To the Second Edition This book is designed both for introductory courses in computer problem solving, at the freshman and sophomore college level, and for individual self study. The first edition of this book has been used for teaching introductory classes at University of California San Diego (UCSD), University of California Irvine (UCI), and many other schools. This second edition is based on our experience using the text over the past six years with a broad range of students. We have taught the course using variations on Keller's Personalized System of Instruction (PSI). The organization of this book is conducive to this approach but does not require it. PSI methods allow slightly more material to be absorbed by the students than is the case with the traditional lecture/recitation presentation. PSI allows grading according to the number of chapter units completed. In a 10 week quarter, virtually all students who pass the course at UCSDand UCI complete the material covered in the first eleven chapters and the exercises associated with them. A substantial portion complete the entire fifteen chapters. For a conventional presentation under the semester system, the 15 chapters should present an appropriate amount of material for the average student.

This book is designed both for introductory courses in computer problem solving, at the freshman and sophomore college level, and for individual self study. An earlier version of the book has been used seven times for teaching large introductory classes at University of California San Diego (UCSD). This preface is intended for the instructor, or for anyone sophisticated enough in contemporary computing practice to be able to advise the prospective student. The amount of material presented has been completed by about 55 percent of all students taking the course, where UCSD schedules 10 weeks of classes in a quarter. We have taught the course using Keller's Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), though the organization of the book does not require that plan to be used. PSI methods allow slightly more material to be absorbed by the students than is the case with the traditional lecture/recitation presentation. PSI allows grading according to the number of chapter units completed. Virtually all students who pass the course at UCSD do complete the first ten essential chapters and the Exercises associated with them. For a conventional presentation under the semester system, the 15 chapters should present an appropriate amount of material. For a conventional course under the quarter system, one might not expect to complete more than the first 12 chapters except on an extra credit basis.

Using a question-answer, trial-error format, the authors make a student a participant in developing programs. The basic approach of the text is to present a real problem, interact with the student in writing a program to solve that problem, and then ask the student to solve a similar problem as an assignment.

This book is designed both for introductory courses in computer problem solving, at the freshman and sophomore college level, and for individual self study. An earlier version of the book has been used seven times for teaching large introductory classes at University of California San Diego (UCSD). This preface is intended for the instructor, or for anyone sophisticated enough in contemporary computing practice to be able to advise the prospective student. The amount of material presented has been completed by about 55 percent of all students taking the course, where UCSD schedules 10 weeks of classes in a quarter. We have taught the course using Keller's Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), though the organization of the book does not require that plan to be used. PSI methods allow slightly more material to be absorbed by the students than is the case with the traditional lecture/recitation presentation. PSI allows grading according to the number of chapter units completed. Virtually all students who pass the course at UCSD do complete the first ten essential chapters and the Exercises associated with them. For a conventional presentation under the semester system, the 15 chapters should present an appropriate amount of material. For a conventional course under the quarter system, one might not expect to complete more than the first 12 chapters except on an extra credit basis.