University of British Columbia, Department of Computer Science CPSC 311 Definition of Programming Languages: "Lambda Bound" Winter 2013 Term 1 Course Goals     Syllabus     Notes     Assignments     Bonus Points     Piazza     Wiki     Blog

1. A bonus-point accumulating activity (BPAA) goes above and beyond the standard expectations of the course.
2. A BPAA contributes to the learning of the student who did it without detracting from others' learning. Preferably, a BPAA contributes to the entire class's learning. "Learning" is broadly defined.
3. Unless indicated otherwise (i.e., specified bonus work on assignments/projects), a BPAA is shared in some form so the whole class can benefit from its Awesomeness.

Examples of BPAAs include:

• Noting an interesting connection between course material and current events or a programming language of interest.
• Posting something especially scintillating on the discussion board, particularly if it gains acclaim from your peers.
• Following up on an open question raised during class (by searching the literature or performing experiments) and posting a summary of the results.
• Posting an insightful and entertaining parody version of a popular song that centres around programming languages concepts.
• Contributing (technically or otherwise) to the 311 wiki.
• Establishing a weekly, open 311 study period by reserving space and posting an open invitation.
• Designing and publishing a wildly successful new programming language and sharing authorship with the instructional staff.
• Posting the answers to the following silly questions: What's not_so_hidden here, and who is the GQ?

Why should you accumulate bonus points? Well, besides being good for you like spinach, bonus points lead to the following fabulous rewards:

• When you receive your first bonus point, you earn the rank of identifier and receive a mildly amusing piece of schlock you can bind bond with.
• When you receive your second bonus point, you earn the rank of expression and we evaluate your assignments without including the second lowest one. (To put it without puns, we drop another assignment mark.)
• When you receive your fourth bonus point, you earn the rank of closure and your final exam score closes 1% over what it would have been otherwise.
• When you receive your sixteenth bonus point, you earn the rank of type and your final course mark polymorph(ic)s into a new mark 1% higher.
• When you receive your sixty-fourth bonus point, you earn the coveted rank continuation for which you continue to receive schlock (but better schlock).

Finally, the class as a whole will also accumulate rewards:

• For every two bonus points we accumulate, I will donate $1 (to a maximum of $256) in the class's name to Engineers Without Borders, an organization that, like us, is committed to crossing language barriers. (Donation will occur as a unit near the end of the term.)
• If we reach 256 bonus points, I will throw an end-of-term party and perform the song of your choice (preferably an embarassing programming languages-related parody song), subject (like all of my potentially nonsensical decisions) to veto by my wife Rachel Pottinger. For examples of computer science parody songs, see my parody songs or my old grad school's CSE band.