15-213/15-513/14-513 Introduction to Computer Systems: Assignments

There will be weekly written assignments, starting in the first week of classes. Each written assignment consists of 1-3 questions that require students to write single paragraph answers. They are released and collected via Canvas.

Written assignments are always due at 11:59pm (Pittsburgh time). No late submissions are accepted after the grace period. Canvas will generally accept only one submission.

Written assignments are graded by your peers: three other students will read what you wrote and provide short, constructive feedback and a score (1-10).

Each assignment is worth 30 points, total. You receive the maximum of your peers’ scores, 10 points for doing the assignment, plus 10 points for completing the peer reviews you are assigned.

There will be 10 written assignments in all, and we will drop your two lowest scores.

Schedule

Written	Topic	Out	Due	Peer Review

W1	Bits, Bytes, Integers	Aug 29	Sep 03	Sep 10
W2	Machine Programming (Parts I and II)	Sep 05	Sep 10	Sep 17
W3	Machine Programming (Parts III and IV)	Sep 12	Sep 17	Sep 24
W4	Linking, Design/Debugging	Sep 19	Sep 24	Oct 01
W5	Memory Hierarchy, Cache	Sep 26	Oct 01	Oct 08
	(No written Oct 3-8 due to take-home midterm)
	(Oct 13-17: Fall Break)
W6	Dynamic Memory Alloc, Code Optimization	Oct 24	Oct 29	Nov 05
W7	Processes, Exceptional Control Flow	Oct 31	Nov 05	Nov 12
W8	System Level I/O, File Systems	Nov 07	Nov 12	Nov 19
W9	File Systems, Network Programming	Nov 14	Nov 19	Nov 25
W10	Concurrent Programming, Synchronization	Nov 21	Dec 01	Dec 03

We will provide you with a model solution and a grading rubric after an assignment is due, to guide you in your peer reviews. This two-part (writing and evaluating) sequence has been shown to improve student learning. As your peers are grading these anonymously, you are not required to include your name either in your submission or feedback. If you disagree with the feedback from your peers, you can make a private post on Ed within 7 days, as per any other regrades in the course.

If the feedback you received is offensive or otherwise not in support of a welcoming and inclusive climate, please email your Professor.