Instructor Information
| Instructor: | Jon Sorenson |
|---|---|
| Office: | Fairbanks 158 (CSSE Department) |
| Phone/Voicemail: | 940-9765 |
| Home Phone: | 280-1168 (before 9pm please) |
| E-Mail Address: | jsorenso@butler.edu |
| Home Page URL: | http://euclid.butler.edu/~sorenson/ |
| Office Hours: | MTWRF 10:30-11:50, or by appointment |
Course Goals
The purpose of this course is to understand how computer hardware works. Perhaps the best way to do that is to build a computer, and so we will (using a hardware simulator). We will begin by learning about digital logic and gates, and from there we'll work our way up to designing all the hardware for a computer, and even demonstrate its effectiveness by writing assembly programs for it.
Prerequisite: CS151 or MA205, and concurrent registration in CS248.
Towards a Liberal Education
One of the core areas of the traditional liberal arts is the study of logic (as part of the Trivium). In this course we will see, in a very concrete and contructive way, how computers and algorithms are built from the simplest of logical operations: AND, OR, and NOT. Thus the discipline of computer science is rooted firmly in logic, and this course will help develop your logical reasoning skills.
Course Materials
The required text (pictured above to the right) is The Elements of Computer Systems, by Noam Nisan and Shimon Schocken, MIT press, 2005.
The software provided by the textbook website (which comes in the form of a ZIP file) is a collection of Java class files, and so will run on any machine that supports Java. In particular, it will run on the Unix server thomas.butler.edu. Everyone in the class should have an account on thomas and we will access thomas via Windows from the PCs in FB148. You are free to use any platform that works, including personal laptops. Note that Java is available for free from Sun's website.
Warning: If you do not use thomas for your projects, be sure to keep at least 2 copies of all your files to guard against accidents!
All handouts for this course will be made available through the world-wide-web (WWW) home page for this course. The URL is http://euclid.butler.edu/cs321. We will discuss how to access this during the first day of class. If at any time you need a handout from the web, but are unable to print it, just ask me and I will print one for you. (Note that there is a "printer friendly" button at the bottom left.)
Grades
Your grade will be based on projects and exams as follows:
| Projects (6) | 300 points | (50 points each) |
| Exams (2) | 200 points | (100 points each) |
| Total: | 500 points |
Note that all assignments must be typed and should should be turned in to me in hard copy (don't e-mail your assignments to me and make me print them).
Penalties: If you e-mail your homework instead of giving me a hard copy, I will deduct 2 points. If you turn in handwritten homework instead of typed, I will deduct another 2 points.
Letter grades are assigned according to the following scale:
| 93% | 90% | 87% | 83% | 80% | 77% | 73% | 70% | 67% | 63% | 60% |
| A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- |
If the class average is low (say, below 70%), then I may curve slightly in your favor.
For a description of the grading criteria for programming assignments, see the Program Grading Criteria page, which is also accessible from the course home page.
Exams
You may bring one page of notes to each exam. You may write on both sides, and it may be typed. My only requirement is that you do not create your page by photocopying or the equivalent. The idea is that you must write the material on the page yourself. You are permitted to study with others, and you may design a page as a group if you wish. I reserve the right to examine your pages and, if necessary, confiscate them during the exam; if you like, I will be happy to approve your page beforehand.
Exams are held during a regular class period (or, for the final, during the regularly scheduled final exam time). However, I will not impose a time limit. When the class period is over, if you want more time to finish your exam, then you may have it. I may have to move you to a different room.
We will hold an in-class review session during the class meeting immediately before each exam.
Late Days
Each weekday that an assignment is late, you are charged one late day. Weekends, breaks, and holidays do not count as late days. You begin the semester with 12 free late days to use (or not use) as you wish. Once you go over this limit, each additional late day costs you 5 points.
Late days are designed to handle normal problems, such as having an exam or major project due in another course, or missing a day or two with a cold, or going to your cousin's wedding. If you have unusual circumstances please talk to me about it as soon as possible.
Partners
You may work in pairs on the projects. You must work alone on the exams.
Help
If you have questions or are confused, please feel free to come see me. I do not expect you to learn all the material the first time you see it; if you could do that, you wouldn't need me! You are welcome to visit me in my office anytime my door is open (which is most of the time). If you do not come during office hours, and I have work I need to do, I may ask you to come back later if you can. Don't take this personally. I enjoy teaching, and I like helping students, so don't think you are imposing on me by asking for help. This is my job.
Students with Disabilities
It is the policy and practice of Butler University to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification from Student Disability Services is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with me and allow one week advance notice. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the accommodation can be received on a timely basis. Students who have questions about Student Disability Services or who have, or think they may have, a disability (psychiatric, attentional, learning, vision, hearing, physical, medical, etc.) are invited to contact Student Disability Services for a confidential discussion in Jordan Hall 136 or by phone at extension 9308.
I will be happy to comply with your needs as best as I am able.