GRADING POLICY

Grades:

Your grade will be based on the best 4 of the following 5 scores (scaled to 100 points each):

Labs (lowest 2 scores dropped), Midterm 1, Midterm 2, Final, Final

For example, if you do poorly on one of the midterms (and well on everything else), then that midterm doesn't count. Note that the final counts twice, so that a poor final still counts (at least) once.

However, please note that your recitation grade can not be used to pull up very poor exam results: To pass the course, you must have a passing average on the exams, and to obtain a course grade of C or better you must have at least a C average on the exams. (The lowest of the 4 exam scores listed above is dropped when computing this average.)

Homework:

Except during exam weeks, several homework problems will be assigned at the beginning of each week. You should bring your written solutions to the recitation period. Usually, only one of these problems will actually be graded, although you may lose points for not turning them all in. Your overall homework score counts as the equivalent of a single lab.

Recitations:

Except during exam weeks, there will usually be a "lab" during recitation. These labs involve group work followed by an individual write-up, which can not usually be completed during recitation, and which is normally due the following day.

Credit is only possible if you are actually present during recitation.

Exams:
There will be 2 midterms and a final. All exams will be closed book; the use of (both sides of) a 3×5 index card of notes is permitted. The final is comprehensive, and will be roughly 50% on old material and roughly 50% on new material.
(The index cards are cumulative: you may bring all previous cards to all exams. For the final, instead of 3 index cards, you may substitute one side of an 8½×11 sheet of paper.)

Absences:
Absences for whatever reason are normally covered by the ability to drop the lowest exam and recitation grades. If you are absent from more than the allowed number of exams, you will normally receive a grade of I (incomplete), which would be made up by taking the appropriate exam(s) the next time the course is offered. If you miss more than the allowed number of labs, this will simply reduce your recitation score, possibly to the point where it will be the score dropped rather than your lowest exam.

Please note that missing the final automatically results in a grade of I.
(If you are not doing passing work otherwise, missing the final results in a grade of F.)

Makeups:
Makeup exams will only be given in truly exceptional cases. There will be no makeup labs.
(However, it is often possible to arrange to take a lab in another section the same day.)