Instruction

CS3300/CS6375 Introduction to Python Programming for Data Analytics

Author

Yike Zhang

Published

January 5, 2026

Assignments

Assignments will be evaluated based on the correctness of solutions, clarity and completeness of explanations, and adherence to the stated assignment guidelines and learning objectives. Detailed grading criteria may be provided in advance through the assignment instructions or rubric. Unless otherwise specified in an individual assignment rubric, grading will follow the policies outlined in the course syllabus, available here:

Discussions are graded using criteria that differ from other question/answer types. Please refer to the Discussions section for the detailed grading rubric. For multi-choice/close-end questions, the grading is straightforward as correct answers receives full points, while incorrect answers receive zero points. For open-ended questions in exam and/or assignments and project presentation Q&A sessions, responses will be evaluated using the following five levels for grading rubric. For example, in questions that are worth a total of 10 points, the instructor will apply the following guidelines:

  • No Answer / Not Relevant at All: 0 points
  • Partially Correct / Incomplete Answer: 3 points
  • Half Correct / Partially Complete Answer: 5 points
  • Mostly Correct / Nearly Complete Answer: 8 points
  • Fully Correct / Complete Answer: 10 points

Overall, I try not to give out zero points unless the answer is completely irrelevant to the question or simply missing. As an instructor, I aim to encourage students to write down the answers to the best of their knowledge for credits. If the total points of a question is not 10, I will typically scale the points accordingly. For example, for a question that is worth 6 points, a “Mostly Correct / Nearly Complete Answer” will receive 4.8 points (8 * 6 / 10 = 4.8). For a question that is worth 20 points, a “Partially Correct / Incomplete Answer” will receive 6 points (3 * 20 / 10 = 6). For a question that is worth 15 points, a “Half Correct / Partially Complete Answer” will receive 7.5 points (5 * 15 / 10 = 7.5). Other specific grading rubrics may vary for different assignments and exams; however, they will be clearly communicated in advance.

Assignments following each course session may include, but are not limited to, the following components:

  • General Homework assignments
  • Recap Questions on Canvas
  • In-class quick quiz handouts

Discussions

There will be two discussion assignments scheduled throughout the semester. The deadline for all discussions is April 29. Students are responsible for noting this date and monitoring the Canvas To-Do list for reminders. The discussion grading policy is outlined in the course syllabus and can be found here.

Discussion assignments are typically worth 40 points (up to 10 extra points), and their grading rubric differs significantly from that of other question/answer types. The grading of discussions generally includes the following criteria:

  • Length of the Initial Post (20 points): Students are expected to write a minimum of 250 words for their initial post. Posts below the word requirement will only receive half credit (10 points).
  • Quality of Initial Post (20 points): The initial post should show a good understanding of the topic, provide relevant insights, and be well-structured. Points will be awarded based on depth of analysis, clarity of expression and organization, and relevance to the discussion topic. Well-rounded and clearly structured written posts will earn full credit; otherwise, points will be deducted based on the quality of the post.
  • Engagement with Peers (Earn Extra Points Opportunity): Students are encouraged to respond to at least one peer’s post. Responses should be thoughtful, respectful, relevant, and contribute meaningfully to the discussion (e.g., asking questions, offering insights and thoughts, expanding on ideas). All repsonses should be made before the discussion deadline, and any responses made after the that will not be considered for earning the additional credit. Five extra points will be given based on each interaction with peers. Up to a total of 10 extra points can be earned for engaging with multiple peers.

Exams

This course includes the following exams: Coding Quiz I, Coding Quiz II, Midterm Exam, and Final Exam. Coding Quiz I and II will be administered in person and on paper. A review sheet/topic list outlining the covered topics will be released prior to each quiz to help students prepare.

The Midterm Exam and Final Exam will be administered online using the LockDown Browser. Students are not required to attend class in person for these exams; however, they must join the designated Zoom session while taking the exam. The camera must remain on for the entire duration of the exam.

For the Midterm and Final Exams, questions will be drawn from the recap questions provided throughout the course. Students are strongly encouraged to review these materials in advance.

Project

Students are required to complete three mini Python projects throughout the semester and present their work to the whole class via Zoom. Each student will be allotted 5 minutes to present their code and demonstrate its functionality live, similar to a technical interview setting. Presentation slides are not required. Students should focus on clearly explaining their code and running their working code in real time during the Zoom presentation.

Final project requirements differ for undergraduate and graduate students. Detailed information, including topic selection and presentation expectations, is available here.

How to submit assignments

Assignments are typically submitted through Canvas in the form of Python files (.py or .ipynb). In-class handouts are submitted directly to the instructor at the conclusion of the class session.

For handwritten assignments, students are responsible for ensuring that all responses are clear and legible. Illegible work that cannot be reasonably interpreted by the instructor may receive no credit. Writing a little more slowly can help improve handwriting clarity and readability.