Grading Information

Palay's Sections of Math 180

This course is being taught from the perspective of demonstrated competencies supported by a written paper, participation, and presence. Each of these three supporting activities must be satisfied in order to receive a passing grade for the course, independent of test scores. There will be test on each of the chapters that we cover. Re-tests and make-up tests will be available, however, re-tests are averaged, using a weighted average, with previous tests. The student's computed final grade will be the average of the chapter test scores. As noted, the computed grade will be replaced by a failing grade if any of the supporting activities are not satisfied.

The Written Paper
Students are expected to write and submit a complete, satisfactory, original document that presents, discusses, and gives a critical examination of some application of mathematics in the current news. This document is to be between 3 and 6 pages long, formatted and submitted as a prescribed Microsoft Word file (download 180word.doc as the starting file). The first draft of the paper will be due on February 28, 2002. [Students are urged to use the Writing Center to help revise and edit the document.] That draft will be returned with comments, suggestions, and a clear indication if there is a need to revise and resubmit the document. Submissions and revisions will continue until the document is deemed satisfactory; grammatical, logical, and referential errors must be fixed. Note that style is important. Failure to produce a complete, satisfactory, original document for this assignment is sufficient reason to fail the course.

Participation
Students are expected to participate in class. In particular, students will be asked to present problem solutions in class. Such a presentation will include displaying the solution, explaining the steps involved, and answering related questions posed by the instructor, other students, or visitors. In addition, students are expected to ask questions based on the text, the instructor prepared materials, the lectures, and the presentations of other students.

Presence
Students are expected to attend on a regular basis. Missing more than four of the first six class meetings is sufficient cause to be dropped from the course. Missing more than six classes in the term is sufficient reason to receive a failing grade.

Tests
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. Chapter tests usually 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. An additional 5 bonus points will be added to any in-class test taken at the scheduled time if the student turns in a properly composed set of notes indicating problem areas encountered in reading the chapter in the textbook. Additional information about this opportunity for extra points will be given in class. Make-up and re-take tests will be given in the Testing Center upon a written request (on a reasonably large piece of paper) given to the instructor. Requests must specify an expected date and time for taking the test. There must be at least two full school days between 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 all 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. I keep and use no more than the three most recent tests for any one chapter.

At the end of the semester, your average computed chapter test score will determine a final grade, unless there is other sufficient reason to replace the computed grade with a failing grade.

As of Fall 2000, WCC has mistakenly moved to a "plus/minus" system of letter grades (without the possibility of a A+). Prior to this time, in my classes, an average of 90 or higher was an A, 80 to 90 was a B, 70 to 80 was a C, 60 to 70 was a D, and below 60 was an F. As the start of this paragraph implies, I do not support the pseudo-accurate "plus/minus" system. However, I do not wish to have the mistakes of the college hurt my students. Therefore, I will continue to give only five (5) letter grades. However, those grades will be A (90 or above), B+ (80 to 90), C+ (70 to 80), D+ (60 to 70), and F (below 60). Please note that it is useless to suggest or even argue that an average of even 89.93 be moved up to be an A. If you want to improve your grade, just retake a test, do better on it, and raise your average.

©Roger M. Palay
Saline, MI 48176
January, 2002