MDEV 127

Fall 2010

Grading Scales

Notes: 

Labs: 

There will be a total of about 23 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 a total of about 23 homework assignments.  I will keep the best 18 scores.  Homework will not be accepted after the due date and time.

There will be homework due almost every lecture day.  Homework is due by the time that I start grading the homework.  Late homework will not be accepted for any reason.  I will generally start grading at 1:30 pm.  Homework may be submitted early if you know that you will be gone.  It may also be submitted by a friend/spouse/roommate/etc., who may slide it under my office door (MA 375B).  (Note:  Do not put anything in my mailbox in the math department!)

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, so each homework assignment will be recorded out of 20 points.

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.

My standard practice when I teach more than one section of a course is to allow students to take the final exam with either section that I teach.  This semester I am teaching three sections of this course. Therefore, this semester you will have three different time slots to choose from for the final exam - at least one of which you are guaranteed not to have a time conflict with another class for, since it is a time set aside for your section.  You may take the final exam at any one of these three times times.  I will not give any final exam at any other time for any reason other than a serious illness that requires you to miss the entire week.  If you have a conflict with the time scheduled for your section due to work or athletic schedules, I expect you to take the exam during one of the other three available times.  I will pass out a sign-up sheet near the end of the semester for you to tell me which time you will be taking the final exam.  The times are given on the exam page.

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.  See the attendance policy in the syllabus for more detailed information.

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