Computer Science 170: Introduction to Computer Science I

Professor: Dr. Alan Garvey

Section 1 Classroom: MWF 9:30-10:20am VH 1328
Section 1 Lab: Tu 9:30-10:20am VH 1220

Section 3 Classroom: MWF 11:30am-12:20pm VH 1328
Section 3 Lab: Tu 11:30am-12:20pm VH 1220

Office Hours

• M-W,F 8:30-9:30am, 10:30-11:30am

Syllabus

The course syllabus is available online.

Tutoring Hours

• Monday, 2-4pm (Andrew)
• Tuesday, 12:30-3pm (John)
• Wednesday, 1:30-3:30pm (Andrew)
• Thursday, 12:30-3pm (John)

Books

There is one required textbooks for this class:

• Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science by John Zelle, Franklin, Beedle & Associates, 2004.

The following is an online Python book that I really like. It is a good book for someone who already knows how to program and wants to learn Python.

• Learning Python by Mark Lutz and David Ascher, O'Reilly, 2006.

Software

We will be using Python for this class. Free versions of the Python software, including the Idle development environment are available online through www.python.org, which also has lots of other good stuff. As of July 27 2009, the two latest released versions of Python are 2.6.2 and 3.1. For this class you want version 2.6.2, NOT version 3.1. This is important. Python is part of the student image and should be available on all Truman-provided computers. If the idea of installing software on your computer is a little daunting, you might wait until I go over this a little bit in class or you might ask me about it.

Useful Links

• printexample.py from class in September
• printfile.py from class in September
• dist.py function example from class October 2
• words.py function example from class October 9
• averageNest.py shows nested loop averaging from class on October 23
• gpa.py and gpaTuple.py from class
• listOps.py from class November 16.

Exams

• There will be three inclass exams, plus a comprehensive final
• Exam One Terms and Concepts - Know these for Exam One, which is Wednesday, 7 October 2009
• Exam Two Terms and Concepts - Know these for Exam Two, which is Wednesday, 4 November 2009
• Exam Three Terms and Concepts - Know these for Exam Three, which is Monday, 7 December 2009
• Final Exam Terms and Concepts - Know these for the Final Exam, which is either Monday, 14 December 2009 at 11:30am or Tuesday, 15 December 2009 at 9:30am.

Programming Assignments:

• There will be approximately 6 programming assignments during the semester.
• Program 1 - Calculating Investment Income
  Assignment date: 9 September 2009 Due Date: 18 September 2009
• Program 2 - Implementing a Cipher System
  Assignment date: 22 September 2009 Due Date: 29 September 2009
• Program 3 - Functions and if statements
  Assignment date: 12 October 2009 Due Date: 21 October 2009
• Program 4 - Loops and functions
  Assignment date: 26 October 2009 Due Date: 2 November 2009
• Program 5 - Classes and Objects
  Assignment date: 10 November 2009 Due Date: 20 November 2009
• Program 6 - Lists, Objects and Sorting
  Assignment date: 30 November 2009 Due Date: 11 December 2009

Labs:

• There will be roughly a lab a week, held on Tuesdays in VH 1220.
• Lab 1 - Getting Started with Python
  Lab Date: 1 September 2009 Due Date: 4 September 2009
• Lab 2 - Modifying a Python Program
  Lab Date: 8 September 2009 Due Date: 11 September 2009
• Lab 3 - Doing Math with Python
  Lab Date: 15 September 2009 Due Date: 18 September 2009
• Lab 4 - Special Friday Lab: Manipulating Strings in Python
  Lab Date: 18 September 2009 Due Date: 22 September 2009
• Lab 5 - Remainder and Shifts
  Lab Date: 22 September 2009 Due Date: 25 September 2009
• Lab 6 - Reading from files
  Lab Date: 28 September 2009 Due Date: 30 September 2009
• Lab 7 - Graphics
  Lab Date: 29 September 2009 Due Date: 2 October 2009
• Lab 8 - If statements and functions
  Lab Date: 13 October 2009 Due Date: 19 October 2009
• Lab 9 - Understanding exception handling
  Lab Date: 20 October 2009 Due Date: 23 October 2009
• Lab 10 - Using a loop
  Lab Date: 26 October 2009 Due Date: 30 October 2009
• Lab 11 - Extending a Simulation
  Lab Date: 2 November 2009 Due Date: 9 November 2009
• Lab 12 - Defining a Class
  Lab Date: 10 November 2009 Due Date: 13 November 2009
• Lab 13 - Working with Lists
  Lab Date: 17 November 2009 Due Date: 30 November 2009
• Lab 14 - Starting Program 6
  Lab Date: 30 November 2009 Due Date: 4 December 2009