Contact Info:
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Thomas E. Blum
Office: H-133
Office Hours:
Mon. 10:30-11:30, Tues. 11-12, Wed. 10:30-11:30, Thurs. 11:00-12:00
(Holroyd 133 or H 124), or by appointment
Phone: 215-951-1139
e-mail: blum@lasalle.edu
Web: http://www.lasalle.edu/~blum
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Description:
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The course provides an overview of the hardware components of a PC with an
emphasis on how they are organized and made to work together. The course
examines software issues at a level close to the hardware and principles of
processor and memory optimization (caching, pipelining, paralleism, etc.)
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Meetings:
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Wednesday 6:16 - 8:55
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Location:
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Holroyd 155
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Relevant Online Text:
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PC Hardware in a Nutshell, Third Edition, Thompson and Thompson,
O'Reilly
To find the library's online technical books, go to the
library's catalog page
and do a keyword search on "Safari online".
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Websites:
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Assessment:
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The components of the course will be weighted as follows
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Tests: |
54% |
3 tests |
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Final: |
18% |
The final is cumulative with some emphasis on any previously untested
material. |
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Assignments: |
24% |
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Class: |
4% |
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Or if it is beneficial to the student, the following alternative weighting
scheme will be used:
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Tests: |
36% |
lowest test dropped |
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Final: |
36% |
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Assignments: |
24% |
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Class: |
4% |
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In addition,
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Assignments include homeworks and labs. They are to be done individually unless
explicitly stated otherwise.
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The nature of the material on the test will determine whether the test is
written or on the computer and whether it is open-book or closed book. The date
of a test will be announced at least one week before it is given.
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If at any time you take information from any source (book, website, etc.), that
source should be cited. Failing to do so may be considered plagiarism and thus
cheating. Any time you are requested to summarize an article, it is expected
that the summary will be in your own words.
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Labs and homeworks are due a week after they are assigned. Labs and homeworks submitted
after the test on the relevant material will not be eligible for full credit.
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The plus/minus grading system will be used.
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Attendance will be taken.
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Absences, lateness, etc. will be reflected in the class portion of the grade.
More than three unexcused absences may result in the lowering of a grade.
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Make-up tests are given at the discretion of the professor. You have to meet
with me to discuss the reason for missing the exam and to schedule a make-up.
It may be decided that the missed test will serve as your dropped score (see
the second grading scenario above).
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It is the responsibility of the students to keep copies of all submitted
materials (tests, homeworks, labs, and so on) until a final grade is received
for the course.
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Classroom Behavior:
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While in the classroom, students should behave in a manner that is neither
distracting to nor disrespectful to the professor or other students. Cell
phones should be turned off.
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Cheating:
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When using materials from a book, website, etc., the source must be cited;
otherwise it is considered plagiarism. Claiming another's work as your own is
cheating. A student caught cheating will receive a score of zero. Cheating may
result in a reduction of the final grade. Repeated cheating can result in a
failing grade for the course. Asking another for help on part of a homework is
acceptable; handing in duplicate or nearly duplicate work is not. If you
require a significant amount of assitance, you should seek my help. Finally,
openly allowing your work to be copied is also cheating.
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