FAQ

Last modified: Thu Oct 23 13:13:14 CST 2008

Q: Why scores last semester were so low?

I didn't teach well and maybe students didn't work hard. But we can do better this time.

There are some other reasons. You will find them below.

Q: I register the Tu class. Can I go to the lecture on Th?

In the beginning of the semester, No. If many people do so, then we may not have enough spaces. But should be ok after several weeks (well, you know why).

Q: How do I submit my homework?

Give it to me by the end of the class.

Q: I always type my homework. Will I get better HW scores?

No. As long as you write things clearly by hand, you should get the same scores.

Q: Will the HW solutions be provided?

Yes, after the HW is submitted or graded.

Q: I take the Tu class, may I submit my HW on a TH deadline?

No. If we find that out, you will get a serious penalty.

Q: Then why not just having one HW deadline for both classes?

Maybe you come to school only on Tu or Th. Hence the same deadline may not be convenient for some of you. If you have a better solution, please let me know.

Q: Since people in class A has an earlier deadline, will people in class B just copy their work?

Well, this happens regardless of whether you guys are in the same class or not. We used to have HW every week. But I find that some just copy others' work. So I decide to have three exams and have less homework.

Q: The teacher bring HWs to the class and return them to students. What if I don't come to get them?
We will leave your HWs in the classroom. They may be thrown away by some people.
Q: What's the formula to calculate scores?
Usually I use
raw scores = exam scores + max(HW scores, a) final scores = raw scores*b/c,
where a >= 0, b > 0, c> 0, and b/c > 1.
Q: Why the course is taught in English if everyone understands Chinese?
Well, I know you will complain anyway. Last semester I visited a company. Engineers there tried various ways to improve their English, which is very important for their work. So having English lectures is a good training for you.
Q: What if I write my homework/exam answers in Chinese?
You don't get any credit.
Q: May I use pencil for writing my exam answers?
Yes.
Q: May I use the 1st edition of the textbook?
Yes. But you are responsible to find HW questions and get any new materials covered in the 2nd edition.
Q: Why we have exams in the evening?
In short, to have a fair evaluation. We may consider some alternatives, but they also have drawbacks (e.g., we can give two sets of exam questions and then adjust average scores of two classes). Sorry I don't see a perfect setting.
Q: Who will grade my HW?
TAs.
Q: Who will grade exams?
TAs and I will work together.
Q: For one exam question, you are asked to give a proof. Will I get partial credits if I don't finish the whole proof.
It depends. But in general not. A proof is a proof. Otherwise everybody can claim that he/she proves NP = P (or NP != P). You will learn this NP=P issue in this course, which may be the greatest unsolved computer science problem.
Q: May I bring textbook to the exam?
Yes, but only textbook and notes.
Q: With the above FAQ, the teacher still gets 10 mails asking what can/cannot bring in the exam. What will he think?
One or two are ok. But 10 will make him feel sad. Then he may flunk more people.
Q: When will we discuss exam questions?
The week after the midterm exam (during regular lecture time). So I will discuss the same thing twice (on Tu and Th). You come to get your answer sheets according to the class you belong to.
For the final exam, the discussion time is posted on the course web page.
Q: Even with the above FAQ, 20 students don't come to get their answer sheets. Moreover, 10 complain (email, bbs, or ...) that they don't know when the discussion sessions are. What will the teacher think?
Well, you can tell.
Q: In the lecture, the teacher mentions something not in the textbook. The same materials appear in the exam. Some argue that they missed the lecture as they were sick. Hence they hope to get credits of that exam question. What will the teacher think?
Well, shouldn't you borrow someone's lecture notes?
Q: My final score is 59. May the teacher kindly increase it to 60?
No.
Q: But being flunked by many courses, I am going to be kicked out of the school. May the teacher please do me a favor?
No, I am very sorry.
Q: Even with the above faq, I still keep bugging the teacher. What will he do?
Well, your 59 may become 50, 40, or even lower.
Q: The teacher goes through this FAQ in the 1st lecture. But in the end of the semester some complain that they never know the existence of this FAQ. What will the teacher think?
Is this really an faq?
Please contact Chih-Jen Lin for any question.