CS 15-199: Discovering Logic
(Spring 2010)
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This course has the purpose of introducing first-year Computer Science
students to elements of formal logic as well as to the historical context in
which this discipline developed. As all subsequent courses in the CS
curriculum rely on students having mastered basic logical notions and skills,
it will test and enhance your preparation, thereby putting you in a better
position to succeed in the program. It will also help you understand and
appreciate how CS came about since Computer Science grew out of logic. The
specific knowledge and skills you will learn in is course include:
- an enhanced ability to research topics, give presentations and write
technical prose.
- some elementary logic.
- some historical depth into Computer Science, mathematics and logic itself.
This course is open to Computer Science freshmen only.
There are no prerequisites for this course.
It is my goal to make this course successful, stimulating and enjoyable. If
at any time you feel that the course is not meeting your expectations or you
want to provide feedback on how the course is progressing for you, please
. If you would like to provide
anonymous comments, please use this feedback page or slide a note under my door.
This is a 3 unit course. Because it is a mini, this means that you
are expected to dedicate 6 hours a week to it on average.
- Participation: 15%
This includes:
- Class participation: volunteer to answer questions asked to the
class
- Class preparedness: you must have done the readings before coming
to class
- Presentations: 30%
- Assignments: 30%
- 5 weekly homework assignments, 6% each
- Handed out on Saturdays, generally
- Due on Saturdays at 11:59pm Doha time. Submit on blackboard.
- Graded by the following Sunday. Evaluated as follows:
- Essays will be evaluated on the basis of content (it
answers the question exhaustively), form (it is well
structured, grammatical, etc.) and creativity
(you are not stating the obvious)
- To encourage good work and integrity, the instructor may invite
students to his office to explain their solutions. Should this happen,
the students' explanations will become part of their grades for that
assignment.
- No joint assignments unless explicitly instructed
- Final paper: 15% Submit on blackboard
- Bonus points: up to 10% for
particularly elegant solutions
- Negative points: up to -100% if caught
cheating
Academic Integrity
You are expected to comply with the University Policy
on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism.
Collaboration is regulated by the whiteboard policy: you can bounce
ideas about an assignment, but when it comes to typing it down for submission,
you are on your own - no notes, snapshots, etc., you can at most reconstruct
the reasoning from memory.
Class etiquette
- Attendance is mandatory
- Arrive on time: latecomers will not be allowed in class
- No cellphone or laptop use unless instructed
Course Objectives
This course seeks to develop students who:
- can understand and formulate logical representations to problems
- can think abstractly, i.e., for form, analyze, and use abstractions
- can understand and articulate technical ideas
- can follow and form cogent arguments
- have a historical perspective of logic and Computer Science
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- express problems symbolically using propositional and predicate logic
- use formal logic proofs and logical reasoning to solve simple problems
- describe the importance and limitations of predicate logic
- provide examples that illustrate the concept of uncomputability
- gain deeper knowledge about a topic by researching it using a variety of
sources and tools
- describe technical concepts clearly, so as to be readily understood by their peers within the discipline and by those outside the discipline
- follow and summarize arguments presented in texts and papers used as supporting materials for their courses or consulted to research a topic
- form a cogent, logical argument asserting and reiterating technical
concepts that lie within the bounds of any researched topic
- make clear, well-articulated, well-organized and creative presentations
about topics of their choice
