Your Grade will be based on laboratory reports (30%), quizzes (20% for best five quizzes), examinations (20% for best two exams), the course comprehensive final exam (20%) and class participation & homework (10%). When determining a grade for class participation the following criteria will be considered: punctual attendance, regular attendance, preparation, consideration for the classroom environment and fellow students and class participation.
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 92% |
| B | 82% |
| C | 70% |
| D | 60% |
| F | below 60% |
| I | *Incomplete |
*"I" designation (Incomplete) are non-grades received by students who have actively pursued the course and are doing passing work at the end of the course, but who have not completed the course's final examination and/or other specific course assignments.
Make-Up Policy
Make-Up work is not permitted under any circumstances. This includes but is not limited to hospitalization, deaths in the family, illness, family emergencies. Life happens to everyone. This is why some quizzes, one exam and one laboratory are dropped from your grade with no penalties. If circumstances arise that prevent you from actively participating in all aspects of this course please let me know. There is no substitute for attending classes regularly and on time. Please choose someone else in the class that will be able to exchange notes with you in the event either of you misses class. You are responsible for all missed announcements, assignments and class work. Please do not use the phrase "I didn't know" to excuse any missed work. Check the website often. Announcements and assignments are posted and updated regularly.
Success in the Laboratory
Preparation: The moment lab begins is not an ideal time to begin to read a laboratory. You need to read the laboratory ahead of time and look up the meaning of any unfamiliar vocabulary.
Lab Reports: Laboratory reports are formal writing assignments and need to be taken seriously. You are expected to turn laboratory reports in on time, with all questions answered clearly and legibly and all pages neatly stapled (not folded or mutilated) together. Points will be deducted for late reports, messy reports, incomplete sentences and poor grammar/spelling, handwriting that is difficult to read. Points will also be deducted for errors in content.