PHY 2048 - Physics I with Calculus - Fall 2013



GRADING POLICY


Final Score Determination


Your final score (100 points max) is the sum of the following:
  • weekly homework: up to 20 points
  • discussion section quizzes: up to 20 points
  • three exams: up to 20 points each
  • HITT-based quizzes: up to 5 bonus points

Homework


The homework assignments are administered via the WileyPlus online system. You must purchase your personal WileyPlus access code and register at the WileyPlus website.
  • The schedule of weekly homework assignments is given at Course Schedule.

  • You must click the Submit Answer button for the system to record your response. The HW system will provide you with instant feedback on whether or not your answer is correct, and you will be permitted five tries (until the due date/time) to get the answer right, and receive credit. To be accepted, your answer should be within ±2% from the correct one. Do not round off numbers in the intermediate calculations to avoid the loss of the precision.

  • The due date and time are on Sundays at 6:00 pm. You will not be able to submit your homework past the deadline, regardless of the reason (participation in various events, sickness, computer system freeze, loss of internet connection, etc.). No make-ups for the missed homework assignments are possible.

  • To provide some forgiveness for illnesses and possible network problems, we allow for 10% of incomplete HW assignments. Your final HW score will be calculated as follows:

    [HW score] = [your total HW points] / ( 0.9 x [max possible HW points] ) x 20.

    If the score exceeds 20, it will be truncated at 20.

Discussion section quizzes


During the discussion sections, you will be given 15-min quizzes with a problem very similar to one of those from the preceding HW assignments. Each quiz is graded on the 5-point scale, with half-a-point step.
  • The schedule of quizes is given at Course Schedule.

  • Make-ups for the missed are possible only if you have a legitimate and documented excuse. The decision on whether the excuse is acceptable or not will be taken by one of the lecturers. Make-ups must be arranged with your TA no later than within one week after the missed quiz and the make-up quiz should be taken no later than within three weeks, if circumstances allow for it. No make-ups will be allowed after that. Students can make up no more than 2 quizzes.

  • We also use an overall 10% forgiveness for missed quizzes that could not be made up. Your final discussion section quiz score will be calculated as follows:

    [Quiz score] = [your total Quiz points] / ( 0.9 x [max possible Quiz points] ) x 20.

    If the score exceeds 20, it will be truncated at 20.

Exams


During the semester, there will be two mid-term and one final exams. Each exam will have 20 multiple choice problems (one point per problem; no penalty for wrong answers). Therefore, you can earn as many as 20 points on each exam.

Should you have to miss any of the three exams for a legitimate and documented reason, one and only one make-up is possible. The make-up will be offered at the end of the semester; it will be a cumulative exam based on the entire course material.

HITT quick quizzes


During lectures, you will be given 1-2 minute quizzes that you should answer using the HITT remote control. The HITT quizzes will allow you to earn up to 5 bonus points. Each quiz is graded on the 2-point scale: 2 points for the right answer, 1 point for wrong answers, and 0 for no answer.

No make-ups for the missed HITT quizzes will be possible, regardless of the reason (participation in various events, sickness, forgotten or malfunctioning HITT remote control, etc.).

We will apply an overall 20% forgiveness for missed HITT quizzes. Your final discussion section quiz score will be calculated as follows:

[HITT score] = [your total HITT points] / ( 0.8 x [max possible HITTpoints] ) x 5.

If the score exceeds 5, it will be truncated at 5.

Letter Grade

Total minimal scores (out of 100 points) ensuring a particular letter-grade are shown below. None of the scores will be rounded. The scale is absolute and will not be adjusted to a curve; hence, there is no competition between students.

Grade Required score (out of 100)
A ≥ 85
A- ≥ 80
B+ ≥ 75
B ≥ 70
B- ≥ 65
C+ ≥ 60
C ≥ 55
C- ≥ 50
D+ ≥ 45
D ≥ 40
D- ≥ 35