University of Wisconsin-Madison

In Fall 2010 we are trying out a new textbook. Unfortunately, CS 202 does not match any textbook perfectly, but this is the most appropriate one we have found so far. This book is only recommended and not required. If you like learning from a textbook, this book is a good one to review for material you may not have completely understood, to catch up on any lectures you may have missed, or to read for extra information. We will not assign material that only appears in the textbook. The book will not help you learn Scratch.

Title: Invitation to Computer Science (5th Edition)
Authors G. Michael Schneider and Judith L. Gersting
Publisher Course Technology, CENGAGE Learning 2010

In general, the best way to obtain the information for CS 202 is to attend class! In class, you will interactively design (pencil and paper) algorithms with your peers, see Scratch code being developed, and watch a few videos. Class attendence is expected and strongly encouraged.

If you are interested in more reading about general computer science, we highly recommend the following books:

Inexpensive Paperbacks, General Science

• Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold, 2000, Microsoft Press
• The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work, by W. Daniel Hillis, 1998, Basic Books
• The New Turing Omnibus: 66 Excursions in Computer Science, by A.K. Dewdney, First Owl Books, 2001

Textbooks

• Great Ideas in Computer Science: A Gentle Introduction, Alan Biermann, Second Edition, 1997, MIT Press

Computing History: Fact and Fiction

• Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder
• Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson