Some quizzes will be based on the assigned readings. Many quizzes are actually in-class exercises, based on the material just covered in class. The first purpose of quizzes is to encourage attendance, because any student who attempts all quizzes gets full credit for them quiz. A student can make up a correctly answered quiz for a missed quiz, up to a small number (typically 3-5) that depends on how many quizzes are given. The second purpose is to make people aware of a key issue discussed in the lecture.
Homework must be turned in typed; exceptions will be made for assignments requiring figures or unusual formatting. Homework is due at the beginning of class. Homework turned in late is subject to a 10% per day penalty, subject to the provision that no credit is given to homework turned in after the beginning of the following class.
Each student is expected to attend all classes for this course and is responsible for all material covered in class or assigned. In particular, absence from more than six scheduled classes, whether excused or unexcused, is excessive and may result in a grade penalty.
Each student must follow the University Code of Student Academic Responsibility and turn in his or her work. You are encouraged to discuss the material you study, but you must do your homework individually, unless an assignment is explicitly designated as a team assignment. The minimum penalty for a violation will be a zero on the work involved. In addition, an honor code violation will be subject to the penalties described in the USC Community Handbook and Policy Guide.
In order to obtain a grade of C or better in this course, it is necessary to obtain at least a grade of D (60%), cumulatively, on the tests. There are different ways of computing this cumulative grade. I expect that it will be computed by weighing the percentage score of each test by its weight in the overall course score. So, for example, effects due to the different number of points assigned to each midterm are eliminated, if the midterms have the same effect on the final grade. The instructor has the final say in setting the algorithm for computing the cumulative test grade.
Programs in the Simplesem language, FP, ML, Prolog, and possibly other programming languages, will be assigned during the course. Programming assignments should be developed to run in the UNIX or MS-Windows environment, as indicated. Please comment your code, when appropriate. Programs must be submitted using the dropbox program in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. This program is accessible at https://www.cse.sc.edu. Your programs may be tested using automated testing procedures, so it is important that you follow exactly the instructions for program code submission. Further details on how to submit programs will be announced later. Results of automated testing will be sent to your cse.sc.edu address.