Syllabus
Computer Science 3675
Organization of Programming Languages
Section 001
Fall 2008

Prerequisites

You should have had a course in data structures and be familiar with at least one procedural programming language, such as Java, C or C++. You should be a proficient computer programmer.

Introduction

Programming languages are the notation in which programmers express their creations. It is said that natural language influences how people think. Whether or not that is true, it is certainly the case that programming languages strongly influence how programmers and software developers think.

This course explores different kinds of programming languages: their philosophies, components, structure, advantages and disadvantages. It also covers issues such as type checking, specification of syntax and semantics of languages, how to reason about programs, and how programming languages are implemented.

The student should come away with an appreciation for different forms of programming languages, and should be able to explain when and why they are useful. The student should be able to apply different programming styles to solving problems, regardless of the language used. The student should have sufficient background to understand programming language documentation, and to learn new languages that follow particular styles.

Grading

There will be quizzes on Thursdays 9/4, 9/18, 10/2, 10/23, 11/6 and 11/20.

Grading will be on the basis of seven programming assignments (38%), six quizzes (36%) and a comprehensive final exam (26%). Cutoffs for grades will tentatively by 90% for an A, 80% for a B, 70% for a C and 60% for a D. Those cutoffs will not be raised.

Attendance policy

I will not take attendance. It is up to you to attend class. You are responsible for announcements and assignments given in class. If you miss a class, it is up to you to obtain notes and any other information that was provided in the class. Excuses that you did not know about something because you did not come to class and did not obtain the information will not count for anything at all.

Those who choose not to attend class can count on doing poorly in this course. If you choose not to attend class, then you must live with the consequences of that decision, however bad they are.

Even if you believe you already know what we are covering, come to class. If you don't, you will end up missing material that you did not know we were going to cover and you will fall behind.

Incompletes

No incompletes will be issued in this course except for extraordinary circumstances, and even then only if you are nearly done already, and have done work of acceptable quality so that it is realistic that you can pass the course. An incomplete will not be given simply because a student could not find the time to do the course work. By registering for this course, you are committing to finding time to do the work.

Recommendations for success

1. Attend class. Arrive on time.

2. Do not allow yourself to fall behind. Work on the homework early. Do not wait until just before the deadline.

3. Schedule time to work outside of class.

4. Read your notes and the book twice. Take a break (like a whole day) in between. You will learn much more that way.

5. Get adequate sleep. Sleep is important both before and after you learn new concepts. Sleep before enables you to concentrate, and sleep afterwards is critical for moving new information into permanent memory.

6. If you are having trouble, seek help soon. Do not wait until it is too late.

Asking questions by email

You are encouraged to ask questions about your programs when you are stumped, especially if you come up against a difficulty with the language. For example, if you cannot understand why your program gets a compile error, and you are stuck, ask for help. Send questions early, to leave yourself time to make progress after receiving an answer.

A good way to ask questions is by email. Please use a subject indicating that you are asking a question for CSCI 3675, and always include your name in your email. A reasonable subject for a question about assignment 3 is

CSCI 3675 question about assignment 3

Student conduct

Smoking is not permitted in classrooms. Please turn off telephones while in class.

Students are expected to abide by the university's Student Honor Code. The homework that you do is a critical part of your education. Each student is expected to do his or her own work. That does not mean you are not allowed to discuss your ideas with other students. Working groups can be beneficial, and I encourage you to talk through ideas with other students. But outright copying is plagiarism, and is unacceptable. Students who copy other students' work, or who allow their work to be copied, or who copy their work from other sources, such as the internet, will receive no credit.

Weather emergencies

In the event of a weather emergency, information about ECU can be obtained through the following sources:

ECU emergency notices	http://www.ecu.edu/alert
ECU emergency information hotline	252-328-0062

Students with disabilities

East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students requesting accommodations based on a covered disability must go to the Department for Disability Support Services, located in Slay 138, to verify the disability before any accommodations can occur. The telephone number is 252-737-1016.