Each
exam (midterms and final exam) will be curved. That means that
whoever gets the highest score will get the highest grade (you don't have to score 100% to
get an "A", just be in the top group of the class.) All other letter
grades will be assigned according to a traditional grading scheme with four
(4) point score brackets. For example:
If the highest score in the class is 94, then:
highest score = 94 = A
94 - 4 = 90 = A
90 - 4 = 86 = A-
86 - 4 = 82 = B+
82 - 4 = 78 = B
78 - 4 = 74 = B-
74 - 4 = 70 = C+
70 - 4 = 66 = C
66 - 4 = 62 = C-
62 - 4 = 58 = D
58 - 4 = 54 = F
The
accumulated score of all the quizzes will be curved. It is very complicated to
assign an individual letter grade to each quiz and then compute that into the final
grade. Although I will score each quiz and keep a record of this information I won't post
the scores on-line nor will I e-mail them. I recommend you check your choice of answers against the answer
key (that way you can see your possible mistakes and go over the material) and occasionally drop by my office to
make sure your numbers coincide with mine.
For each quiz I will post on the website the average, highest and
lowest grade so you can get an idea about where you stand with respect to the rest of the
class.
The
final grade is computed by weighting each exam, plus quizzes, according to the following
scale contained on the syllabus:
On-line quizzes: 15%
1st Midterm Exam: 15%
2nd Midterm Exam: 15%
3rd Midterm Exam: 15%
4th Midterm Exam: 15%
Final Exam: 25%
In order to weigh in each partial letter grade into the final course grade I need to transform the letter grades into numbers. That is done according to this schedule:
A = 10
A- = 9
B+ = 8
B = 7
B- = 6
C+ = 5
C = 4
C- = 3
D = 2
F = 0
Numerical example:
First midterm exam: B = 7
Second midterm exam: B = 7
Third midterm exam: A- = 9
Fourth midterm exam: B+ = 8
Final exam: A- = 9
Quiz grade: B+ = 8
Total Grade: (0.15*7) + (0.15*7) + (0.15*9) + (0.15*8) + (0.25*9) + (0.15*8) = 8 = B+
Important Notices:
The "extra credit" opportunities available throughout the semester will be used to round up the final grade. If the final grade for the course were to fall right in between letter grades, the extra credit opportunities would be used to determine whether or not to "bump up" the final letter grade.
Since the final exam is cumulative no passing grade for the whole course will be assigned to anyone with F grades in the final exam and any two of the four midterm exams. This precludes the possibility of compensating F grades in what would amount to 55% of the final grade with high grades on both on-line quizzes and the remaining midterms. Such a possibility will be logically inconsistent and therefore must be prevented.
In order to receive a final grade on the on-line quizzes all the seven of them must be completed and submitted ahead of their individual deadlines. Missing the deadline for one on-line quiz will automatically generate a score of zero on that quiz. Missing the deadline on more than one quiz will generate a non-passing grade on this component of the final grade, therefore dragging down the overall grade for the course.
Extra
credit opportunities are at the discretion of the instructor and under no
circumstances will be given on an individual basis.
