Grading Information

Palay's Sections of Math 179

Winter 2000

This course is being taught from the perspective of demonstrated competencies supported by activities, participation, and presence. There will be test on each of the chapters that we cover and there may be a comprehensive final examiniation. Re-tests and make-up tests will be available, however, re-tests are averaged, using a weighted average, with previous tests. The first approximation of a student's final grade will be the average of the chapter test scores. The grade on the final examination, if given and if sufficiently high, can be used to justify improving the first approximation. However, such an improvement will depend upon a careful examination of the areas of demonstrated competence on the final compared to the areas of questionable competence on the chapter exams. Homework, class participation, and attendance do not directly contribute to the calculation of the final grade. Nonetheless, it is through those activities that a student can best develop and communicate competence in the subject matter. In short, homework, class participation, and attendance are strongly encouraged and appreciated.

What does this mean? It means that attendance is not required, but it is strongly encouraged. (I do not prepare the materials and present the lectures for my own benefit.) Class participation is not required, but it may help. (The more you do, the more you try to be involved with the material, the better your understanding. Class participation can not hurt.) Homework is not required, but it can help. (Homework demonstrates a possible level of competence. To that extent, it does influence my belief in your mastery of the material. It can never lower your grade.) The chapter tests are required, and they are the best indication of your progress throughout the semester. Re-takes and make-ups will be available for all chapter tests, however, those will have to be done outside of class. All chapter tests have 100 possible points. A bonus 5 points will be added to any test taken in-class at the scheduled time. These 5 points are meant to encourage students to take tests on time and in class. Make-up and re-take tests will be given in the Testing Center upon a request given to me in writing. Requests must specify an expected date and time for taking the test. There must be at least two full school days beween my receiving the request for the test and the expected date of the test. (That is, do not ask for a test to be available that afternoon, or even the next day.) Make-up and re-take tests will be available from the requested date for at most one week. (That is, you have at most 7 days to take the test that you asked to be given.) [The end of the semester may shorten that time.] Requested tests not taken within that time will be graded as zero. A further limit is that students may not have more than one (1) make-up or re-test waiting in the Testing Center for any one chapter at any one time. (That is, you can not schedule 2 or more re-tests for the same chapter at the same time. After you have taken a re-test, you can ask for another re-test for the same chapter, and you can repeat that process up to the end of the term.) Also, re-tests do not replace earlier tests. Rather, re-tests are added into the calculations of a grade based on a weighted average that favors each successive test on a chapter.

At the end of the semester, your average chapter test score will determine a possible final grade. The final examination, if given, will be graded and reviewed. Where justified, the final examination performance will be used to raise your course grade.