Physics & Astronomy 107 Grading Policy

Grading will be done on the plus-minus system (A,A-,B+ etc.).
There will be a participation grade (13%), quizzes (in-class, 14%), two Big Quizzes (14% each) and a
comprehensive final examination (45%).  Participation is based on clicker and participation points (5%)
and homework (8%).  Pre-tests give bonuses on quizzes, Big Quizzes and the final.  Taking a quiz gives a
bonus participation point.  Bonus participation points can
also be awarded by the instructor for contributing to the class.  Homework grades are scaled by the
percentage of problems attempted, plus an extra two points for getting a randomly selected
problem done correctly.  The selected problem will be announced for each homework set
after that homework is collected.

TEST/QUIZ POLICY: Once you leave the room, you cannot come back in. Go to the bathroom beforehand.
Big Quizzes and the final exam are required!  
Makeup tests (with excused absences) may be oral, at instructor's discretion. 

This class is graded on a curve.  However, as a ROUGH guideline,
maximum percentage requirements for letter grades are
A     85
A-    80
B+  75
B     70
B-    65
C+  60
C     55
C-    50
D+  45
D     40
D-    35
I reserve the right to relax the grading standards. Remember that random guessing and full attendance will get you about 30%.  To pass the course, you have to show that you learned something.  Grades will be curved.

     Benefit of the doubt: If your participation grade (homework, clicker points etc. and extra credit)
is at least 90%, you show other evidence of trying (not missing many quizzes and
making an effort on the pre-tests) and you show a MAJOR improvement over the semester,
I reserve the right to give you  the benefit of the doubt and raise your grade if you are borderline
between two grades. 


If you attend every class, participate
in everything, just guess on the quizzes, Big Quizzes and final and do all the extra
credit you'll have about 30-32%.  If you miss many classes, then
it will get harder to get the same grade as if you had shown up.
To pass the course, you'll have to show me that you learned something
-- which is above and beyond the score you'd get from just guessing.
Note that with multiple choice tests, guessing randomly will result in a score
of about 15-20%.  Missing a quiz will result in a score of zero.  Therefore,
missing class (and thus quizzes) will substantially hurt your quiz scores and
also your participation grade -- not to mention missing material presented in
class which is not in the book.  Guessing is always better than leaving a blank.

If you:
1) attend all the lectures
2) take all the pre-tests and quizzes and know how to do the problems (afterward if not before!)
3) participate with your clicker and do any extra credit assignments
4) work with someone else in the class on the homework problems and
know how to do all the homework problems (afterward if not before!)
5) use AceAstronomy to pre-test yourself to know your weak spots, and
use the exercises to strengthen your grasp of the material
6) look over the unassigned homework problems and know how to answer the qualitative ones and how to approach the quantitative problems
7) go to the REACH center or get math tutoring if you have problems with the math
8) come and see the instructor or the TA when all else fails
then you will very likely get a decent grade (not guaranteed an A, but
you should do respectably well).


If you have more questions, see frequently asked ones here.