Syllabus

Scope and Objectives

This is an introductory programming course in the Python programming language.

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with key concepts in a procedural programming language such as: variables, control structures, functions, input and output.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to use programming to solve problems appropriate to a beginning class in programming.
  3. Acquire familiarity with how programming can be applied to solve problems.

Prerequisites

None. This course assumes zero prior programming experience.

Required Textbooks

None.

Schedule & Office Hours

Schedule

Office Hours

Instructor

Teaching Assistants

  • Amal Alqahtani
  • Boomika Karuppaiah
  • Ethan Leider
  • Lexi Sun
  • Viraj Prakash

Learning Assistants

  • Abdulrahman Alsaleh
  • Adil Bajwa
  • Maya Bardin
  • Vik Becker
  • Petra Chuenarrom
  • Tanim Khan

Contact info

Our main method of communication is Ed. Post any questions to Ed. Never post complete source code for any problem to Ed.

Refrain from using email with course staff except:

  • Communications with the professor regarding accommodations or emergencies
  • When otherwise directed by course staff

Course Website

All course information is accessible on this website, including the syllabus, lecture materials, exercises, and assignments.

Examinations

There will be in-person quizzes in lab and an in-person final examination during the exam period. By enrolling in this course, you acknowledge the schedule and agree to be present for these assessments.

Assessments

  • 15 Modules
  • 5 Problem Sets
  • 13 Quizzes (given in lab)
  • 1 Examination

Grading

  • Examination: 30%
  • Problem Sets: 25%
  • Modules: 15%
  • Quizzes: 20%
  • Professionalism: 10%

You must pass the examination with a score greater than 60% to pass the course.

Note:

  • The lowest four modules are dropped.
  • The lowest problem set is dropped.
  • The lowest four quizzes are dropped.

(Low grades associated associated with academic integrity violations will not be dropped.)

While we use blackboard.com for assignment submissions, do not rely on blackboard.com to calculate your grades. Use the grading criteria outlined in this syllabus.

Grading Scale

Grading Scale

The following grading scale will be applied at the end of the semester to calculate letter grades: 90-100: A, 85-89: A-, 80-84: B+, 75-79: B, 70-74: B-, 65-69: C+, 60-64: C, 55-59: C-, 50-54: D, 0-49: F.

Grades are rounded to the nearest integer, e.g., 0.4 rounds to 0 and 0.5 rounds to 1.

Professionalism

The “professionalism” portion of your grade is based on your contributions to a positive and welcoming learning environment for all students. Our expectation is that every student in the class will receive full credit for professionalism. Every student gets full credit in this area by default. Credit for professionalism can be lost for actions that disrespect other students and course staff, such as being disruptive in class or lab, lack of polite behavior toward course staff, or requesting grading accommodations other than those outlined in this syllabus.

Late Work

Late work is not accepted, with the following exceptions:

  1. Every student many turn in as many as four assignments (modules or problem sets) up to 48 hours after the deadline with no penalty. Requesting an extension is not necessary in these cases.

  2. Extensions will be granted should there arise circumstances beyond your control that impede your ability to complete coursework and turn in a deliverable on time. Notify your professor as soon as feasible in these cases. Examples of such circumstances include (but are not limited to) illness, death in the family, and loss of housing. To ensure fairness toward all students, I will request documentation of such circumstances.

Attendance

I do not take attendance.

However, quizzes and the exam are in person, and failure to be present for a quiz or exam will result in failure (grade of 0) of that assessment. The only exception to this policy is absence accompanied by documentation of an emergency, such as a note from a physician or a letter from the office of Student Support; absence to represent GWU in an official capacity (such as at an athletic event) is also excused, however such excused absence will require confirmation from a faculty sponsor or athletic official, and must be arranged in advance. Quizzes failed due to absence are eligible for the drop policy.

Time Commitment

There is one 75-minute class meeting per week and one 75-minute lab per week. Students are expected to spend at least 5 hours per week independently learning outside of class meetings for this course.

Accommodations

We are committed to accommodating student needs in whatever ways are possible and fair. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, Disability Support Services (DSS). Let your professor know of circumstances that may impact your academic commitments if and when such circumstances arise, or before the semester begins, as is appropriate. To ensure fairness toward all students, we will request documentation of such circumstances, either directly or via DSS.

