FAQ
Last modified: Tue Sep 1 17:55:41 CST 2009
Q: How do I submit my homework?
Give it to me in 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: 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 most (or all) students understand Chinese?
Well, I know you will complain anyway.
Recently 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: 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
the regular lecture time).
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, he won't be very happy
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.
Please contact Chih-Jen Lin for any question.