CIS 575, Introduction to Algorithm Analysis, Spring 2016


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 (tentative):

Homeworks are due almost every week and are to be submitted through K-State Online.
Assignments that are late will be graded but, unless in case of documented medical or family emergencies, with a penalty of 20 % per day.

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:

Attendance will be taken from time to time. Extra credit for class participation will be given if you actively contribute to the learning climate by constructive and interesting comments and questions (as subjectively judged by me)

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 a bit more than 80 % to earn an A, and somewhat more than 60 % to earn a B. In general, my approach to grading is expressed well by this piece by S.A. Miller.

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. The Honor and Integrity System website can be reached via the following URL: www.k-state.edu/honor. 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: you are not allowed to show your answers to anyone else, or look at the answers of any other student; neither are you allowed to consult previous model solutions that may be around, or solicit the Internet for solutions to specific homework problems. 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; for Salina campus, contact the Academic and Career Advising Center at acac@k-state.edu, 785-826-2649.

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 2016 (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.


Torben Amtoft