CMSC 291C
Introduction to UNIX and Shell Programming
Syllabus
Instructor
Instructor: Gary Burt
Office: ECS 202B
Telephone: 410-455-3928 (Do not leave a message!!!)
E-mail: burt@cs.umbc.edu (Email is preferred.)
Class Time and Place
M/W 9:00 - 11:am SS-111
Textbook
- UNIX Shell Programming, 4th Ed, Lowell Jay Arthur & Ted Burns, Wiley, 1997
- UNIX User's Interactive Workbook
Course Homepage
This course has a homepage where assignments and grades will be posted.
Many of the handouts will also be available off of the homepage.
The URL is: http://www.cs.umbc.edu/courses/undergraduate/CMSC291C/spring01/Burt
Grading
| a number unannounced quizzes | 5 points each |
| a number programming projects | 100 points each |
| 13 Lab assignments | 10 points each |
| a number of tests | 100 points each |
| a number of homework assignments | 100 points each |
| Written report | 100 points |
| midterm | 200 points |
| final exam worth | 400 points |
NOTE: Lab assignments are accepted up to one week after it is due
but will receive 0 points. Lab assignments
not turned in will be given a score of -10.
The total number of points possible is based on what is assigned.
Your scores on each item is added up and converted to a percentage of
what is possible. Your final letter grade is based on the standard
formula:
<![CDATA[
90%+ A
80%+ B
70%+ C
60%+ D
Below 60% F
]]>
Your grade is based on timely work accomplished during the semester;
incomplete grades will only be given for medical illness or other
such dire circumstances.
I grade the Midterm, Final and written reports. Grading for the
projects will be done on the basis that
you must precisely follow instructions on projects and
exams.
Project Submission and Grading
You will be turning in your projects electronically. Send them to
me by e-mail at burt@cs.umbc.edu
Project Policy
All projects must be completed by your own individual effort. You should
never have a copy of someone else's project either on paper or
electronically under any circumstance. Also, you
should never give a copy of your work, either
on paper or electronically, to another student. This also means that
you cannot "work" on the project together. Cases of academic dishonesty
will be dealt with severely.
If your project is turned in by someone else, both you and the person
copying your project will receive a 0 for that project. This includes
"substantially similar" projects. Furthermore, all parties concerned
will have their prior projects checked for cheating. So, if you cheat
on Project 4, you can lose all the points from Projects 1 through 3 as
well, even though you may have done all the work and just "let" other
people copy from you.
Communications
All communications with the instructor must have your name
and the last four of your Social Security Number. Too many of you
have email that shows up with a fancy alias and we can't figure out
who "Joe Snuffy" is! This includes all email, projects, homework,
written reports, etc. Except for in-class work,
all material must
be typed (or printed on the computer). Too many of you
have handwriting that would qualify you to be a medical doctor!
Lectures and Readings
- You are expected to attend all classes. (Attendance is not a part
of your grades.)
- You are responsible for all material covered in the lecture, even
if the material is not in the textbook. You are responsible for the
material in the readings, even if they are not covered during
lecture. (I recommend you have a study team and help each other
with getting any material from lecture.)
- There will be supplemental material on the course webpages that you
are will have to master in addition to the material in the book.
- You need to monitor the course web pages daily. All new material
will be marked with a yellow icon and the word new, along
with the date the material was modified. That icon will remain for
at least one week. If it is on the web page for 48 hours, I will
penalize you for not following instructions.
Exams
- The exams will be closed-book and closed-notes.
- There are quizzes, tests, a Mid-term Exam, and a Final Exam.
- You must show a photo ID for the Mid-term and Final Exams.
- I do not tolerate cheating in any form. Copy from any one
is cheating. Likewise, copying from a book any any assignment
is cheating! You must do your own work.
Written Report
The is one written report required for this class, due at the beginning
of class when the midterm exam is given. For this report, you
will locate an article (published on hard-copy or electronically) on
some aspect of UNIX. Your report will
summarize the article and you will present your analysis of the
article. The report must be printed on the computer, using a font of
12 points. It will be two full pages plus an additional title page
which provides your name, SSAN (last four), title of the article and
section number.
Out-of-Class Help
You may have some difficulties in this class and will need some
extra help. This is normal. You can come to me for this
help or see the consultants in room ECS-020. The sooner you come to
us for help, the easier it is for you to catch up. Don't wait until
you are totally and hopelessly lost. Work
the exercises in the book, even when it is not homework, because you
can not learn this material only by reading it. You must write programs
to learn all these concepts.
In the past, I have had students who would visit me as much as four
times a week for assistance. Then again, I have had former students
come back and visit for assistance in other courses. Don't be afraid
of upsetting me because you ask for help too much.
CSEE