PHY 2054 (Physics 2 without Calculus) Spring 2018
Grading Policy
Final Score Determination
Your final score is the sum of the following:
| Source | Max Points | How calculated | ||
| Exam 1 | 25 | 25 x (exam score out of 20)/20 | ||
| Exam 2 | 25 | 25 x (exam score out of 20)/20 | ||
| Exam 3 | 25 | 25 x (exam score out of 20)/20 | ||
| Quizzes | 20 | 20 x (total points/0/9/max points) * | ||
| Homework | 5 | 5 x (total points/0/9/max points) * | ||
| Total | 100 | |||
| HITT (extra credit) | 5 | 5 x (total points/0.8/max points) ** |
* Homework and quizzes have a 0.9 forgiveness factor.
**
HITT has a 0.8 forgiveness factor. HITT points are added to the total (see below).
Exams
There are a total of three exams, with the third exam at the end of semester serving as a cumulative final. The dates, times, room locations, chapter coverage and allowed materials are described on the exams page.
Exam questions will be taken from a number of sources, typically including (but not limited to!) the textbook, lectures, HITT quizzes and homework problems. Exam format is multiple choice using ScanTron sheets. The answer which you bubble in on the ScanTron is the one we grade, with no exceptions. Each exam has 20 questions.
Unless superseded by a valid excuse a missed exam will result in a zero. Valid excuses are officially sanctioned UF events, medical excuses or family emergencies. Acceptable excuses will require a coach's, doctor's or instructor sanctioned note with a verifiable contact phone number. The documentation must be provided to your instructor within 2 weeks of the missed exam or a rational reason that it will be delayed must be e-mailed along with the projected receipt date of the documentation within those 2 weeks. A valid excuse will allow you to take a make-up exam.
Students who need special accomodations due to a disability must carry out the DRC procedures described on the Course overview page.
Quizzes
Each quiz in your discussion section is typically based on (though not necessarily identical to) a homework problem from the homework turned in Monday of that week. The particular problem given in each discussion section is chosen at random and thus its difficulty will vary throughout the semester. Quizzes are given only on Tuesday or Wednesday.
You will be permitted no more than 2 documented (e.g. medical note) absences from the discussion sections, with make-ups for missed quizzes to take place at the first opportunity determined by your TA. The documentation must be provided to your TA within 1 week of the missed quiz or a rational reason that it will be delayed must be e-mailed along with the projected receipt date of the documentation to your TA within that period. All quizzes must be made up within two weeks.
Your quiz grade = 20 * (total quiz points / 0.9 / max points). The 0.9 is a "forgiveness factor" to account for bad days, etc. The maxium grade cannot exceed 20.00.
Homework
Homework is based on the ExpertTA online homework system and assignments are due Mondays at 10PM (see schedule). Each student gets a unique set of numbers for each problem. Because of the length of time each homework set is available, there are no extensions on the homework. You are strongly encouraged to start entering your answers well ahead of the deadline to avoid possible technical problems that might occur on the day the homework is due. If an unforeseen technical difficulty like a down internet connection or computer virus causes you to miss the deadline, you will not receive credit for the unfinished work.
Your homework grade = 5 * (total homework points / 0.9 / max points). The 0.9 is a "forgiveness factor" to account for bad days, etc. The maxium grade cannot exceed 5.00.
Homework and academic honesty: While we encourage students to discuss homework problems with one another, we regard it as a breach of academic honesty to get homework solutions or algorithms external sources, including websites or companies that give away or sell such solutions or algorithms (this is stated explicitly in our course Academic Honesty policy).
H-ITT extra credit
Answering questions during lectures is optional using the H-ITT response system, but can earn up to a maximum of 5 extra credit points on your grade. Note that 5 points is the difference between B+/B, B/C+, etc.
For each H-ITT question, you receive 2 points for a correct answer and 1 point for a wrong answer. When you respond to a question, your remote identification number will appear on the screen to show you that your remote is working. As shown in the above table, we calculate your HITT grade by first dividing your raw points by 0.8 to allow for absences, broken remotes, late answers, etc. However, to receive credit for your responses, your remote number must be registered. Please see the HITT page.
You can expect some technical problems during the semester such as having a dead battery in your remote (or no network service if using "SoftClick"). You are responsible for maintaining the functioning of your remote. No credit will be given for questions if you forget your remote or it is not working or you do not respond to the question in the allotted time. You may not bring anyone else's transmitter to class if that person is also taking this course. Doing so violates our academic honesty policy, and the incident will be filed with the Dean of Student's Office.
Letter Grade
Total minimal scores (after adding HITT points and truncating to 100) ensuring a particular letter-grade are shown below (grades are not rounded). Note that this scale is absolute and will not be adjusted to a curve. This ensures that there is no competition between students.
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Keeping track of your grade
You will be given your scores for each component of the course in a timely manner, and it is your responsibility to keep a record of them to know how you are doing in the course.
- Your exam scores are posted to E-Learning as soon as possible after grading, typically on the day after the exam.
- Your homework scores are posted to e-Learning after every assignment, and are also available from ExpertTA.
- Your quiz scores are on the graded quizzes, which are handed back to you in discussion section. They are also available on E-Learning. Please keep your quizzes as a reference and also in case there is a discrepancy between the score you see on E-Learning and the one on your graded paper. We cannot adjust a quiz grade without proof that the e-Learning grade is incorrect.
- Your cumulative H-ITT points are uploaded to e-Learning approximately every 1-2 weeks.