INFS 515: Computer Organization (Spring 2000)

Objective: To study the fundamental concepts involved in modern computers, and to prepare the students for further course work in Information Systems and Software Engineering.

Prerequisite: Structured programming in a high-level language

Course Text: Structured Computer Organization, Fourth Edition by Andrew S. Tanenbaum (ISBN 0-13-095990-1), Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Requirements: Students are expected to attend all lectures finish homework assignments on time. (The assignment and due dates as noted above are approximate ones. The precise dates will be given in the assignment sheet.) The students are also expected to attend the two in-class examinations.

Exceptions: Any exceptions or make-up arrangements require prior permission of the instructor.

Grading policy: The final grade is NOT based on a curve, and are based on a cumulative score calculated according to:
  • A is 90% or above, B is above 75%, C is above 55%, and D is above 40%.
  • The cumulative points are wiegted as follows:
    • Class participation 5%.
    • Homework assignments 25%.
    • Midterm exam 35%.
    • Final exam 35%.
Late homework : Late submission is allowed up to one week but with 5% penalty each day. A submission is considered late if submitted after 12.00 midnight on due date. Faxed-in submission is accepted but the student should inform the instructor appropriately.
Lectures: R B228, Mondays 7:20-10pm
Instructor: Duminda Wijesekera
Office Hours: Monday 6.00 to 7.00 pm, Wednesday 3.30 to 4.20 pm
Email: duminda@ise.gmu.edu
Location: Science and Technology II, Room 351
Teaching Assistant: Muhammad Abdulla
Office Hours: Thuresady 4.30 to 6.30 pm and by appointment
Location: Science and Technology II, Room 368
Email: amhmd@ise.gmu.edu
Announcements: New

Midterm Exam

Fall 1999 Midterm Exam in PDF
Statistics of the Mid-Term Exam

Final Exam

Paper copies still aviailable outside my door Rm 351, ST - II.

Additional Meetings

Date Time

Location

 Purpose
Wednesday, February 16 7.30 to 10.00 pm R A210 Discuss Arithmatic
Wednesday, March 22 7.30 to whenever ST II Rm 351 Extra Office Hours
Thuresday, March 23 4.00 to 5.30 pm ST II Rm 351 Extra Office Hours
Friday, March 24 2.00 to 3.00 ST II Rm 351 Extra Office Hours
Friday, March 24 3.00 to 4.00 ST II Rm 368 Extra TA Office Hours
Monday, March 27 10.00 to 11.00 ST II Rm 368 Extra TA Office Hours
Monday, March 27 5.00 to 6.00 ST II Rm 351 Extra Office Hours
Monday, May 08 7.00 to Whenever R B Rm 228 Extra Class + Office Hours
Wed, May 10 7.00 to 8.00 ST II Rm 351 Extra Office Hours
Friday, May 12 4.30 to 6.30 ST II Rm 348 Extra TA Office Hours

Student Contributions

On Binary Translators
Solutions to HW-1
Solutions to Hw-2
Solutions to HW-3
Solutions to Hw-4
Solutions to Hw-5
Solutions to Hw-6TA Contributed. Not Guaranteed to be correct

Please Vote: Tell Me What you want discussed in next two classes!

Approximate Course Schedule

Date

Topic

 Assignment Out Assignment Due
January 24 Introduction    
January 31 Binary and floating Point Arithmetic 1  
February 07 Digital logic level    
February 14 Digital logic level   1
February 21 Micro architecture level 2  
February 28 Micro architecture level    
March 06 Instruction level 3 2
March 20 Instruction Level    
March 27 Midterm Examination   3
April 03 Instruction Level 4  
April 10 Operating system level    
April 17 Operating system level 5 4
April 24 Assembly language level    
May 01 Assembly language level   5
May 15 Final examination