Computer Science

This page summarizes the content and various policies of the CS 270 course:

• COVID-19 policy
• Course contents & Schedule
• Evaluation
• Assistance & Office hours

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams will be used for CS270 communication.

Helpdesk and general questions, will be in Teams. Use your CSU address (eid @colostate.edu) and eID password to log in to Teams.

Course contents & Schedule

General & Scheduling information

• Links to all lecture slides, assignments recitations and due dates can be found in the schedule on the 270 web page.
• All assignments and recitations for the week will be available starting on Sunday and due when specified on the schedule.
• Lecture videos will be made available in Canvas.

Textbook

Computer Organization (Required):

• The book Introduction to Computing Systems by Patt and Patel is required for this class in edition 2 or 3. Edition 2 can be found for a reasonable price used or online.
• Some content for quiz questions will only be covered by the readings.

Prerequisites

To see the prerequisites for classes in CS click on the "Find CS Course Prerequisites" link in this webpage: compsci.colostate.edu/courses/

Evaluation

Assignments

• Assignments are challenging and will require significant effort. Start working early!
• Assignment solutions are submitted on Checkin. Guidance is available in the Checkin page in the CS270 website (login required).
• There is a seven day late period for 10% per day off.

Recitations

• Video introductions for the recitations are available in Canvas.
• Recitations cover a simpler version of the homework assignment which should be helpful to prepare you for the assignment.
• Recitation quizzes and recitation assignments are due at 11:59pm the day after they are assigned.
• There is a seven day late period at 10% penalty per day.
• Your lowest recitation completion score will be dropped.
• Your lowest 2 recitation attendance scores will be dropped.

Quizzes

• Quizzes are held in Canvas. They cover content found in the book and in lecture. All quizzes will have 5 attempts.
• There is a seven day late period at 10% penalty per day
• Your lowest quiz score will be dropped.

Exams

• There will be several unit exams for the class.
• Section 001 exams will be on Fridays in the CS110 lab.
  • Anytime between 8am and 4pm.
• Section 801 exams will be completed in the Respondus lockdown browser
  • You will be able to take an exam anytime during the weekend of the exam

Grading

Activity	Weight	Description
Assignments	30%	C and LC3 programs, logic designs
Recitations	10%	Attendance
Recitations	20%	Assignment Completion
Participation and Quizzes	10%	Canvas
Exams	30%	Exams

If you believe you have been graded unfairly, please notify the instructor in Teams using the following instructions.

• Start a private chat
• Explain why you believe you were graded unfairly.

Grades complaints will be considered only for two weeks immediately following when the assignment grade appears on Canvas!

• Assignments will be done individually. As required by the department, we will check for collaboration using a software tool, so do your own work! Each assignment (except the last assignment have a 7 day late period (10% per day).
• Recitations attendance is required. Each lab will have an attendance component that must be done on the day of the recitation (Section 801 exempt).
• Quizzes will be done individually on Canvas as homework.

The assignment of letter grades will be made as follows. The percentage / point values may be adjusted down, but they will not rise.

Letter Grade	Points
A	≥90%
B	≥80%
C	≥70%
D	≥60%
F	<60%

Assistance & Office hours

Instructor

The instructor holds the lectures and also holds office hours.

Russ Wakefield
Russ.Wakefield@colostate.edu

Office Location: CSB 240

Office Hours: TBD

Teaching assistants

Teaching assistants hold online help hours on Microsoft Teams.
Check the TA schedule for online help hours.

Students can interact and share their screens directly with TAs through Teams to work through questions; students can also post questions in Teams that can be answered by other students, or the TAs.

The etiquette for both online and in-person help hours is as follows:

• (Online only) The TA will post a message in the "Online Help hours" section of the CS270 Teams space. To ask a question, reply to this message and wait. The TA gets back to you when they are done with the questions before yours.
• If the assignment is due soon, there are often lots of questions, and therefore long waiting queues. To avoid getting stuck in the queue, start working early!
• TAs do not write code in your place, and do not check code for correctness. Be specific about what you would like the TA to look into when giving code.