Homework Policies

It is imperative to understand that computer programming is not a spectator sport. To get good at it, you need to practice, and the primary vehicle for that is the homeworks.

Due dates: Homework assignments are due at 11:59pm Eastern Time unless otherwise posted. All deadlines are automatically enforced.

Where to do & submit: Homework is completed on PrairieLearn (for the "Practice" component) or on Codio (for the "Project" component). For the Project component only, you will submit your work on Gradescope. Homework Presentations are done synchronously and in person.

How often to submit: You can submit each assignment as often as you like. We will grade the last version of each file that you submit. Every time you submit, you must submit all of your files.

What to do if the submission system isn't working: If you have trouble with Gradescope, check Ed for any announcements regarding Gradescope. As a last resort, upload your work to Google Drive and email the link to the instructor before the deadline. We will not accept anything past the deadline, so please make sure you don't wait until right at the end to submit. Submit your next assignment early and seek help if you still have problems. (You can always resubmit later on.)

Late Submissions:

The following details apply only for homework assignments.

  • Late tokens are earned at a rate of one quarter per lecture attended. You start the semester with one late token.
  • Each late token allows you to submit either the Practice or the Project component of a homework assignment up to 24 hours late. You can use at most one late token on any component of any assignment. Late submissions are designed to help you through an especially busy week, a cold, and other issues that commonly crop up at some point in the semester. Use them wisely.
  • Deadlines are automatically enforced. Twenty four hours after the deadline, the submission link will disappear. (E.g., if an assignment is due on Monday at 11:59pm, the submission link will disappear Tuesday at 11:59pm). Submitting past your remaining late tokens will result in a 0 on the assignment.
  • If the deadline is approaching, submit! Remember, it is much better to submit an incomplete assignment than nothing. You can always resubmit later if you make further progress before the deadline.
  • Late submissions are accepted automatically when you submit late. You do not need to ask permission or give any reason for using them.

Extensions: Please recognize that extensions can be quite disruptive to the pace of your learning in CIS 1100. It is for this reason that we provide the late token system to cover most situations. Nevertheless, we are committed to accomodating students experiencing exceptional circumstances.

  • Extensions will be granted only in exceptional, verifiable circumstances (e.g., extended, serious illness). It is your responsibility to provide documentation. Extracurricular obligations, heavy workloads in other courses, and mild illnesses like the common cold are covered by the late submission policy.
  • To encourage responsible behavior, positive diagnoses of infectious diseases are grounds for extensions to allow for planning, self-isolation, and recovery.
  • You may not use late submissions together with an extension. This rule is enforced by the submission system.
  • We recognize that things may happen in life, and to allow some space for that we will drop your lowest grade above 30% from the homeworks when calculating final course grades.
  • We ask that if you are requesting an extension, you should do so sufficiently before the deadline so that we can confirm/deny it in a reasonable time. Please do so by emailing the instructors or via a private post on Ed. If you don't hear back from us before the deadline, please be sure to submit whatever work you have completed until that point.

Extra Credit:

  • Opportunities for (optional) extra credit may be offered on some assignments. The amount of work and difficulty may vary widely: some extra credit will be easy to obtain, while other extra credit may be more challenging.
  • The overall effect of extra credit on your final grade is limited. Extra credit will only be able to increase your final grade percentage by a maximum of 1%.
  • We encourage you to do the extra credit when it you find it fun and rewarding, but never at the expense of the main assignment.

Homework Regrade Requests:

  • You may request a re-grade for homeworks up to one week after they are returned. Regrades must be requested via Gradescope in the week after your grades are distributed.
  • Your request must include a concise explanation of why your grade should be different.
  • Note that a re-grade can result in a lower score on the problem in question. We also reserve the right to re-grade the entire submission. As a result, your final grade may be lower or higher than your original grade.
  • Keep in mind that exam regrade requests are governed by slightly differently policies, which are posted on the exams page.
  • The timeline for regrade requests near the end of the course may be slightly different, so you should refer to whatever is announced through Ed.