CPSC 120A: Fundamentals of Computer Science I
Fall 2011: Class Notes

 
Date Topic and Associated Reading Study Questions In-class Material
Aug 31
  • Course Overview
  • Introduction to Computer Science
   
Sep 2
Sep 5
  • Algorithms, programming, programming languages (Section 1.2)
  • Compilers and interpreters (Section 1.2)
  • Self-Review (p. 26) SR# 1.2 - 1.3
Sep 7
  • Java programs - basic structure and style (Section 1.1)
  • Problem Solving & Program Development (Sections 1.3 & 1.4)
  • Character strings & printing (Section 2.1)
  • Self-Review (p. 26) SR# 1.4 - 1.6
  • Exercises (pp. 26, 27) EX# 1.1 - 1.6
  • Self-Review (pp. 62 - 63) SR# 2.2 - 2.5
  • Exercises (p. 63 - 64) EX# 2.1 - 2.5
 
Sep 9
  • Introduction to variables and assignment statements in Java (Section 2.2)
  • li
  • Primitive data types (Section 2.3)
  • Operators, operator precedence, & expressions (Section 2.4
  • Quiz #1
  • Post Lab 1 Due
  • Self-Review (p. 63) #SR 2.6 - 2.14;
  • Exercises (p. 64 - 66) #EX 2.6 - 2.11
 
Sep 12
  • Expressions, continued
  • Data conversion (Section 2.5)
  • Interactive programs - Scanner class (Section 2.6)
Sep 14
  • Objects and Classes (Sections 1.5, 3.1)
  • Self Review (page 26) #SR 1.8
Sep 16
  • The String class (Section 3.2)
  • Classes and class libraries (Sections 3.2 & 3.3)
  • Quiz #2
  • Post Lab 2 Due
  • Self Review (pp. 101-102) #3.1 - 3.7
  • Exercises (pp. 102 - 103) #3.1 - 3.4
Sep 19
  • Classes & Class libraries continued
  • Math class, Random class (Sections 3.4 & 3.5)
  • Self-Review (p. 102) #SR3.10 - 3.16
  • Exercises (p. 103 #EX3.6 - 3.9
  • Programming Projects (p. 104) #3.1, 3.2
Sep 21
  • More with classes and method signatures
  • Exercise (p. 104) #3.10, 3.11
Sep 23
  • Review
Sep 26 Test 1
Sep 28
  • Representation of Numeric Data
  • Number Systems (binary, octal, hex; general concept of a base - Appendix B)
Sep 30
Oct 3
  • Introduction to Conditionals and Logic (Section 4.1)
  • Boolean Expressions
  • if statements (Section 4.2)
  • Self-Review (pp. 157 - 158) #4.1- 4.4
  • Exercises (pp. 158 - 159) #4.1- 4.5
Oct 5
  • Logic, Conditionals, and Programming Continued
   
Oct 7
  • Comparing Data (Section 4.3)
  • Quiz #3
  • Post lab #5 Due
  • Self-Review (p. 158) # 4.5 - 4.8
 
Oct 10
  • Switch Statements (Section 4.4)
  • Testing (Section 5.9)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) # 4.9
Oct 12
Oct 14  
Oct 24
  • Introduction to Loops (Section 4.5)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.10, 4.11
  • Exercises (p. 159-160) 4.7, 4.8, 4.11, 4.13, 4.14
 
Oct 26
  • Do Loops (Sections 4.7)
  • For Loops (Section 4.8)
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.11
  • Exercises (p. 160) #EX 4.11
Oct 28
  • Test 2 Review
 
Oct 31 Test 2
Nov 2
  • Methods (Section 5.4)
  • Self-Review (p. 227) SR 5.6 - 5.9, 5.12 - 5.14
  • Exercises (pp. 228 - 229) EX 5.7, 5.10 - 5.20
 
Nov 4
  • Introduction to Writing Classes (Sections 5.1, 5.2)
  • Post lab #8 Due
  • Self-Review (p. 158) #SR 4.12
  • Exercises (p. 160) #EX 4.9 - 4.12, 4.15 - 4.23
Nov 7
  • Introduction to Writing Classes, continued (Sections 5.1, 5.2)
  • Writing Classes - encapsulation (Section 5.3)
  • Self-Review (p. 227) #SR 5.1 - 5.4
  • Exercises (p. 228) EX5.1 - 5.4
 
Nov 9
  • Writing classes, continued (Sections 5.1 - 5.4)
   
Nov 11 No Class
Nov 14
  • Writing classes, continued (Sections 5.1 - 5.4)
  • Post lab #9 Due
 
Nov 16
  • Static Class Members (Section 5.5)
 
Nov 18
  • Review
 
Nov 21 Test 3
Nov 28
  • Introduction to Arrays (Sections 7.1 & 7.2)
  • Self-Review (p. 367) SR #7.1 - 7.8
  • Exercises (p. 368) EX 7.1 - 7.3 EX 7.5 - 7.9
Nov 30
  • Arrays of Objects (Section 7.3)
  • Self Review #7.9
  • Exercise #7.4
Dec 2
  • Multidimensional Arrays
  • Quiz #5
  • Post lab #11 Due
  • Self Review #7.12
Dec 5
  • Multidimensional Arrays
 
Dec 7
  • Path Finding
   
Dec 9
  • Review for Final