PHY 2049 - Physics 2 with Calculus - Fall 2017



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: up to 5 points
  • 10 weekly discussion session quizzes: up to 20 points
  • HITT-based quizzes: 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 (one point per problem; no penalty for wrong answers). Therefore, you can earn as many as 20 points on each exam. The earned exam score will be calculated using the following formula:

[EXAM Score] = fE x 25,

where fE = (number of correctly answered questions) / (number of problems on the exam, i.e. 20)

Therefore, each exam will count up to maximum 25 points toward your final grade.

Should you miss any of the three exams for a legitimate and documented reason, we will offer a make-up exam within 10 days of the missed exam. If you also miss the make-up exam, you have the possibility to take the final make-up which 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 which you can access through Canvas-elearning.
  • The schedule of 13 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. Enter your final answer with at least three significant digits.

  • The due date and time are on Tuesdays at 10:00 pm unless otherwise noted on the Course Schedule. 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 (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.

  • The earned homework score will be calculated using the following formula:

[Final HW Score] = fH = 0.05* (HW points) / (max HW points*0.9)

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

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.

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

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

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 will be made by your TA. 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 will be allowed during the last week of the course. Students can make up no more than 2 quizzes.

HITT quick quizzes


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.

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.

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.).

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