Flowcharts and Pseudocode

Flowcharts and Pseudocode

Flowcharts and pseudocode are two ways to design program logic before writing executable code.

This page explains how to think about the tools. It intentionally does not provide a completed paycheck-calculator solution.

Flowcharts

A flowchart represents program flow visually.

For this assignment, the Guidelines and Rubric requires appropriate symbols and arrows for:

• Start and end points
• Input and output
• Decision branching
• Processing steps

A decision creates multiple possible paths. The arrows should make it clear where each path goes and how the paths continue toward the end of the program.

Use the Template Tabs

Open design/paycheck_calculator.drawio and use:

• Paycheck Calculator — your work page
• README — template instructions
• Symbols — approved symbol examples
• Snippets — examples of common flowchart constructs
• References — sources behind the template conventions

The Symbols and Snippets tabs are references, not pieces of a completed answer. Choose and arrange the items that match your own design.

Pseudocode

Pseudocode describes program logic in structured plain language.

Good pseudocode is:

• Ordered
• Readable
• Indented to show structure
• Detailed enough to guide later coding
• Independent of exact Python syntax

The assignment asks you to use appropriate keywords such as IF, ELSE, and LET where they fit your solution.

Keep the Two Designs Consistent

A useful review technique is to trace both artifacts from beginning to end and ask:

• Do they request the same input?
• Do they make the same decision?
• Do they perform the same work on each path?
• Do they produce the same output?

If the answers differ, revise the designs before submitting.

Ask for Help Without Asking for the Answer

Good questions focus on a concept or tool, for example:

• Which symbol type represents a decision?
• How does indentation show an IF branch in pseudocode?
• Why does the 40-hour boundary need special attention?
• How do I connect two shapes in Draw.io?

Do not ask someone to create the completed flowchart or pseudocode for you. The design itself is the graded work you are practicing.