CSE599 Workload and Grading

Workload

The course comprises the following elements:
  1. Lectures: A total of 9 class lectures.
  2. Reading: We will read part of the Feynman text, and several tutorial papers. We will assign the reading each week in class.
  3. Assignments: Three problem sets covering basic digital design, basic CS theory, and information theory.
  4. Class Presentation: Each student will give a 30-minute (graded) presentation to the class, describing and analysing a paper on either DNA computing, neuronal computing, or quantum computing. The instructor will post a signup on the web page, with the paper and the specific time it must be presented. Please provide HTML of your slides to the instructor after your lecture, so we can post the slides on the class web page.
  5. Research MiniProject: An individual project (self chosen) that must focus on some aspect of the class material. The project may be a simulation or a theoretical analysis. You will schedule a 30-minute meeting with the instructor on 6/7, 6/8, or 6/9 to describe your project and hand in your writeup. The writeups should clearly and precisely describe the problem and your results. You may use any software tools to help you with your project.
  6. Class Exams: None.
  7. Final exam: None.
The point of the Research MiniProject is for you to concentrate on learning (and producing a result in) a new discipline. We want you to examine a contemporary research problem in DNA computing, neuronal computing, or quantum computing. We expect you to spend the last 5 weeks of the class working on the project--if you delay starting until the last week, then you will not produce the kind of quality project that we are loooking for.

We will try to ensure a reasonable workload for the course. If we do not succeed, please let us know.

Your assignments must be neat and legible. We will not spend time trying to decipher messy work.

Grading

We will compute your course grade as follows: We will grade all your assignments and quizzes numerically: 50 points per assignment, 100 points for the presentation, and 250 points for the miniproject. At the end of the term, we will sum the total points, normalize the sum (choose X and Y), and assign a final numeric grade as follows:

We will round up or down using standard conventions: 3.84Þ 3.8; 3.85Þ3.9.

Assignments

Weekly assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. Assignments handed in during or immediately after class will incur a 10% penalty. Assignments will be penalized an additional 10% per day for each additional day late.

Please review the assignment solutions carefully before questioning a grade with either the instructor or the teaching assistants.

If you miss an assignment as a result of unavoidable circumstances, send the instructor a one-line email asking for an extension, the reason for your request, and the date you anticipate handing in the asignment. You know which circumstances are avoidable and which are unavoidable.

If you have a reasonable but avoidable reason for requesting an extension, send email to the instructor at least 24 hours before the assignment is due, citing a reason for the extension as above. Assume the extension is granted, unless the instructor responds to the contrary. Avoidable extension requests made after the assignment is due will generally be rejected.

Comments to: cse599-webmaster@cs.washington.edu