Grading

Exams

There will be two midterm examinations worth 150 points each and a 150-point cumulative final examination.  Missed exams, without communication with your professor, will be assigned a grade of zero.  

All examinations will cover material presented in both lecture and lab, and they will be administered using a written, multiple choice and practical exam format.  Please also note that exams require a comprehensive understanding of the material to be successful.  Therefore, it is essential to build adequate study time into your schedule as approximately 15-20 hours a week is recommended to stay up to date with course material.  “Cramming” for these exams will not be possible so proper time management and working ahead is crucial. 

All students will have an in-class review of their midterm exams after they are graded. You may discuss changes/adjustments to your score with the instructor during this review time. If a change is warranted, the instructor will update your score during this meeting time. If you are absent for the in-class review, you must schedule a review time during student hours. Changes to midterm exam grades will only be made within 1 week after the exam is reviewed in class. After this time window, the grade is firm. However, you may review your exam in office hours at any point throughout the semester.

Quizzes

There will be 6 quizzes, at 10 points each, that will cover material presented in both lecture and lab, and they will be administered using a laboratory practical exam format, short answer, and/or fill-in items. They cannot be made-up. If you miss a quiz due to tardiness or an absence, the missed quiz will be assigned a grade of zero. If you walk into the classroom in the middle of a quiz, you will not be able to make up missed time. See course schedule for quiz days and times. 

Quizzes are reviewed during lab immediately after they are completed. Should students want to ask about a score adjustment, they must do so before they leave the lab on the quiz day. 

Hand-in + Review Assignments

There will be a total of eighteen hand-in assignments due throughout the semester. They will be based on selected pages from your lab manual, textbook, critical thinking questions, modules, etc., and they must be turned in promptly at the beginning of the class period immediately following the one in which they were assigned. 

You will have a total of two review worksheets due throughout the semester worth 15 points each. They are designed to review two important physiological topics that students will sometimes struggle with - chemistry and the neuromuscular junction. Although students may work together to complete each assignment, each student must submit their own review worksheet to receive credit. 

You are responsible for submitting these assignments on time. Any missed assignment will be given a grade of zero.

Chapter Review Assignments

One (1) extra credit assignment will be offered this semester totaling 10 points. At the end of every week, I assign a Chapter Review that can be found at the end of each Weekly Module in Canvas. To be eligible for the extra credit, you need to submit your answers to these questions weekly, unless otherwise specified in the assignment. This means you cannot wait until the last minute and submit them all at once. Should you miss one set of questions, you will no longer be eligible for the extra credit. However, upon successful completion of this assignment, 10 points will be added to your grade at the end of the semester.

Late Assignments

This semester you will be given the chance to turn in late homework assignments without penalty by using my “No Questions Asked” Policy. I know that life happens to all of us, so you may turn in any hand-in or review assignment late (up to 3 only), without an excuse. However, you must turn in the assignment by the next lab meeting, or it will not be accepted.

There will be an “assignment” posted in your Canvas Gradebook at the start of the semester called “Late Assignments”. It is worth 3 extra credit points. Each time you turn in a late assignment, I will take away one of those points. Remember, you are only allowed 3 late assignments. No other late assignments will be accepted.