From my perspective, how much you learn is more important than how high your grade is, although I realize that some students
are more concerned with the grade. The courses I teach provide basic knowledge and skills that you may use for the rest of
your life, and/or provide a foundation upon which to build a career. I am confident if you focus on learning as much
as you can in my class, your grade will be fine.
Having said that, you should still know how
your grade is calculated. Your final grade will be based on a weighted average of your grade for the first nine weeks,
your grade for the second nine weeks, and your grade on the final exam. The weights for each grade are:
| | First Nine Weeks
| 45% |
| | Second Nine Weeks
| 45% |
| | Final Exam
| 10% |
For each nine week grading period, your grade will be determined by a weighted average as indicated below (
subject
to changes as necessary). Please keep in mind that within each of these categories, some assignments may be weighted
more than others (ex., a 100 question, cumulative test near the end of the nine weeks may count more than a 25 question
test half way through the nine weeks).
| Class Work | 60% |
| | Tests/Exams/Projects
| 40% |
For most assignments (not quizzes, tests, and exams), a grade of FIVE means the student has FIVE days to FIX
the assignment. The grade of FIVE indicates the assignment has one or more significant
errors, or in some way is incomplete or incorrect. Students are required to identify and correct all errors, and then notify
the teacher that the assignment is ready to be regraded.
This simulates the environment in much
of the work world (i.e., when your boss gives you a task, you have to finish it, and it needs to be done right, you won't
keep your job long by doing the easy 70% and ignoring the rest of the task).
If an assignment
is completed (including all corrections) significantly after the original due date, a late penalty of 30 points may be imposed. Typically, no penalty is associated with the first regrade, but subsequent regrades may incur a 25
point penalty for each regrade.
Some class assignments and projects,
both individual and group, may have a separate rubric which will be provided to students when needed.
