CS 271  Computer Architecture and Assembly Language
Winter 2005
Course Policies and Expectations

Preparation and Attendance
    Please be on time for class with reading assignments and homework assignments completed.  Some of the material covered in class is not covered in the textbook, and much of the material in the reading assignments will not be covered in class.  Much of the information required for completing projects and other assignments will be presented in class.  All of these sources are covered on exams.  Do not expect a private tutorial if you skip lectures and/or recitations. 

Participation
    You are expected to participate in class discussions and answer questions.
    You are encouraged to ask questions in class, as this can often benefit the entire group.
    Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should be aware of, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, and no later than the first week of the term.  Class materials will be made available in accessible format upon request.

Academic honesty
    Honesty is absolutely essential in order for learning to take place.  It will form the foundation of your professional integrity in your career.  In homework and programming assignments, it is often difficult for a grader to distinguish between legitimate help and plagiarism.  Therefore, you might be able to get a good score without really understanding what you have handed in.
    If you are having trouble with an assignment, you are encouraged to discuss it with other students, TAs, the instructor, or anyone else who will listen, but don’t just have someone else tell you how to solve the problem!  If other students ask you for help, don’t just let them copy your work!  It is possible to discuss problems without plagiarizing.  One of the best methods of debugging is to explain your solution to someone else.
    The most common excuse for virtually identical work is “We worked on it together.”.  In these cases, credit can be divided among the participants.
    The bottom line is:  Each student is expected to produce and understand all aspects of his/her own programs and solutions.

Evaluation criteria

Homework assignments are not graded, but are assigned to help you prepare for projects, quizzes, and exams.  These assignments will typically be the basis for discussions in class.

Programming projects (28% of total) must be submitted electronically by 11:59 PM on the due date.  Programs will be implemented using the MASM assembly language.  The submission web site can be found at:  https://engr.orst.edu/
    Programs are graded on a 50-point scale, distributed as follows:
   ·        5           Identification, program description, etc.
   ·        10         Documentation, including pre- and post-conditions
   ·        15         Correctness, completeness and robustness
   ·        15*       Fulfills system requirements
   ·        5           Readability/style of code/output
* Programming assignments include a set of system requirements.  These specify certain methods, structures, etc., that must be used in the solution (even if they might not represent the “best” way to solve the problem).  Remember that the purpose of these requirements is to reinforce the concepts.

Quizzes (24% of total) may be given in class or as "take-home" tests.  These will usually be made up of short-answer type questions.  Four quizzes will be given, but the lowest of these scores will be dropped.  This is intended to cover all kinds of reasons and excuses for missing one quiz, so missed quizzes may not be made up.

Exams - midterms (28% of total) and final (20% of total) - will contain multiple choice, short answer, and coding questions.  If you have a conflict for the final exam, be sure to resolve it before the end of the second week of classes.  Missed exams may not be made up except in cases of verifiable medical emergencies.

Grading scale
    Your term total will be calculated using the weights described above, and converted to a letter grade using the following scale: