Introduction to Computer Science for majors I by James Tam

Return to the course web page

 

CPSC 231: Fall 2014 Tutorial Schedule

Week No.

Days

Topics to be covered (example programs provided by the course instructor can be found in UNIX under: /home/231/tutorials)

1

Sept 7 - 13

No tutorials this week

2

Sept 14 - 20

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):

  • Introduction to the CPSC network
  • Lab tours (your TA will be the tour guide for today!)
  • Text editor on UNIX: Emacs
  • Overview of the file system

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • Exercise: using UNIX commands and 'script' program

3

Sept 21 - 27

Programming:
  • Formatting output: format specifiers and escape codes
  • Variables and constants
  • Naming conventions
  • Mathematical operators, order of operation
  • Common errors
  • Python 'types', conversion functions
  • Getting user input
  • Working from home using SSH

 

4

Sept 28 - Oct 4

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):

  • Programming documentation
  • Backups and program documentation
  • Programming errors: syntax, runtime, logic
  • Overview of the file system

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • Branching/decisions (if, if-else)
  • Booleans
  • Generating random numbers

5

Oct 5 - 11

  • Logical operators and branching
  • Multiple if's
  • If, elif, Else
  • Nested branches
  • Example logic errors (branches)
  • Looping: while

6

Oct 12 - 18

Monday October 13: Thanksgiving holiday, no tutorial on Monday or Tuesday of this week

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday)

  • Equivalence between loop types ('for' and 'while')
  • Loop increments
  • Error checking using loops
  • Nested loops
  • Practical example problems solved using loops: RPG random character using loops

7

Oct 19 - 25

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • This assignment is significantly more complex than the previous two so it's highly recommended that you attend this tutorial

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • Debugging tips
  • Programs that work with ASCII
  • Command line arguments
  • Application of more complex sentinel-controlled loop (reading to the end of file with redirected input)

8

Oct 26 - Nov 1

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • Review of course policies regarding collaboration vs. misconduct for assignments
  • Functions (local variables, parameter passing, return values, writing Boolean functions).

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • Strings (operations, common methods)

9

Nov 2 - 8

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • Open tutorial": TA will be available during the whole class for help with A3 and to answer questions but no new material will be taught (extra CT time for any 231 student to come for help) [List of all CPSC 231 tutorials]

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • "Open tutorial": TA will be available during the whole class for help with A3 and to answer questions but no new material will be taught (extra CT time for any 231 student to come for help) [List of all CPSC 231 tutorials]

10

Nov 9 - 15

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • Reading days: no lecture, tutorial or CT

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • 1D lists
  • Passing lists as function parameters (although covered in lecture these concepts are challenging for most students so it's recommended that all students attend this tutorial as well)
  • Discussion of requirements for A4

 

11

Nov 16 - 22

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • 2D lists, more advanced list features, problem solving with lists
  • File input and output

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • "Open tutorial": TA will be available during the whole class for help with A4 and to answer questions but no new material will be taught (extra CT time for any 231 student to come for help)
 

12

Nov 23 - 29

  • Classes and objects
  • Defining code in modules

13

Nov 30 - Dec 6

First tutorial (Monday, Tuesday):
  • Recursion

Second tutorial (Wednesday, Thursday):

  • "Open tutorial": TA will be available during the whole class for help with A5 and to answer questions but no new material will be taught (extra CT time for any 231 student to come for help)