|
Weekly quizzes (WebCT – must be completed before
class when reading assignment is due)
|
5% |
|
Five minute oral presentation on popular press article
(A sign-up sheet will be circulated on the first day of class. In
case of partial credit, additional points may be gained through additional
presentations.
|
4% |
|
View the sky through a real telescope (clear night)
|
1% |
|
Weekly homework assignments (lowest score will be
dropped)
|
15% |
|
In-Class assignments (lowest score will be dropped)
|
10% |
|
Exam #1 – Gravity, the Solar System, and Light
|
15% |
|
Exam #2 – Stars
|
15% |
|
Exam #3 – The Milky Way Galaxy and Extragalactic
Astronomy
|
15% |
|
Comprehensive Final Exam , including Quasars and
Cosmology
|
20% |
| ----- | |
| Total | 100% |
If
it improves your grade, I will count the final exam for 40% of the final
grade.
You
are allowed to bring one double-sided, 8.5” x 11” crib sheet and a calculator
to each exam, including the final exam.No
other sources of information are allowed.
Students
are expected to complete all assignments and exams on time.If
there is a compelling reason for an exception, please see the instructor
as soon as the conflict is apparent.Extensions
are normally not granted for homework, as solutions are posted as soon
as it is due.No extensions will
be given for failure to plan ahead (for example – the network in my dorm
went down at 2 AM last night, so I was unable to complete my quiz).In-class
assignments can be made up outside of class with instructor’s permission.
You
are expected to bring your laptop to all classes, unless otherwise posted
by the instructor.
Students
are allowed and encouraged to converse on the homework, reading, and interactive
learning laboratories.However, all
assignments which are turned in are expected to be the individual work
of the student.Examples of allowed
interactions include discussions of how to do a particular homework assignment,
or comparison of answers.It is
not allowed to copy the work of another student in whole or in part.
Academic
Dishonesty: Students who cheat on a test or assignment will be given a
grade of zero on that test or assignment.Students
who help another student cheat will also be given a grade of zero.Zeroes
received due to academic dishonesty will not be dropped as the lowest grade.A
second instance of academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure
of the course.
All
work must be clear and legible.The
grader will not puzzle over assignments to try to figure out what the student
meant to do.If you feel that you
have received a grade in error, see the TA (homework, quizzes, labs) or
the instructor (exams, disagreements which were not resolved with the TA).Requests
for re-grades must be made in writing, and include the whole assignment
to be re-graded.You must include
an explanation of which part you feel was graded incorrectly and why you
feel your answer or technique is correct.The
instructor reserves the right to re-grade the entire submitted assignment.