Main Course Webpage

This is the main course webpage for CSC364, Summer 2003, session L5101. 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
• Course Information Sheet and References
• Grading Scheme
• Important Dates
• Course Newsgroup
• General Policies

Contact Information

• Instructor: Mohammad R. Salavatipour.
• e-mail address: mreza-at-cs-dot-toronto-dot-edu
• Lectures: Tuesdays, 6-8, in BA1170.
• Tutorials: Tuesdays, 8-9, in BA1170, BA2135, BA2175, BA1230.
  
• Office hours: Tuesdays 4-5, 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
There is no required text book for this course. Lecture notes will be posted on this webpage.

Additional References

• "Introduction to Algorithms", by Cormen, Lieserson, Rivest, Stein, McGraw-Hill, 2001.
• "Introduction to Theory of Computations", by Sipser.

Grading Scheme

• Three Assignments at 5% each: 15%
• Three term tests at 15% each: 45%
• Final Exam: 40%

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to pass the course, you must achieve a mark of at least 35% on the final examination. In other words, you will automatically fail the course if your mark on the final exam is less than 35%, irrespective of your computed final mark.

Also, for any problem in an assignment or term test or the 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

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 the drop-box on the second floor of Sandford Fleming by 6:00pm 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. You can also hand in your assignment in your Lecture or tutorial, the day before it is due.

  All assignments must contain the cover sheet for assignments, available in PostScript format or in Adobe PDF.

  NOTE: It is YOUR responsibility to check your grades posted on this webpage, to make sure your marks are correct in our files. If there is any problem, you must contact me immediately.

• Collaboration on Assignments and Plagiarism:

  • What is plagiarism?: "Submitting someone else's work as your own."
    This includes, but not limited to, cheating on tests or quizzes, falsely representing yourself in regrade requests, and collaboration on assignments beyond what you are allowed to.

  • Are we allowed to collaborate on assignments?:
    You are allowed to discuss the assignments with each other, but you must write your solutions alone and independently. You must list the name of students you have discussed the assignment with, and any other sources that you have used on the cover page of your assignment.

• 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 and test, 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!

  • Also, the person who is remarking your assignment/test has the right to remark the entire assignment/test. You may lose marks in other questions if you have been awarded too high a mark for a question.

  • 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.