Grading Scheme

There will the three tests and a final examination. Each test is worth 100 points, and the final is worth 200 points. All tests and the final examination are required. However, if it helps your grade, I will drop your lowest test score.

The tests will be on Wednesday, September 14; Wednesday, October 12; and Wednesday, November 9.

There will be required daily homework assigments, usually due at the beginning of each class period (other than test days). In total the daily assignments are worth 100 points, as much as one test.

Your test, exam, and homework scores will be added together, and the total (out of 600 if all your tests count, and out of 500 if one of your tests is dropped) will be converted to a percentage score. The cutoffs of 90%, 80%, 70%, and 60% for A, B, C, and D are guaranteed, but the cutoffs can be lowered if the class average warrants it.

Examples

Alice gets 88 on test 1, 87 on test 2, 72 on test 3, and 89 on her daily homework. Her final exam score is 186. Her total counting all three tests is 522 out of 600, or 87%. Her total counting only her best two tests is 450 out of 500, or 90%. So one of her test scores is dropped, her final grade is 90%, and she receives an A.

Bob gets 95 on test 1, 94 on test 2, 95 on test 3, and 68 on his daily homework. His final exam score is 188. His total counting all three tests is 540 out of 600, or 90%. His total counting only his best two tests is 446 out of 500, or 89%. So all three of his test scores count, his final grade is 90%, and he receives an A.

Other information

Homework: Expect to spend at least two hours outside class working on this course for every class period. You will want to review the lectures, read the text, and do the (require) homework problems. The daily homework problems will not all be graded, but typically 3 to 5 per week will be chosen at random and graded, so you really need to do them all. Late homework will not be accepted. Please staple all multi-page assignments.

Tests: There will be no makeup tests. Please note that the final examination is scheduled for Friday, 9 December, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. It will not be given at any time, so do not make travel plans which would take you away from Tucson at that time.

Students who require reasonable accommodations based on disability: Students planning to use accomodations for testing in this course need to provide the instructor with a letter of identification from the Disability Resource Center by September 2nd.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend every scheduled class, and to be familiar with the University Class Attendance policy as it appears in the General Catalog. It is the student's responsibility to keep informed of any announcements, syllabus adjustments or policy changes made during scheduled classes.