InstructorDexter Kozen |
Teaching AssistantsYin Wang |
AdministratorKelly Patwell |
MWF 2:30-3:20, Hollister 110
Dexter: Thursday 1-2:30 or by appointment. Please contact Kelly for appointments.
We have a course newsgroup, cornell.class.cs681. All course announcements will be posted there; please check daily for new announcements. You may also use the newsgroup for technical discussions, posting general questions about the homework, etc. The course staff will try to respond to questions in a timely manner, or if you know the answer, feel free to post it yourself. Please avoid giving away any hints on the homework though.
We are using the course management system CMS. Kelly has entered everyone who preregistered, but if you did not preregister, you are probably missing. Please login and check whether you exist. There will be a list of courses you are registered for, and Com S 681 should be one of them. If not, please send your full name and Cornell netid to Kelly so she can register you. You can check your grades and submit homework in CMS. There is a help page with instructions.
These titles are on reserve in the Engineering library, Carpenter Hall.
All handouts other than homework and exams will be available on the web in pdf or html format. It is your responsibility to check often for new postings. For viewing pdf files, we recommend Adobe Reader, available free of charge.
There will be biweekly homework sets consisting of 3-5 problems, due by 4pm on the due date. You may collaborate on the homework in groups of 2 or 3. If you collaborate, submit one copy of your solutions with the names of all collaborators. Acknowledge all sources, including others in the class from whom you obtained ideas. Please type or write legibly and staple. There will be a point deduction of 10% per day for unexcused late homework. Assignments and solutions will be posted in CMS. Solutions are typically posted 4 or 5 days after the due date at which time no late submissions will be accepted. Submit hardcopy in class or to Kelly by 4pm on the due date, or a .pdf, .ps, .doc, or .txt file in CMS. Do not submit Latex source.
There will be two 72-hour takehome exams, open book and notes. No collaboration is allowed on the exams. Sign out the exam with Kelly Patwell in 5147 Upson. Return the completed exam to Kelly within 72 hours after signing it out (she must be there to record the time, do not just slip it under the door), or submit it via CMS. If you wish to submit your exam during non-business hours, you must submit it via CMS.
Graded homework and exams will be passed back in class, otherwise old homework and exams will be available from Kelly.
Approximate weights: Homework 50%, exams 25% each.
Due dates (subject to change):
HW1 9/5
HW2 9/17
HW3 9/28
Prelim - any 72-hour period from 10/1 to 4pm 10/15. If choosing to work over fall-break, test
must be picked up before fall-break begins and submitted via CMS. Special
arrangements will be made for those wishing to observe religious
holidays. Please let us know in advance.
Fall break 10/6-9
HW4 10/17
HW5 10/29
HW6 11/12
HW7 11/30
Final exam - any 72-hour period from 12/3 to 4pm 12/14.
Regarding the homework:
Familiarity with the content of CS481 and CS482 is assumed. In particular, we will assume knowledge of:
The course is organized around a few fundamental themes. The exact coverage is subject to change. Topics below will be covered as time permits; we will probably not have time to cover everything.