Stony Brook University – Fall 2018

Course Overview

Catalog Description

This course introduces computer organization to students interested in the relationship between computer hardware and information systems. The course examines components found in high use computing devices such as desktop computers, smart phones and navigation systems. The focus of the examination is understanding the underlying technology of each component, along with price/performance curves and competing technologies. Upon completion of the course, student should be proficient in reading device specifications, particularly the functional and performance implications. Students should also be able to use that knowledge to compare competing devices.

Major Topics Covered

  • Data representation and compression
  • Fundamentals of computer architecture
  • Main memory technologies
  • Input/output and storage devices
  • Overview of operating systems internals
  • System performance measurement
  • Basics of computer networks

Course Learning Outcomes

  • Understand how numerical and non-numerical data are represented in digital computers,
  • Understand the functions performed by components of a computer-based device,
  • Indicate strengths and weaknesses inherent in different components and different architectures, and
  • Understand the specification sheet of a typical computer-based device

Course Meeting Times

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 pm – 2:20 pm in Engineering 143

Textbook:

Required: Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture (5th edition) by Linda Null and Julia Lobur. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2018. ISBN 9781284123036

Communication with the Course Staff

Instructor Info

  • Prof. Kevin McDonnell
  • Email: ktm@cs.stonybrook.edu
  • New Computer Science Building 212
  • Office Hours:
    • Mondays 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
    • Wednesdays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Piazza

The Piazza discussion board should be used for all communication with the teaching staff for questions about the course assignments and material. Email should be sent to individual instructors or teaching assistants only to schedule appointments.

Piazza is a forum for additional learning and assistance. The following are not appropriate uses of Piazza:

  • cyber-bullying
  • posting memes
  • complaining about a grade
  • airing concerns/comments/criticisms about the course
  • posting the solution to a homework problem or a link to a website containing the solution
  • in general, anything unrelated to the course material and student learning

Therefore, your are expected to use the Piazza forum for all non-personal, course-related communication. Questions about what a homework problem is asking or other questions that might be of interest to other students must be posted to Piazza and not emailed to the instructor or a TA.

Email Etiquette

Email the instructor under the following circumstances:

  • Blackboard is not properly displaying one of your grades.
  • If you cannot come to office hours and need to set up an appointment to meet at another time. In this case you must include your availability for the upcoming week.
  • If you need to contact the instructor or TA about a private matter. Examples include:
    • Making arrangements for disability accommodations.
    • To discuss private, personal matters that are impacting your coursework such as physical or mental illness, death in the family, etc.
    • If the instructor asks you to email him something relating to a previous conversation.

When emailing your instructor about the course, use the following guidelines to ensure a timely response:

  • use your official @stonybrook.edu email account
  • use a descriptive subject line that includes "ISE 218" and a brief note on the topic (e.g., "ISE 218: Appointment")
  • begin with a proper greeting, such as "Hi Prof. McDonnell"
  • briefly explain your question or concern or request
  • end with a proper closing that includes your full name, Net ID and SBU ID number

Assessments and Grading Scheme

Homework Assignments

Students will be assigned seven or eight homework assignments. The assignments will consist of exercises from the course textbook and additional questions/problems to solve. No homework assignment scores will be dropped during course grade computation.

Homework Lateness Policy

Assigned work is not accepted for credit once the deadline has passed. You are advised to budget your time wisely and to start working on an assignment the day it is posted.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given periodically as checkpoints to ensure that students are staying abreast of the material covered in lecture. Quiz dates will be posted on the course schedule. No quiz scores will be dropped during course grade computation.

Make-up Quizzes

Make-up quizzes will be given only in extenuating circumstances, such as a documented personal illness. In such cases the student must inform the instructor about an anticipated absence before the day of the quiz and provide supporting documentation to the Dean of Students Office (e.g., a doctor's note stating that the student was ill and unfit to take the quiz). Students who miss a quiz for a valid reason may need to take a make-up quiz; specific arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis. Make-up quiz will not be made available to students who miss a quiz due to work/job-related commitments, vacations, etc.

Examinations

There will be three examinations. All exams will be closed-book and closed-notes.

Although there will be no cumulative final examination, Exam #3 will take place during Finals Week, as per University policy.

Make-up Examinations

Make-up exams will be given only in extenuating circumstances, such as a documented personal illness. In such cases the student must inform the instructor about an anticipated absence before the day of the exam and provide supporting documentation to the Dean of Students Office (e.g., a doctor's note stating that the student was ill and unfit to take the exam). Students who miss an exam for a valid reason may need to take a make-up exam; specific arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis. Make-up exams will not be made available to students who miss an exam due to work/job-related commitments, vacations, etc.

Examination Dates and Times:

  • Exam #1: Tuesday, October 2nd in class
  • Exam #2: Thursday, November 8th in class
  • Exam #3: Thursday, December 20th from 11:15 am – 12:35 pm in a location to be determined

Re-grades

Human beings sometimes make mistakes. If you believe that your answer to a homework, quiz or exam question was graded incorrectly, type or write up what you believe is incorrect, staple it to the front of your paper, and give it to the instructor before or after lecture. Time is a precious commodity, so please do not spend instructor office hours or TA office hours arguing about points. Regrade requests must be made in writing no later than one week after graded work is returned to the class. Regrade requests that are made later than one week from the date the graded work is returned to the class will not be honored.

Grading Scheme

  • Homework Assignments: 20%
  • Quizzes: 20%
  • Examinations: 60%

Grade Cutoffs: A [93-100], A- [90-93), B+ [87-90), B [83-87), B- [80-83), C+ [77-80), C [73-77), C- [70-73), D+ [67-70), D [63-67), F [0-63)

Grades will be posted on Blackboard.

Tentative Class Schedule

Week Lecture Topics
1 Hardware Basics
2 Data Representation
3 Data Representation
4 Computer Architecture
5 Computer Architecture
6 Exam #1
7 Instruction Sets
8 Memory
9 Memory
10 I/O Systems
11 Exam #2
12 System Software
13 Computer Networks
14 System Performance
15 Graphics Hardware
16 Exam #3

Free Tutoring Services

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) offers a range of free tutoring services for students in CSE, AMS and other courses. See the CEAS Undergraduate Student Office website for more information. For small group and one-on-one tutoring please inquire also at the Academic Success and Tutoring Center.

Academic Integrity

Every student's homework submission must be his or her own work. You are not permitted to share, borrow or even look at another student's work while completing your own homework. Any evidence that solutions have been copied, shared or transmitted in any way, including the use of solutions downloaded from the Internet or written by others in previous semesters, will be regarded as evidence of academic dishonesty. The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) regards academic dishonesty as a very serious matter and provides for substantial penalties in such cases, such as receiving an 'F' grade and/or expulsion from the University. Those involved in academically dishonest behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted by the University and College laws. For more information, you can obtain a copy of the CEAS guidelines on academic dishonesty from the CEAS office.

All examinations will be closed-notes and closed-book. No electronic devices of any kind will be permitted to be used during exams. All cell phones must be silenced or turned off during exams. Any use of electronic devices, textbooks, notes or any other materials will constitute cheating.

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology and Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website.

Americans with Disabilities Act

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Student Accessibility Support Center, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Student Accessibility Support Center. For procedures and information go to the following website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities.

Critical Incident Management

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn. Faculty in the HSC Schools and the School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures.