drop the course! |
Wed, Nov 6 |
Term test 2 |
Wed, Nov 13 |
Assignment 4 due, Assignment 5 posted |
Wed, Nov 27 |
Assignment 5 due |
Fri, Dec 6 |
Last lecture |
Course newsgroup
- The course newsgroup is for discussions of topics related to the course,
including (but not limited to) questions and answers about the course
material and assignments.
- Important:
NEVER
post to the course newsgroup your solution to an assignment, or even your idea of the solution
to an assignment, or even one small part of a program or proof that is part of your solution to an
assignment, etc.
In particular, questions similar to the ones in the following list should be avoided completely:
"... Is this the right idea?" , "... Can anyone tell me what's wrong with this?" ,
"For this question, are we supposed to do X or Y?"
If you ask a question like any of these, or post anything that gives away part of the solution to an assignment, it
will be treated as a case of plagiarism with all the consequences.
- Read
the newsgroup.
- Post
a message to the newsgroup.
General Policies
- Electronic Correspondence: Please do not send messages
that include HTML or MIME, since plain ASCII text
is the standard for electronic communication.
NOTE:
In your e-mails (to me or to newsgroup),
you should use correct english. Writing things like "would u plz ..." or "r u going to ..."
are not acceptable.
I may choose not to reply to the e-mails that don't obey the above
rules.
- Assignments: All assignments are due on Wednesday in tutorial by 10:10 SHARP!!. This is a
firm deadline and no assignment will be accepted after this time, since the solutions will be posted on the webpage
shortly. So, don't take any chances.
All assignments must be handed in using the cover sheet for assignments, available in
PostScript format or in Adobe PDF.
- Collaboration on Assignments and Plagiarism:
- What is plagiarism?: "Submitting someone else's work or ideas as your own."
This includes, but not limited to, cheating on tests or quizzes, falsely representing
yourself in regrade requests, and collaboration on assignments.
- Are we allowed to collaborate on assignments?:
NO!! You are not allowed to discuss the assignments
with ANYBODY , other than your TA or your instructor. If your friend asks
you
about the assignment you can only explain what the question is, but you
CANNOT say anything about the solution, or what you think might be a good approach
to the problem or anything like that. In particular, do NOT let other students see your solutions!!
- What happens if you fail to follow these rules?:
We take it very seriously!!.
The standard penalty for commiting plagiarism can vary from a mark of zero (0) on the assignment and
a further reduction of your final mark in the course (usually -5% to -10%, because you
were dishonest about the work you submitted), to suspension from the university if we forward the case to the
Faculty of Arts and Science!!
- Remarking Requests:
- You may NOT submit a remarking request later than TWO WEEKS
from the
date on which the assignment or
test was returned, with the exception of the last assignment, for which you can submit a remarking request
no later than ONE week after it is returned.
We will NOT accept remarking requests after these deadlines. It is your responsibility to pick
up your assignment or test as soon as possible. If you were not in class or in tutorial when it was handed
back, pick it up from your instructor's office, immediately.
- We CANNOT accept remarking requests for term tests that were written using pencil!
- Read the grading scheme and comments on that work (assignment/term test) before submitting
remarking request.
- Your mark will decrease if the marker sees something that was incorrectly awarded too high a mark. Do
NOT complain or submit a second remarking request if this happens!
- Do not ask a TA or the professor to remark something in class, unless
there is a simple addition mistake in your assignment or test. In this case, just show the work to your instructor.
For all other remarking requests:
1. Print this remarking form,
fill it in completely, and attach it to your assignment or test.
You must be specific and have a good reason, well thought-out and carefully explained.
Note that vague statements like "it deserves more marks" or "what I did is correct" will result
in no change because the marker will have applied the same marking criteria to each paper.
2. Give the form and assignment or test directly to the marker or to your instructor. Remember to submit
your work together with the form.
3. If you are still not satisfied after getting back your remarked assignment (or after having a meeting
with the marker), complete a new request for remarking form with the details of your complaint and
hand this in to your instructor.