CISC 192 C/C++ Programming Syllabus
(updated: August 27, 2008)

This course presents basic programming concepts using the C++ programming language. Standard I/O classes are emphasized. Structured and object oriented programming techniques are presented and used to design and implement a variety of programming problems. This is an online course using Blackboard WebCT Vista.

Advisories & Prerequisites

This is an introduction to computer programming, so no computer programming experience is required. However, you are expected to know how to use a computer and the Internet. This course is not an introduction to computers.

Students must have completed English 051 or higher with a grade of  C or better or have an Assessment Skill Level W5.

Textbook

The textbook for this course is available from the campus bookstore as well as other bookstores.

Starting Out with C++: Control Structures through Objects, Brief Version by Tony Gaddis. Copyright © 2007, Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 0-321-48168-2.

The book is available from the City College bookstore or you can buy it from the City College Online Bookstore. New textbook purchases comes bundled with an access card for MyCodeMate (optional). MyCodeMate has exercises, study materials, sample quizzes, and an eText version of the textbook that is all accessible from the web. If your textbook is used or did not come with a MyCodeMate access card, you can purchase one from www.myCodeMate.com.

Software

You will not need to buy any software for this course. We will be using Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express, but you can use any standard ANSI/ISO C++ compiler for this class. Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express is available free from Microsoft. If you install this software, make sure that your computer meets the recommended system requirements. See www.rpinfo.com/vstudio2008/sysreqs for more information.

USB Flash Drive

If you use the computers on campus, only computer labs in rooms R-107, T-301, and T-331 have the necessary software installed. You will need a USB flash drive to save your work. You can use floppy disk, but why? Floppy disks are so outdated!

Class Format

This is an online course using Blackboard WebCT Vista as our virtual classroom. You must log in at least once a week. I recommend that you log in three times a week to keep up to date on the latest information.

This class is not a self-paced class. This class is an online class that uses the WebCT to deliver its content. Unlike a traditional classroom-type class, this class does not meet at a specific time, so you are free to log in and do your work at your convenience, as long as you meet the posted due dates.

If you have any questions or need help, you can contact me by instant messenger using AOL IM, Yahoo! Messenger, or MSN/Windows Messenger. All of these are connected to my cell phone. Use the instant messenger to page me and if I am near a computer, I will switch over to it and continue the conversation online. See How to Contact the Professor for details.

You can email me through WebCT email. I will check my email Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For a more immediate response, you should use an instant messenger.

There are computers in the City College Learning Resource Center in room R-107. These computers are available in the day and evening. Visit the Learning Resource Center for the schedule. Some computers may also be available in the T-building lab in room T-301 and T-331.

If you want to use a computer from home, work, or other place, make sure that the computer meets the necessary system requirements (www.rpinfo.com/vstudio2008/sysreqs).

Attendance

I expect you to log in to our WebCT web site at least once a week. I recommend that you log in three times or more per week just to keep up to date on what is happening in this course. WebCT keeps a log of the times that you have logged in.

According to district policy, students must not be absent for more than twelve percent of the total class hours in order to receive credit for the course. Since this is a web based course, I will use weeks as the unit of measure. Twelve percent comes to around two weeks for a 16 week course. If you don’t log in to this course for a week, I will consider that an absence of a week. After another week of absence, you may be dropped from this class.

If you plan to drop this class, do so officially. It is your responsibility to drop yourself from classes before any deadlines. If you stop coming to a class without officially dropping yourself from the class, you may find an F grade on your student record.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to...

1. Create simple to intermediate level console applications using the standard I/O routines in ANSI C++.
2. Understand and be able to apply the various data types and structures in ANSI C++.
3. Understand and use basic object oriented programming techniques.
4. Understand and use procedural abstraction and top-down design.
5. Create programs that store and access data to and from files.

Course Topics

These are the topics to be covered in this course (not necessarily in this order)...

1. Introduction to Computers and C++ Programming
2. Introduction to C++
3. Expressions and Interactivity
4. Making Decisions
5. Looping
6. Functions
7. Arrays
8. Sorting and Searching Arrays
9. Pointers
10. Strings
11. Structured Data
12. File I/O

Method of Evaluation

Your grade will be based on points earned from the exercises, programming assignments, and quizzes. Exercises and programming assignments will be graded on a 10 point scale. Quizzes will be graded on a 100 point scale. The average score for all of your exercises will be multiplied by 10 and weighted by 20%. The average score for all of your programming assignments will be multiplied by 10 and weighted by 40%. The average score for all of your quizzes will be weighted by 40%. Then all of the weighted scores will be added together to produce a total score score from 0 to 100 that will be your final grade.

For programming assignments, excellent work is work that has very few errors and follows my programming specifications. Good work is above satisfactory work. It may have a few errors, but no serious errors. It must follow the programming specifications. Satisfactory work is work that has a few errors and may deviate from the programming specifications, but is a good indication that the student understands C++.

Responsibility to Add, Drop, or Withdraw

It is your responsibility to add, drop, or withdraw from classes before the deadlines stated in the class schedule. Petitions to add, drop, or withdraw after the deadline will not be approved without proof of circumstances beyond the student's control which made the student unable to meet the deadline. Lack of money to pay fees is not considered an extenuating circumstance. Students anticipating difficulty in paying fees before the add deadline should check with the Financial Aid Office about sources of funds or other alternatives for which they may be eligible.

Classroom Behavior & Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to respect and obey standards of student conduct while in class or on the campus. The Student Code of Conduct, Disciplinary Procedure, and Student Due Process (policy 3100 and procedure 3100.2) can be found in the college catalog, student handbook, and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs (room D-106). Charges of misconduct and disciplinary sanctions may be imposed upon students who violate these standards of conduct or provisions of college regulations.

Academic Integrity

This class will be conducted in accordance with the college Student Code of Conduct and basic standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations of standards of academic honesty will be reported to the college disciplinary office for appropriate action.

Accommodation of Disability

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with me sometime during the first two weeks of class.

Changes to This Syllabus

From time to time this syllabus may need to be changed. Students will be notified of syllabus changes during a regularly scheduled class meeting. It is your responsibility to make sure that you possess the latest version of this syllabus.