Respect

It is our intent to present materials that are respectful of: age, race, ethnicity, country of origin, language, religion, spiritual practice, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, introversion/extroversion personality dimensions, and socioeconomic and mental/physical status. All people have the right to be addressed and referred to in accordance with their identities. In this class, all of us will have the chance to indicate how we prefer to be addressed. We will do our best to address and refer to all students accordingly and support all members of the class in fostering a respectful, charitable, and professional academic environment.

University Policies

Academic Integrity Code

All work submitted for this course is individual effort. You may discuss the problems with others, but the code you submit must be written by you. Academic integrity is an essential part of the educational process, and all members of the GW community take these matters very seriously. As the instructor of record for this course, my role is to provide clear expectations and uphold them in all assessments. Violations of academic integrity occur when students fail to cite research sources properly, engage in unauthorized collaboration, falsify data, and otherwise violate the Code of Academic Integrity. If you have any questions about whether or not particular academic practices or resources are permitted, you should ask me for clarification. If you are reported for an academic integrity violation, you should contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) to learn more about your rights and options in the process. Consequences can range from failure of assignment to expulsion from the university and may include a transcript notation. For more information, please refer to the SRR website, email rights@gwu.edu, or call 202-994-6757.

University Policy on Observance of Religious Holidays

Students must notify faculty during the first week of the semester in which they are enrolled in the course, or as early as possible, but no later than three weeks prior to the absence, of their intention to be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance. If the holiday falls within the first three weeks of class, the student must inform faculty in the first week of the semester. For details and policy, see “Religious Holidays” at Provost Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.

Use of Electronic Course Materials and Class Recordings

Students are encouraged to use electronic course materials, including recorded class sessions, for private personal use in connection with their academic program of study. Electronic course materials and recorded class sessions should not be shared or used for non-course related purposes unless express permission has been granted by the instructor. Students who impermissibly share any electronic course materials are subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct. Please contact the instructor if you have questions regarding what constitutes permissible or impermissible use of electronic course materials and/or recorded class sessions. Please contact Disability Support Services at https://disabilitysupport.gwu.edu if you have questions or need assistance in accessing electronic course materials.

Academic Support

Writing Center

GW’s Writing Center cultivates confident writers in the University community by facilitating collaborative, critical, and inclusive conversations at all stages of the writing process. Working alongside peer mentors, writers develop strategies to write independently in academic and public settings. Appointments can be booked online at https://gwu.mywconline.

Academic Commons

Academic Commons provides tutoring and other academic support resources to students in many courses. Students can schedule virtual one-on-one appointments or attend virtual drop-in sessions. Students may schedule an appointment, review the tutoring schedule, access other academic support resources, or obtain assistance at https://academiccommons.gwu.edu.

Support for Students Outside the Classroom

Disability Support Services (DSS)

Telephone: 202-994-8250

Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability should contact Disability Support Services to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Telephone: 202-994-5300

GW’s Colonial Health Center offers counseling and psychological services, supporting mental health and personal development by collaborating directly with students to overcome challenges and difficulties that may interfere with academic, emotional, and personal success.

Safety and Security

  • Monitor GW Alerts and Campus Advisories to Stay Informed before and during an emergency event or situation
  • In an emergency: call 911 or GWPD/EMeRG 202-994-6111
  • For situation-specific actions: refer to GW’s Emergency Response Handbook and Emergency Operations Plan
  • In the event of an armed intruder: Run. Hide. Fight.

Addendum

This addendum added 11 Oct 2023.

  1. Use of Python functionality that is not introduced anywhere in the course is generally prohibited on Problem Sets, and use of such is grounds for receiving no credit for the problem on which it is used. However, if you have learned some Python outside of this course and would like to use it, speak with me beforehand and I will, with certainty, allow it.

  2. I reserve the right to orally interview any student on any code they submit. Failure to satisfactorily explain that code’s functionality will result in failure of that problem and further interview.

  3. For the final grade calculation, if your final exam score exceeds your quiz average, I will count your final exam score as 50% and your quizzes as 0%. (This will not apply to any student who fails a quiz due to an academic integrity violation.)

  4. There will be an optional extra credit problem set, which will replace any problem set grade that it is higher than (and will replace the lowest such of these grades, if there is more than one). (It will not replace any low grade associated with an academic integrity violation.)