Computer Science Using C++ Chapter Objectives

adapted from the textbook, Introduction to Computer Science Using C++, written by Todd Knowlton and published by South-Western Education Publishing


Chapter 1    Introduction to Computers

1. Understand the history of computers.

2. Understand the components that make up a typical desktop computer.

3. Understand the basics of microcomputer architecture.

Chapter 2    How Computers are Programmed

1. Explain how data and instructions are represented inside the computer.

2. Compute decimal equivalents of binary numbers.

3. Identify & list the differences between high- and low-level computer languages as well as examples of each.

4. Explain & diagram the roles of interpreters, compilers, & linkers.

5. Understand the role of an operating system.

6. List & describe the 5 steps of the programming process.

Chapter 3    Compiling and Running a C++ Program

1. Use the MS Visual C++ compiler to enter, compile, link, debug, and execute C++ source code.

Chapter 4    Variables and Constants

1. Understand the different variable types used in C++.

2. Be able to write declaration statements that declare variables. Also be able to write initialization statements that initialize variables.

3. Explain the use of constants and how they differ from variables.

4. List and explain the 5 steps of the Programming Process.

5. Explain and appreciate the importance of using good C++ coding style.

Chapter 5    Math Operations

1. Use the arithmetic operators.

2. Increment and decrement variables.

3. Understand the order of operations.

4. Use mixed data types.

5. Avoid overflow, underflow, and floating-point errors.

Chapter 6    Strings and Screen I/O

1. Understand C++ strings.

2. Use character arrays.

3. Use console I/O for input and output.

Chapter 7    Decision Making in Programs

1. Understand how decisions are made in programs.

2. Understand how true and false is represented in C++.

3. Use relational operators.

4. Use logical operators.

5. Use the if structure.

6. Use the if/else structure.

7. Use nested if structures.

8. Use the switch structure.

Chapter 8    Loops

1. Explain the importance of loops in programs.

2. Use for loops.

3. Use while loops.

4. Use do while loops.

5. Use the break and continue statements.

6. Nest loops.

Chapter 9    Functions

1. Learn how to build structured programs that are divided into functions.

2. Understand what is meant by the phrase "scope of variables."

3. Understand how data is passed to functions.

4. Learn how to use the library functions that are included with the compiler.

Chapter 10    Pointers, enum, and Structures

1. Understand the basics of pointers.

2. Declare pointers.

3. Use the address-of and dereferencing operators.

4. Use pointers with character arrays.

5. Use subscript notation.

6. Use enum.

7. Understand what structures are and how to use them.

Chapter 11    Data File Basics

1. Understand the uses for data files.

2. Understand the difference between sequential-access and random-access data files.

3. Open and close data files.

4. Write to data files.

5. Read from data files.

6. Add to the end of a data file.

7. Detect the end of a file.

8. Use multiple data files at the same time.

9. Prompt the user for file names.

Chapter 12    Object-Oriented Programming

1. Understand the difference between procedural programming and object-oriented programming.

2. Understand the principles of object-oriented programming.

3. Learn how to read classes and use objects in C++.

4. Understand how objects help programmers reuse code.

5. Understand containment and inheritance in C++ object-oriented programming.

Chapter 13    String Functions and Using a String Class

1. Understand various string functions and how to use them.

2. Learn how to use a basic string class.

3. Learn how to modify the string class to convert strings to numbers.

4. Understand advanced object-oriented concepts used in the string class.

Chapter 14    Arrays, Templates, and Vectors

1. Use one-dimensional arrays.

2. Understand templates, template classes, and template functions.

3. Use a vector class.

Chapter 15    Multi-Dimensional Arrays and Matrices

1. Use parallel arrays.

2. Use multi-dimensional arrays.

3. Use the sizeof operator.

4. Use a matrix class.

Chapter 16    Introduction to Linked Lists

1. Understand the differences between static and dynamic data structures.

2. Declare and initialize linked list nodes.

3. Add nodes to the end of a linked list.

4. Move through the nodes of a linked list.

5. Dispose of a linked list.

6. Insert nodes into a linked list.

7. Delete nodes from a linked list.

8. Save a linked list to disk.

9. Understand doubly-linked lists.

10. Understand circularly-linked lists.

Chapter 17    Stacks, Queues, and Trees

1. Understand stacks.

2. Understand the way stacks can be implemented.

3. Use a stack class.

4. Understand queues.

5. Understand how a queue can be implemented with a linked list.

6. Use a queue class.

7. Understand binary trees.

Chapter 18    Recursion and Searching

1. Understand recursion.

2. Understand sequential searching.

3. Understand binary searching.

4. Search binary trees.

5. Traverse binary trees.

6. Understand hashing.

Chapter 19    Sorting

1. Understand the basics of sorting.

2. Understand the selection sort.

3. Understand the insertion sort.

4. Understand the bubble sort.

5. Understand the Shell sort.

6. Understand the quick sort.

7. Understand the merge sort.

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