CSci 370
Theory of Computation
Fall 2012
Administrivia
Meeting times:
- MWF: 9:00 - 9:50 AM TH 383
Instructor: Bob
Matthews
- Bob Matthews (email
matthews@pugetsound.edu)
- Office: Thompson 390E
- Extension 3561
- Office hours (tentative)
- 10:00 - 10:50 MTWThF
- Or by appointment.
- Office hours resume in the second week of the term.
- Email messages
are welcome, and can
be used to ask a question or to set up an appointment. My schedule is posted
here.
Hours marked 'O. H.' are office hours, and hours marked 'open' on my schedule
may be available for appointments
(to be made in advance), but are not office hours and I may not be in my
office during 'open' hours unless I have set up an appointment with you.
If none of the office hours work out for you, please send me
an email.
Mode of instruction:
- Lecture, homework, and exams.
Textbook:
- Michael Sipser Introduction to the Theory of Computation, 3rd Edition. Centage Publishing, 2013,
We will cover chapters 1 - 7, skipping chapter 6
Evaluation:
- Homework will be assigned frequently, and homework assignments will be due
at least two regular class periods following the assignment (leaving a day
before an assignment is due to discuss any questions or problems).
From each homework set I will select several problems to grade.
Questions on any problems, assigned or not, are, of course, welcome.
Homework will be accepted (with an increasing penalty) until the completed
work is returned to the class, after which homework can not be accepted
without prior arrangement. Homework will have the weight of one hour exam.
- Three hour exams
- A final exam, which will have the weight of two regular hour exams.
A note on participation
Participation in class is important, and regular attendance and
participation is expected. Excessive absences may result in a reduced
grade, and, in extreme cases, will result in the student's removal from the
class.
A Note on Classroom Emergency Response Guidance:
Faculty have been asked to insert the
following in course syllabi:
Please review university emergency preparedness and response procedures posted
at
www.pugetsound.edu/emergency/. There is a link on the university home
page. Familiarize yourself with hall exit doors and the designated gathering
area for your class and laboratory buildings.
If building evacuation becomes
necessary (e.g. earthquake), meet your instructor at the designated gathering
area so she/he can account for your presence. Then wait for further
instructions. Do not return to the building or classroom until advised by a
university emergency response representative.
If confronted by an act of
violence, be prepared to make quick decisions to protect your safety. Flee the
area by running away from the source of danger if you can safely do so. If this
is not possible, shelter in place by securing classroom or lab doors and
windows, closing blinds, and turning off room lights. Stay low, away from doors
and windows, and as close to the interior hallway walls as possible. Wait for
further instructions.
Other Notes:
- I will make every effort to return homework and exam papers no later than a week from the time they are turned in. That is, papers turned in on
a Friday should be returned no later than the following Friday.
- There are generally very few excused absences from exams. A (documentable)
illness is one (though I may not always require documentation, you should be
prepared to supply it). Lack of preparation, unless caused by a
recent (again documentable) illness can not be used for an excused
absence. Except for emergencies (accident, medical emergency, etc.) no
requests for an excused absence after the class has started working on the
exam can be
accepted. Any make-ups should be completed a few days after an exam is
taken by the class and in any case should be taken within a week of the
class exam.
- Exam arrangements can be made with the
Center for Writing, Learning,
and Teaching (Howarth 105) for students
with documented learning disabilities. Formal written arrangements must be
made in advance of the day of the exam.
- We will use Moodle for PDF
files of lectures. Moodle will only be used to store these PDF files.
Assignments and other communications will be through these web pages and
email.
- No class work will be accepted after the last day of class (Wednesday,
December 5).
Final Exam:
- The final exam for CSci 370 is scheduled for Friday, December 14,
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM. It will be a
mandatory, two-hour, in class, comprehensive
exam. University regulations require that all students take the
final exam at this date and time. The exam will be held in our usual
classroom (Thompson 383).
Some Links: