CS 2734 Computer Organization II

Texts:
Structured Computer Organization, third edition by Andrew Tanenbaum
Sparc Architecture, Assembly Language Programming, & C by Richard Paul

Prerequisite:
CS 2514 or the equivalent

Course Content:
Introduction to computer organization with focus on the assembly language level, the conventional machine level, and the microprogramming level. Sparc assembly language. We will be discussing Chapters 2, 4, 5, 7, and parts of 8 in Tanenbaum and will be covering much of the Paul book.

Grading:
35% Programming and Homework
30% Two in-class exams
35% Final exam (Monday, May 5, 1:30 pm - 4:15 pm)

Scholastic Dishonesty:
The integrity of a university degree depends on the integrity of the work done for that degree by each student. The University expects a student to maintain a high standard of individual honor in his/her scholastic work.

In practice, for this course, you may discuss assignments in general terms, but you are not allowed to share any details of actual algorithms or of program code. You may help someone else debug their program as long as you do not start substituting in your own code when there are problems. Turning in a copy of someone else's program, even a copy with extensive changes made to it, is a very serious offense in this course. A student caught with a copy of another student's assignment will be severely dealt with.

Laboratories:
The laboratories comprise a significant portion of the homework grade, and you must attend. Each week you will be asked to perform a specific task in the laboratory and will be checked off on that task for a grade. If you are checked off during the Monday laboratory, you do not have to attend the Wednesday laboratory. If you do not get checked off, you will receive a zero for that laboratory. There are no make-up laboratories, but the two lowest laboratory grades will be dropped. Generally the laboratory, or practice for the laboratory, will be available the week before the lab. You should do the advanced preparation prior to coming to the laboratory.

General:
Friday, March 14, is the last day to drop this course. No make-up exams will be given except for university sanctioned excused absences. If you must miss an exam (for a good reason), it is your responsibility to contact me before the exam, or as soon after the exam as possible. Leave a message at the above number or send me email.

Attendance in class is not required but students are responsible for all material covered in class. The class newsgroups are utsa.cs.2734 and utsa.cs.2734.d. The first group is for instructor postings only, while the second is for student posting and discussion. Students should read the utsa.cs.2734 newsgroup every time they log in. The class web page is http://vip.cs.utsa.edu/classes/cs2734s97/overview.html. You should put a netscape bookmark at that page for easy access. Class information and assignments will be posted on that page. You are responsible for reading the newsgroup and the web page.

Late assignments will not be accepted. Hand in whatever you have on the due date for partial credit. (Some assignments will be due in the laboratory, while others must be handed in by midnight.) On the top sheet of all assignments handed in there should be a statement indicating exactly what parts of the assignment worked and what parts did not. If something did not work, but you attempted to do it, indicate what you did so that you can get partial credit.