CMSC 341H Data Structures Fall 2005
Section 0101 (Tues/Thurs 11:30 - 12:45 ACIV 108)
Dr. Tim Oates
Putting the "H" into 341H
The content and schedule of 341H will be highly similar to the content and
schedule of the regular 341 sections. However, 341H will differ from 341
in a few significant ways:
- There are fewer students (approximately 10) and more emphasis will be
placed on classroom discussion and interaction than is possible when there
are 40 students in the class, which is typical for 341.
- The underlying theory will be covered more thoroughly. This does not
mean that we will simply plow through additional proofs in class. It does
mean that we will work hard to connect intuition and theory so the students
gain deeper insights into why the data structures and algorithms work the
way they do.
- Each programming project will start with the corresponding 341 project
as a base, but modifications to that base will be posted on this web site.
These modifications will sometimes be requirements for additional
functionality, but in most cases the modifications will give the students
additional freedom with respect to design and implementation. Programming
assignments in the "real world" (i.e., when you're being paid to write
code) typically come with substantial freedom along these dimensions, and
this course will give you practice in how to handle such freedom.
- Dr. Oates, rather than a TA, will grade the project submissions. He
will give detailed feedback on your design, implementation, and coding
style. The hope is that this level of feedback will allow you to quickly
improve the quality of the code you write.
- If you have ideas on others ways in which this section can be tailored
to make it a good learning experience for all involved, please feel free to
share them in class or during office hours.
Resources
Some resources that you'll find useful as the course progresses are
described below:
- Contacting me: My office is ITE-336 and I'll have office hours
on Tuesdays before class from 10:15 - 11:15 and on Thursdays after class
from 1:00 - 2:00. My email address is oates@cs.umbc.edu. I typically
respond quickly to email. I prefer that you do not call my office unless
there is something urgent to discuss.
- Syllabus: The syllabus for the course can be found here.
- Blackboard: There is a 341H blackboard for discussion of issues
specific to 341H, and there is a 341 blackboard for discussion of issues
common to 341 and 341H. You should have access to both via my.umbc.
- Regular 341 website: The regular 3411 website can be found here.
Things such as the student honor code, project descriptions and lecture
notes (posted throughout the semester) can be found there. Modifications
to project descriptions and lecture notes specific to 341H will be posted
on this web page.
Announcements
Below are announcements and links to materials specific to 341H, such as
modifications to project descriptions.
- 05 Oct 2005 Project 2 is posted. To help compensate for the
difficulty of the first exam, you can either do the project 2 posted on the
main course we site as it is described, or you can do project 2 from the
Fall of 2002 (which can be found
here). Project 2 from the Fall of 2002 is
more difficult, and a perfect submission will earn 120 rather than 100
points, which is what a perfect submission for the project 2 from this
semester will earn. It is up to you which project you choose.
- 12 Sep 2005 Project 1 is posted. You'll need to complete the
project as described here,
subject to the modifications described here.
- 06 Sep 2005 The lecture notes on C++ templates can be found
here.