Course Format & Policies

The contents of this course, including lectures and other instructional materials, are copyrighted materials.  Students may not share outside the class, including uploading, selling or distributing course content or notes taken during the conduct of the course.  Any recording of class sessions is authorized only for the use of students enrolled in this course during their enrollment in this course.  Recordings and excerpts of recordings may not be distributed to others. 

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Students are responsible for any information imparted to the class during lectures. A small number of Multiple Choice clicker questions will be asked during each lecture. These may check your comprehension of some topic that I have just covered in lecture. You are expected to record your response to these questions using iClicker. YOU MUST USE ONLY YOUR OWN ICLICKER ACCOUNT AND NO OTHER. Use of another student's transmitter is a case of academic dishonesty, just exactly like cheating on a test. Any and all students involved in any such incidents will receive an E for the course, and may be referred to the Dean for further sanctions. 

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Using online HW-answer services (such as Chegg.com) to find answers for our HW problems is unethical.  Any students found using such services for one of our HW's will automatically receive a ZERO for that HW.  Repeated incidents will result in an E as an overall letter grade for our course.

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The recitations are conducted by graduate Teaching Assistants. During the recitations, the TA's will review material from prerequisite math or physics classes, outline homework strategies, demonstrate problem-solving techniques, go over test problems, etc. Recitations will not meet on test weeks.

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An E-MAIL account is available for every student enrolled at ASU. Instructions for obtaining an e-mail account can be obtained at the ASU Computer Commons. Important class information may be disseminated through e-mail. The student will be responsible for receiving it. If you currently have an ASU e-mail account, then you need do nothing. If you have not recently used your ASU email account, then you should double-check to make sure that your email is properly being redirected to your favorite email address. 

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Students requesting accommodation for a disability must be registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and submit appropriate documentation from the DRC.

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Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity.  Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited.  An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the university.  If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at 

https://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs. 

As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence.  ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling is available if you wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately. ASU online students may access 360 Life Services, 

https://goto.asuonline.asu.edu/success/online-resources.html.

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Disruptive, Threatening, or Violent individuals will be immediately reported to ASU PD.

You will use your iClicker software to answer Multiple Choice questions during the class meetings. For the first two class meetings, clicker questions will be considered practice questions, as you learn to use the software. You are always encouraged to discuss clicker questions with others around you, but when answering, always think for yourself. A correct answer will be counted as 3 points, an incorrect answer will be counted as 2 points, and no answer will be counted as zero points; so the penalty for an incorrect answer is very small. The final iClicker grade will be determined as ∼80% of all possible points. Your maximum clicker grade is 100%, i.e. more than all possible points will not be counted as extra credit. Since only 80% of all possible clickers points are required for a perfect score, no opportunity is provided to make up missed clicker questions. USING SOMEOME ELSE'S iCLICKER ACCOUNT, OR ALLOWING SOMEONE TO USE YOUR iCLICKER ACCOUNT, WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC FAILING GRADE FOR THE COURSE. It is your responsibility to make sure that your iClicker software is in working order, and that your response is recorded. See our iClicker information page for tips. 

There is one assigned Homework (HW) for each class listed in our class schedule; all Homeworks can be found only at Mastering Physics. Due dates for each HW are available on the Mastering Physics Assignment list. 

A total of approximately 1500 HW points will be possible. The final homework grade will be determined as a percentage out of 1350 points (or ∼90% of all possible points should the number of total HW points change.) Your maximum homework grade is 100%, i.e. more than 1350 points will not be counted as extra credit. Your HW percentage will count 15% of your overall class grade. 

700 HOMEWORK POINTS (∼50%) ARE REQUIRED FOR A PASSING GRADE IN THE COURSE. There may be HW extra credit opportunities to help you obtain the necessary 700 points.

Using online HW-answer services (such as Chegg.com) to find answers for our HW problems is unethical.  Any students found using such services for one of our HW's will automatically receive a ZERO for that HW.  Repeated incidents will result in an E as an overall letter grade for our course. 

There will be two tests. Both tests will consist of about 15 multiple choice questions, and will be given in class.

The tests have a 75 minute time limit.

The final exam will be comprehensive and it will also be in class.

Academic dishonesty on an examination will result automatically in a failing grade for the course and referral to the Dean for further sanctions. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated! You will be required to sign a statement of academic integrity for each test.

The use of hand calculators is permitted. However, your calculator may not store formulas. 

The final course grades will be determined with the following weights: 

iClicker: 5% 

Homework: 15% 

Recitations: 10% (lowest will be dropped)

Tests: 35% 

Final Exam: 35% 

A MINIMUM OF 50% OF TOTAL HOMEWORK POINTS IS REQUIRED FOR A PASSING GRADE IN THE COURSE. 

The scale for final letter grades will ultimately be determined by the overall class performance. However, any student who earns 85% of all possible points can expect to receive an A of some type (A-, A, or A+); students who earn 70-85% of all possible points can expect to receive some type of B, and students who earn 50-70% of all possible points can expect to receive a C or C+. Don't depend solely on your instructors to figure your grade correctly before the end of the semester.

Assigned work and/or tests can be made up for the following cases:

• Excused absences related to religious observances/practices that are in accord with ACD 304–04, “Accommodation for Religious Practices”

• Excused absences related to university sanctioned events/activities that are in accord with ACD 304–02, “Missed Classes Due to University-Sanctioned Activities”

• Excused absences related to health problems (doctor's note required)

Withdrawal policies are established by the University (see the ASU Calendar.) The deadline for course withdrawal is November 1.