CIS 575, Introduction to Algorithm Analysis, Spring 2020


An amendment has been added for the transition to remote teaching.

Prerequisites: Specifically, students are expected to have the following background: Please see the instructor if you have questions.

Learning Outcomes: Students should attain competency in the following:

Topics:

Homeworks are due almost every week (on Thursday night) and are to be submitted through Canvas.

Exams will be closed-book though the use of a limited amount of note sheets may be permitted.
The final will be comprehensive, but with emphasis on the last part of the course.

Grading:

Final letter grades are not based on strict percentage cutoffs but are "curved" by taking into account the difficulty of the exercises and exams. As a rule of thumb, however, you should expect that it requires somewhat more than 80 % to earn an A, and a little above 65 % to earn a B.
In general, my approach to grading is expressed well by this piece by S.A. Miller.

Lateness: If you have a documented medical or family emergency, or a certified excused absence for official university activities, you should notify the instructor as soon as possible.

Grievances: If you think the instructor or the TA has made an oversight when grading your test or your homework, you are of course very welcome to ask for clarification. But complaints about judgment calls, like how much credit to give for a partially correct solution, are not encouraged (it is like arguing balls and strikes).

Academic Honesty: Kansas State University has an Honor and Integrity System based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, one's work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students, by registration, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Honor and Integrity System. The policies and procedures of the Honor and Integrity System apply to all full and part-time students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses on-campus, off-campus, and via distance learning.

A component vital to the Honor and Integrity System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge which applies to all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work." A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation.

You are very welcome to discuss the course material, as well as specific questions, with your fellow students. However, all submitted answers must be your own work:

If you are in doubt about what is permissible, please ask me.

Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who need classroom accommodations, access to technology, or information about emergency building/campus evacuation processes should contact the Student Access Center and/or their instructor. Services are available to students with a wide range of disabilities including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, medical conditions, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, depression, and anxiety. If you are a student enrolled in campus/online courses through the Manhattan or Olathe campuses, contact the Student Access Center at accesscenter@k-state.edu, 785-532-6441.

Expectations for Classroom Conduct: All student activities in the University, including this course, are governed by the Student Judicial Conduct Code as outlined in the Student Governing Association By Laws, Article V, Section 3, number 2. Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment may be asked to leave the class.

Acknowledgment: Much of the course material, including this syllabus, is adapted from a previous course taught by Rodney Howell.


Copyright 2020 (Torben Amtoft) as to all lectures. During this course students are prohibited from selling notes to or being paid for taking notes by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course. In addition, students in this class are not authorized to provide class notes or other class-related materials to any other person or entity, other than sharing them directly with another student taking the class for purposes of studying, without prior written permission from the professor teaching this course.


Torben Amtoft