Grading Policy

There is no curve in the course. Many of the points in the course are "automatic" in the sense that you get points for attempting an experiment, regardless of how well you perform. Everyone should be able to earn all of these points. In addition you need to earn "discretionary" points (points that reflect your effort and how well you understand the material). You need to earn ca. 85% of the "discretionary" points to get an A-. The corresponding "understanding" cut-offs for B and C are ca. 70% and 55%, respectively. Understand that these are not the cutoffs of your overall course grade, but the approximate percentage of discretionary points you will need to earn to fall into each grade range.

Total course Points:

GSI and peer points				50 pts
Laboratory and Discussion 			300 pts.
   (A detailed breakdown of point assignments for each 
    experiment is given in the Lab Schedule).

Exams					        150 pts.
__________________________________________________________
Total					        500 pts.

Anyone earning more than 450 points will receive an A- or better.
Anyone earning more than 400 points will receive a B- or better.
Anyone earning more than 350 points will receive a C- or better.

GSI and Peer Points

At the end of the term your GSI will award points (out of 50) based on your overall effort and contributions to the class and team (including contributions to lab and discussion), as well as your adherence to safety rules. Your teammates will provide your GSI with feedback relative to your overall effort and contributions via a feedback form

Laboratory and Discussion Points

Each experiment in the lab manual includes grading forms that indicate how points will be awarded (out of 300). You should review these grading guidelines prior to performing each experiment. Note that the later labs, which incorporate skills and concepts acquired from earlier labs, are weighted more heavily in grade determination (see the lab schedule in the Course Syllabus for the actual points awarded for each lab).

Pre-lab reports are required for most topics. If your pre-lab report is not completed before reporting to lab, you can only receive a maximum of 50% of total pre-lab points for the late pre-lab. In addition you will be asked to stay outside the lab till the pre-lab is completed.

Individual "automatic" points are awarded for performing the lab (points for completing the lab experiment regardless of your results) and non-automatic variable points based on the quality of your individual post-lab report. Late post-lab reports lose credit as follows: 1 day late = -10% of possible total experiment pts; each additional day late = -10% possible experiment pts., up to the maximum points awarded for the post-lab report. (Note: 5 minutes late and 24 hours late both count as "1 day late").

Additional lab points are awarded based on the team data sheet and team discussion presentation. Discussion points are awarded by your instructor and peers based on the guidelines given in the lab manual.

Exam Points

There are two hourly exams in the course (150 points). The exams test the student's understanding of the material. Information and sample exams are given in the course LabPack and also on the exam webpage . Because the exams (and indeed the entire course) are cumulative, the first exam score will be dropped and the second exam score doubled if the student performs better on the second exam.

Online Grade Book

New this semester is an online grading book that students can access. You must login with the password provided to you via email, but you can track your progress of total points through the semester. Just click here to be taken to the online grade book.

Updated 3/16/2011

By Russell Bornschein