- Is this considered a hard class?
- How much work will I have to do in this class?
- What do I need to know before taking it?
- Why can't I just learn C++ without learning C
first?
- Will I be an expert C++ programmer after this
class?
- Why so much weight on the programming
assignments?
- Well then why have any exams at all?
Back to Class Info
Although this is a first course in C++, it does introduce new and difficult concepts
which you may not have encountered in Visual Basic or Java programming. Some people find this very difficult, while others take to
it right away. We'll explain these new concepts in class and you will do exercises
and write programs using them. Most people will need to spend a
reasonable amount of time outside of class to get the concepts and do the
assigned work. See the next question for the amount of work assigned.
You will be responsible for about two thirds of the content of our textbook,
Walter Savitch, Problem Solving with C++. Some of this material will be
similar to what you have already learned in either Visual Basic or Java but you
will need to understand the differences which are sometimes subtle. You will need to read
the material before each class in order to anticipate quizzes and to ask
questions about it. You will write and turn in between eight and ten programs -
about one a week - during the class. The programming assignments
will be related to the topics we are covering that week in the text.
You should meet the prerequisites of the class. This means you have taken the
Introduction to Programming using either Visual Basic or Java or have equivalent
knowledge gained somewhere else. You should understand the notion of programming
a computer by defining a series of steps to perform. You should have written a
few simple programs in some language. You should understand about different
types of data. If you are not sure about being prepared for the class, you
should discuss your background with the instructor.
We are studying C++ which is a superset of the C language. We will learn a procedural
subset of C++ which is almost identical to the main features of the C language.
However, we won't worry about exactly what constructs are legal in standard C
versus standard C++. I'll provide references that will help you figure out the
fine points if you should need to program in standard C at some future time.
Hardly! This class covers beginning C++ programming and only lightly touches
on object-oriented programming using classes. If you want to continue, you will
need to take CIS 242 to round out even a basic knowledge of C++. In the course
of the class, I'll give you a set of references and other resources which you
can use to become an expert. However, the real way to being an expert is to
write lots of programs. The class assignments are only a start and you are free
to do more during the class. I'll be glad to review and comment on any extra
programs provided you complete the assignments first.
Well, after all, it is a programming class and programming is best learned by
doing it. Exams can easily measure your ability to do small exercises or answer
questions about programming but you can't really do even a moderately difficult
program well in the time allowed for an exam. The best way to succeed in the
class will be to complete all assignments when they are due, gradually building
up to more complex programs.
Good question. The fact is that in addition to programming, you also need to
master some concepts. You need to be able to talk about different techniques of
designing and developing programs with your coworkers. You need to understand
on-the-job instructions that are given to you. All that stuff is most easily
handled by an exam. In addition, an exam is a good place to ask about a few of
the more tricky points of C++ programming which may not come up in your
programming assignments.
