Exams
There will be four exams (see syllabus for schedule), each worth 100 points. Each exam will cover specific lectures, as indicated on the Lecture Notes Web Site.
Exam questions are in multiple-choice format, usually with five choices per question. Each question is worth two points, so there are 50 questions on a 100-point exam.
For example, if the top score in the class is 480 points out of 500, then the top scorer will receive an "A", as will the next 10-13% of the class down from that top score. The next 15-18% of students down from the lowest "A" will receive a "B", the next 50-55% of students down from the lowest "B" will receive a "C", and so on.
The grade curve might be represented graphically something like this (not exactly to scale, but you get the idea):
NOTE THAT THE POINT TOTALS AND CUT OFF POINTS ABOVE ARE HYPOTHETICAL ONLY! YOUR CLASS CURVE MAY BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, AND WILL DEPEND ENTIRELY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE COURSE THIS SEMESTER. THE HYPOTHETICAL POINT TOTALS ABOVE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT FINAL POINTS WILL BE WORTH (IN TERMS OF LETTER GRADES) AT THE END OF THIS SEMESTER. THEY'RE AN EXAMPLE ONLY!
But there's a catch.
Regular exams, as you read above, are multiple choice.
All make up exams--NO EXCEPTIONS!--are given in short answer/essay format. The material covered is exactly the same as that on the regular exam, but most students consider the format to be more challenging (and actually, often more indicative to me of your true level of understanding of the material) than the multiple-choice format. Since you have more time than your classmates to study, it all comes out evenly in the end, right?
If you miss a regular exam, you must notify me within 48 hours, and we will set a time for the make up exam at our mutual convenience. Use the same study
guide, notes, and text readings as the regular exam to study for any make up exam.
THE ABSOLUTE LAST TIME TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED EXAM THIS SEMESTER WILL BE DURING THE READING DAY. THE EXACT TIME AND PLACE WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE COURSE WEB SITE. If you
need to make up a missed exam, please EMAIL ME to (1) let me know you're
coming and (2) tell me which exam you're making up.
If you miss the final exam, (1) provide me with a valid
excuse within one day of missing the exam and (2)
are passing the course at the time of the final,
you will be
given a grade of "I" (Incomplete) for the course, and have one year to
take the final exam. If you fail in either of these simple tasks, your
grade will be based upon your exam scores taken before the final plus a ZERO for the final exam.
If you miss the final exam and are not passing the course at the
time of the final exam, you will receive an "F" for the course. Bottom
line: you can still salvage your grade if you at least show up. Study
hard and go for it!
Note that the posted lecture notes are only an outline of what is actually said in class, and that anything said in class or in the text readings is fair game for exams. A huge part of learning the (admittedly extensive amount of!) material in BIL 250 is self-motivation and a willingness to truly apply yourself. That is up to you.
Final Grading Scale and Letter Grade Assignments
There are no permanent letter grades for any exam. However, I will post an approximate letter grade scale for each exam, based upon the normal curve of the entire class's scores. The approximate distribution is generally be distributed along the curve as follows:
At the end of the course, when all exam scores have been summed and averaged for the entire class, I will make final letter grade cut-offs based on the percentages you see above. Your relative performance (compared to your classmates') on exams and workshops will be the primary determinant of your grade.Plus and Minuses?
Yes, I do assign "+" and "-" grades, but there is a very narrow margin--usually about five points from a cut off. This cut off will always work in your favor, however. For example, if the lowest "A" is 450 points, then you will receive an "A"--not an "A-" if you earned 450 points. If the lowest "A" is 450 points, then students who earned 440 - 449 will be in the "B+" to "A-" range.
MAKE UP EXAMS
If you miss an exam for any reason, I will allow you to take a make up exam.
FINAL EXAM MAKE UP POLICY
NO EARLY OR LATE FINALS. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please check your travel reservations no later than the second week of class, and make sure you do not leave town before the scheduled final exam.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance should be considered mandatory, but you're on your honor. I do not take attendance. I figure you're paying to be here, and it's up to you whether or not you would like to get what you pay for by coming to class.
Honor Code
The Honor Code is taken seriosly here. If you are caught cheating, you will be given a final grade of "F" for the course without further notice. If necessary, the matter will be turned over to the Honor Council.