NE 111 Introduction to Programming for Engineers, Fall 2018

Nanotechnology Engineering, University of Waterloo

Instructor:
Prof. N. M. Abukhdeir
Location: Department of Chemical Engineering, Building E6 3016
Contact: 519.888.4567 x31306, [email protected]
Office Hours: F 11:30-12:301

Teaching Assistants:
Name Office Email Office Hours

1
Javad Noroozi E6-3016

1
Kimia Entezari E6-4010

1
Thomas Donnelly E6-4010

1
Zohaib Atiq Khan TBD

Course Description: Introduction to programming and numerical computing using a high-level

interpreted programming language. Programming fundamentals, computer architecture, design
and use of functions, strings and text input/output, relational operators, conditionals, lists, loops,
designing algorithms, numerical computing, plotting, and file input/output.

Course References:

Required Textbook - P. Gries, J. Campbell, J. Montojo. Practical Programming: An Introduc-

tion to Computer Science Using Python 3 (2nd Ed.) (2013) O’Reilly and Associates, Inc..
https://pragprog.com/book/gwpy2/practical-programming

Optional Textbook - A. B. Downey, A. B. Think Python (2012) O’Reilly Media, Inc.

http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/

Course website - http://learn.uwaterloo.ca, will be used as the main means of communi-

cation outside of lectures and tutorials. http://ne111.uwaterloo.ca will be used as the content
and exercises website for the course.
First-Year Website - Additional support and information can be found at the First Year Engi-
neering website http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~year1web/.

Course Schedule:
1
Also by appointment.
 Lectures Self-paced NE111 Website

Walk-in Labs WTh 14:30 - 15:50 B1-370 Final TBD TBD

Evaluation: The course grade will be based on 10 lab assignments and a final examination which
will be held according to the Official Examination Schedule. The merit breakdown is as follows:
Lab Exercises 10 × 4% = 40% Final Examination 60%
Lab assignments are due by 23:59 on the Sunday following the week that they are assigned. In
order to pass the course, your examination grade must be at least 50%. If your examination average
is below 50%, you will receive this grade instead.

Course Responsibilities:
The First-Year Engineering Office outlines these here:
http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~ugoffice/html/course_responsibilities.html

Academic Integrity, Grievance, Discipline, Appeals and Note for Students with Dis-
abilities: see
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/accountability/documents/courseoutlinestmts.pdf. The text for
this web site is listed below:
• Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the
University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect
and responsibility. [Check http://www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/ for more infor-
mation.]
• Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her univer-
sity life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read
Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/
Policies/policy70.htm. When in doubt please be certain to contact the departments ad-
ministrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
• Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity [check http:
//www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/] to avoid committing an academic offence, and
to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action con-
stitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism,
cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course
instructor, academic advisor, or the undergraduate Associate Dean. For information on
categories of offences and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71, Student
Discipline http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm. For typical
penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/
infosec/guidelines/penaltyguidelines.htm.
• Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 (Student Petitions and
Grievances) (other than a petition) or Policy 71 (Student Discipline) may be appealed if there
is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy
72 (Student Appeals) http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm.
• Note for Students with Disabilities: The Office for persons with Disabilities (OPD),
located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange
appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the aca-
demic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the
impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic
term.
Lecture Topics and Homework:

Week (starting) Lecture Topic Chapter Additional Notes

1-2 Programming and Computer Architecture 1 Exercises 1-2 Due

3 (Python) Programming Fundamentals 2 Exercise 3 Due

4 Design and Use of Functions 3 Exercise 4 Due

5 Strings and Text I/O 4 Exercise 5 Due

6 Relational Operators & if Statements 5 Exercise 6 Due

7 Midterm Week No labs

8 Modules, Methods, & Scripts 6-7 Exercise 7 Due

9 Lists & Loops (for, while) 8-9 Exercise 8 Due

10 Lists & Loops (for, while) 8-9

11 Designing Algorithms 12 Exercise 9 Due

12 Numerical Computing (NumPy) Notes

13 Numerical Computing (NumPy) Notes Exercise 10 Due

Plotting & File I/O Notes Exam Review