Grading

 

 

I understand the material when you go over it in class, I just can’t answer the exam questions.

 

If you can’t answer the exam questions, then at least one of the following is true: (a) the exam questions are ambiguous or unintelligible, (b) the exam questions require knowledge you were not expected to have, or (c) you do not understand the material. If (a) and (b) are false, then (c) must be true.

 

 

What are the chances of my earning an A/B/C in this course?

 

Grades in my classes are typically distributed as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The average grade earned by undergraduate students in all my courses is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. If you have taken your first exam and are enrolled in a principles-level course, you can forecast your course grade by clicking here.

 

 

What do I need to earn on the final to earn an A/B/C in the course?

 

Click here, select your course, then click on Grade Calculator. The calculator will allow you to plug in your current test scores and play “what if” games with your grade. If you have taken your first exam, you can forecast your course grade by clicking here.

 

 

Why did you give me a C/D/F in the course?

 

I don’t give grades. You earn grades. Your course grade is the weighted average of your exams and homework/participation. If, for example, you earned B’s and C’s on the exams, you should not expect to earn an A for the course.

 

 

Do you curve exam grades?

 

No.

 

 

Can I do extra work to improve my grade?

 

No.

 

 

Will you give me an extra half-point (one point, etc.) to bump me to the next letter grade?

 

No.

 

 

Can I take an “incomplete” in the course?

 

In most cases, no. Incompletes can only be given in cases in which circumstances make it impossible for the student to complete the course. I do not give incompletes for poor performance.

 

 

How do you grade our homework assignments?

 

The purpose of the homework assignments is to prepare you for the exam. To this end, I am more concerned that you put forth a good effort than I am in you answering homework questions correctly (though, come exam time, you need to have mastered the homework questions). I will mark homework as “done” or “not done” on the basis of the effort you put forth. Detailed answers to homework assignments are posted on the web-site.

 

 

How do you grade class participation?

 

Your participation grade is my opinion of your overall contribution to the course. Most students can expect participation grades in the B/B- range. If you sleep in class, come late, miss class, or generally fail to behave like a responsible and interested adult, you can expect a significantly lower grade. If you ask a lot of questions and provide salient comment, you can expect a higher grade. Few students earn participation grades above B+ or below B-.

 

 

What can I do to earn  a better grade in your course?

 

The teaching profession is like the medical profession. The teacher can tell you what to do to get better, but whether or not you improve depends on how closely you follow the teacher’s prescription.

 

To succeed in this course, you must do the following:

 

1. Maintain two notebooks for this course. In the first notebook, you take class notes. In the second  notebook, you rewrite your class notes every day. Your re-writes should include not simply copying, but adding comments and clarification, referring to related passages in the text, and referring to related topics in other portions of your notes. It is this second set of notes from which you should study for exams. The notes you take in class should be useful only as a source of contribution to the second set of notes.

2. As you write daily in your second notebook, jot down questions that occur to you. Ask those questions in class and record the answers for later inclusion in your second notebook.

3. Do all homework assignments in a timely fashion. If you let the homework build up and so do it in a hasty fashion, you will gain nothing from the exercise.

4. When you study, go somewhere where there is not: (1) television, (2) radio/stereo, (3) phone, (5) IM or email, (5) people. Spend 1 hour studying (without interruption or distraction). Then break for 15 minutes. Go back and study for another hour (without interruption or distraction). Do this every day, including weekends (though you can cut back to 1 hour on weekends). In total, you should study 12 hours per week outside of class.

 

 

Will you e-mail me my course and/or final exam grade?

 

No. I report final grades to the registrar. The registrar will report your grade to you.

 

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