Unit 3

This section discusses blocks of code, the while loop, the if statement and the definite assignment. Try the examples.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.1.1 Blocks
• 3.1.2 The Basic While Loop
• 3.1.3 The Basic If Statement
• 3.1.4 Definite Assignment

This section takes a break from essential Java elements to discuss critical design issues in writing good programs. The 3N+1 problem illustrates the topic well. Finally, the section discusses the iterative process of coding, testing and debugging.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.2.1 Pseudocode and Stepwise Refinement
• 3.2.2 The 3N+1 Problem
• 3.2.3 Coding, Testing, Debugging

This section continues the introduction and discussion of control structures, including the while statement, the do..while loop and, finally, break and continue statements. Again, try the examples.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.3.1 The while Statement
• 3.3.2 The do..while Statement
• 3.3.3 break and continue

This section continues the control structure discussion by introducing for loops and nested for loops. An extensive example is also included that illustrates the loops very well. Try the many good examples in the textbook.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.4.1 For Loops
• 3.4.2 Example: Counting Divisors
• 3.4.3 Nested for Loops

This section revisits and extends the if statement that was introduced in subsection 3.1.3. Again, try the extensive examples that illustrate the concepts.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.5.1 The Dangling else Problem
• 3.5.2 Multiway Branching
• 3.5.3 If Statement Examples
• 3.5.4 The Empty Statement

This section introduces the switch statement, which is an elegant form of conditional branching. Concepts covered in this section include the basic switch statement, how the switch statement can be used to create menus, and other enhancements to the switch statement. Try the examples in this section.

Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.6.1 The Basic switch Statement
• 3.6.2 Menus and switch Statements
• 3.6.3 Enums in switch Statements
• 3.6.4 Definite Assignment and switch Statements
• 3.6.5 A New switch Statement Syntax

This section introduces a new and advanced Java topic, the exception. Exceptions are a very powerful form of control structure, as they can be used to process error conditions that would otherwise cause your program to crash. Instead, the try–catch structure can be used to capture and contain possible error conditions when they occur.

Read and review this section carefully, except subsection 3.7.3 on TextIO, which is not covered in the course.

• 3.7.1 Exceptions
• 3.7.2 try..catch
• 3.7.3 Exceptions in TextIO

This section introduces arrays. Arrays are excellent for storing multiple items of the same kind and represent one of the more fundamental data structures in Java. There are many object-oriented replacements for arrays in Java, but the lessons you learn about arrays serve as a foundation for all such structures. Read and review this section carefully.

• 3.8.1 Creating and Using Arrays
• 3.8.2 Arrays and For Loops
• 3.8.3 Random Access
• 3.8.4 Partially Full Arrays
• 3.8.5 Two-dimensional Arrays

GUI programming is no longer an essential Java programming practice. Therefore, this section of the textbook is not covered in the course.

• 3.9.1 Drawing Shapes
• 3.9.2 Drawing in a Program
• 3.9.3 Animation

It is a good practice to attempt the programming exercises in the textbook, to put the topics you have learned into concrete Java code. This, in turn, allows you to reflect on the material you have read. Skip any exercises relating to topics in Chapter 3 that are not covered in the course.

It is a good practice to review the chapter quizzes in the textbook, as the questions allow you to reflect on the material you have read.