15-213/15-503 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 11 written assignments in all, where the midterm assignment is treated as two, and we will drop your two lowest scores. The 10 remaining are each worth 2% of your course grade.

Schedule

Written Topic Out Due Peer Review

W1 Bits, Bytes, Integers May 15 May 23 May 30
W2 Machine Programming (Basics, Control) May 23 May 30 Jun 06
W3 Machine Programming (Procedures, Data, Advanced) Jun 02 Jun 06 Jun 13
W4 Memory Hierarchy, Cache, Design, Debugging Jun 09 Jun 13 Jun 23
W5 Midterm Jun 13 Jun 19 -
W6 Virtual Memory Jun 20 Jun 26 Jul 02
W7 Dynamic Memory Allocation Jun 26 Jul 03 Jul 09
W8 Code Optimization, Linking Jul 03 Jul 10 Jul 15
W9 Exceptional Control Flow Jul 10 Jul 16 Jul 21
W10 System Level I/O, Network Programming Jul 16 Jul 21 Jul 28
W11 Concurrent Programming, Synchronization Jul 21 Jul 25 Jul 30

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 Piazza 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.