PHY 2048 - Physics 1 with Calculus - Spring 2016



GRADING POLICY



Final Score Determination


Your final score (100 points max) is the sum of the following:
  • three exams: up to 25 points each, 75 points total
  • 13 weekly HW assignments (HW1 does not count) : up to 5 points
  • 10 weekly discussion session quizzes (Quiz 1 does not count): up to 20 points combined
  • HITT/Participation points: up to 5 BONUS points

Exams


During the semester, there will be two mid-term and one final exams. Each exam will have 20 multiple choice problems (1.25 points per problem; no penalty for wrong answers). Therefore, you can earn as many as 25 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. Serious illness or a University sanctioned excused absence qualify, poor performance on an exam does not. To qualify for taking the make-up you must make an arrangement with the instructors no later than within one week after the missed exam (unless there are very special circumstances). The make-up will be offered at the end of the semester; it will be a cumulative exam based on the entire course material.

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 13 weekly graded homework assignments (plus one that does not count) 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. Enter your final answer with at least three significant digits.

  • The due date and time are on Saturdays at 10:00 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.

  • The zeroth homework assignment ("HW1") is only for practice and will not count in the grading.

    • To provide some (10%) forgiveness for illnesses and other challenges that life may throw at you, this total score will be divided by 0.9 at the end of the semester. (If the score exceeds 5, it will be truncated at 5.)

    [Final HW Score] = [ Sum of 13 HW Scores ] / ( 0.9 x [Max possible HW points] ) x 5.

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 10-point scale, with a one-point step.
  • The schedule of quizzes is given at Course Schedule. Note that there are no quizzes some weeks, and Quiz 1 does not enter the total.

  • Make-ups for the missed quizzes 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 (unless there are very special circumstances). No make-ups will be allowed after that. No make-ups are allowed after the final Students can make up no more than 2 quizzes.

  • The Quiz 1 does not count towards the total.
  • We will ensure that the different Teaching Assistants score their quizzes equitably.

  • To provide some (10%) forgiveness for illnesses and other challenges that life may throw at you, this total score will be divided by 0.9 at the end of the semester. (If the score exceeds 20, it will be truncated at 20.)

    [Final Quiz Score] = [ Sum of 10 Quiz Scores ] / ( 0.9 x (10x10) ) x 20.

HITT quizzes & Other participation points


During lectures, you will be given 1-2 minute quizzes that you should answer using your 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. Number of quizzes per lecture will vary; so will the time during lectures when quizzes are administered.

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 HITT quiz score will be calculated as follows:

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

If the score exceeds 5, it will be truncated at 5. We will start counting HITT points on Sept


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