Math 099
Fall 2005
Grading Tables
Labs: There will be a total of at least 24 lab assignments. I will keep the best 18 scores. Labs can not be made up if you miss class. Each lab is worth the same as every other lab assignment.
In grading the lab, I initially give each problem however many points I think is reasonable given its difficulty and appropriateness for partial credit. I grade about half of each problem type - whichever half you get right. For example, if #4 on a lab has parts (a) through (g) where each part is asking a similar question (that is, testing the same skill or idea), then I will likely grade four of the seven parts, whichever four that you, as an individual, get right. As a result, when doing the labs, you need to make sure that you get through the entire lab, even if it means skipping some parts early on so that you can get to the end. Then go back and finish the problems that you skipped towards the end of class. When the entire lab is graded, I then scale it to a 10 point scale. In particular, I take the quotient (your total)/(total possible), and then multiply by 10. If the decimal part starts with a 2 or higher, I round up. If the decimal part starts with a zero or a one, I round down.
Homework: There will be homework due every day (including the days of the exams, but excluding the day after an exam). Homework is due by 3:00 pm, or by whenever I start grading the homework, whichever is later. Late homework will be accepted with a penalty of 20% of the grade per weekday late. The penalty applies regardless of why the homework is late. Homework may be submitted early if you know you'll be gone. It may also be submitted by a friend/spouse/roommate/etc., who may slide it under my office door (MA 342).
In grading the homework, I assign two grades. The first I call the 'completion' grade - if you've tried all of the problems, regardless of whether or not you've finished them, you'll get full credit for this part. The second grade I call the 'accuracy' grade. I select a few random problems and grade those. The homework grade is the sum of the two grades.
Exams: Each hour exam covers the material since the last exam.
Final Exam: The final is comprehensive. I will write it so that it is 50% longer than a regular exam. However, I'll give you up to two and a half hours to take the final.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. If you have more than five unexcused absences during the term, for each absence past the fifth you final course grade will be lowered by 2%. In addition to this outright penalty, missing class will likely mean that you won't understand the material as well as you should and your homework, lab, and exam grades will likely suffer as well. Missing class is strongly discouraged.
| Percent of Course Grade | |
| Labs | 15% |
| Homework | 15% |
|
Exam 1 |
14% |
| Exam 2 | 14% |
| Exam 3 | 14% |
| Exam 4 | 14% |
| Final | 14% |
|
Grading Scale |
|
| Grade | Percent |
| A+ | 98% and higher |
| A | 91%-97% |
| A- | 90% |
| B+ | 88%-89% |
| B | 81%-87% |
| B- | 80% |
| C+ | 78%-79% |
| C | 71%-77% |
| C- | 70% |
| D+ | 68%-69% |
| D | 61%-67% |
| D- | 60% |
| F | 59% and lower |
Number of Hits
