CSE467 Workload and Grading

Final class grades (will be posted from 12-17-99 to 12-20-99)

Workload

The course comprises the following elements:

Lectures: A total of 32 class lectures.
Reading: We will cover the entire Katz text (most of which you read in CSE370). We will assign the reading with the homework handouts.
Assignments: Five problem sets and five lab assignments.
Project: Group projects to design and implement a DES encryptor in a Xilinx FPGA.
Class Exams: Two in-class quizzes (20 minutes per quiz), scheduled at the third and sixth weeks of the quarter..
Final exam: Tues, Dec. 14 from 8:30-10:20am, in EE1 003.

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

Spending an hour or two per day on this class will maximize your efficiency. You will work this way in the real world—you cannot cram a three-month chip design into one night—so you may as well work this way now. Plus, you will understand the material better. If you delay your homework until Thursday night, then you will not have time to study for the quizzes, and you will not have time to ask questions when (not if) the software misbehaves. Likewise for the project—you cannot design and debug an encryptor FPGA in one week. Don't try.

Software tools and laboratory equipment frequently consume more time then they should. We have chosen tools (software annd hardware) that are easy to use, and we have designed the assignments to get you up to speed gradually (over the period of a few weeks), but undoubtedly there will be some start-up cost. Every tool imposes a certain model: Your frustration can be high until you assimilate that model and learn to use it. Read the manuals, work together, and do not spend countless hours making no progress. Ask for help.

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:

25%: problem sets
25%: lab assignments
10%: quizzes
15% final exam
25%: miniproject
5% class participation

We will grade all your work numerically: 40 points per problem set, 40 points per lab assignment, 40 points per quiz, 120 points for the final, and 200 points for the project. At the end of the term, we will drop your one lowest score (quiz or problem set or lab assignment) 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.

Problem Sets and Lab Assignments

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

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

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

If you miss a problem set of lab 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 problem set or lab assignment. 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 problem set or lab 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 due date will generally be rejected.

Quizzes

There will be no makeup quiz. If you miss a quiz, you will get a zero. We drop your one lowest score (quiz or problem set or lab assignment) at the end of the quarter, so if you miss a quiz, plan on dropping that score.

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

Comments to: cse467-webmaster@cs.washington.edu