ASTR-1510-02
Quasars & Cosmology – Two-Credit Section
Grading Policy – Fall, 2009
Grading
Criteria
Your letter grade will be determined by the
following criteria, weighted approximately as indicated:
Cosmology Article (10%)
Lecture
Attendance (10%)
In-class Activities (20%)
3 announced exams on
Oct. 1, Nov. 5, and Dec. 10 (15%
each)
Comprehensive final exam (15%)
The
“Cosmology Article” is an article (less than one year old) that you must find
on the web and email
to
Prof. Roberge.
Lecture
attendance is scored on the percentage of lectures attended, with
``attendance’’ defined below.
The
lowest of the four exam grades will be dropped.
Each
of the quizzes covers about one third the course material
(see schedule). The quizzes are based on material from lectures, in-class activities, and
the assigned reading in Jones & Lambourne. Note:
We will skip some of the more mathematical parts of J&L. I will make a list
as we go along.
Learning Outcomes
A
student who successfully completes this course will be able to:
· Describe
the composition and structure of the Universe giving approximate values for
important length, time, and mass scales.
· Explain
the fundamental ideas upon which Special Relativity and General Relativity are
based.
· Describe
the different spacetime geometries which General
Relativity allows our universe to have.
· State
which of the allowed geometries the Universe actually possesses and how we know
this.
· Describe
the sequence of events by which matter and antimatter were created during the Big
Bang.
Attendance
To
receive credit for attending a lecture, you must take notes and hand them in at
the end of class. I recommend that you use a three ring binder so that pages
can be turned in and then re-inserted into your notebook. The notes may be extensive or superficial,
but must show that you were paying attention to the main points of the lecture
to receive credit. The notes must be stapled
together and turned in to the teaching assistant. It is recommended that you keep the returned
notes until you receive your final course grade.
Religious
Conflicts and Other Excused Absences
You are also not required to attend class if you
have a serious problem with your
physical or mental health. A ``serious problem’’ is one that required you to
see a health professional. You will need to document this with a written note
from your care giver or the Dean of Students.
If you are unable to attend class for health or
religious reasons, please email me (WR) as soon as possible. I will give you
some reading material on the lecture material and ask for a short written
summary of the main ideas.
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