What goes into these assignment categories?

Participation and Attendance: 5%

Your active engagement during lecture is a key part of this course. This includes being present, arriving on time, and participating fully in in-class activities, group work, and group quizzes. I will drop your lowest two scores in this category to allow for occasional conflicts or emergencies.

Points may be deducted if you:

• Arrive late to class

• Do not actively participate in group work or class activities

• Are distracted during class (e.g., doing homework for other classes, using your phone, etc.)

Being present is more than just showing up—it means being ready to learn and contribute.

Mid- semester Checkins: 1%

During Week 8, I would like each of you to meet with me at least once for about 10 minutes. This meeting is to check in on how the course is going for you, review your progress, and discuss whether you’re at the grade level you aim for. If you want to improve, we can work together to create a plan.

The goal is to avoid last-minute stress during finals week and give us enough time to plan, succeed, and improve. I also see this as an opportunity for me to enhance and add value to your learning experience.

I will provide instructions in the class on how to schedule a time with me.

Quizzes: 14%

• There will typically be one quiz each week, given and submitted during lecture on paper.

• Quizzes are done in groups, and you’re encouraged to work collaboratively.

• They are closed-note and closed-book.

• I will drop the lowest grade in this category.

• There are no make-up opportunities for the quizzes. 

Homework: 20%

• Weekly homework is assigned through Canvas and submitted on Pivot. You will have 4 attempts without loss of credit, though if you get to the point where it feels like you're just guessing, come ask questions in office hours to minimize frustration. For the multiple, choice questions there are only 2 attempts.

• I will drop the lowest grade in this category.

• Late Homework will be accepted with deduction of 10% per day late, with a maximum deduction of 50%.

• Homework must be submitted before the relevant topic is covered in the exam. After the exam, the assignment will be locked and no further submissions will be accepted. 

Exams (4 total): 40%

• There will be four exams given and submitted on paper, during the lecture on dates listed on the course schedule, each consisting of problem-solving and conceptual questions.

• These are primarily individual assessments, but there will be a 10-minute break during each exam when you may discuss the problems with your classmates.

•  Each exam will count for 10% of your total course grade. There are no make-up exams. No exam scores are dropped.

• In case you have to use restroom during the exam, you have to surrender your Cell phone to the instrictor. You cannot take them with you. 

Exam/Test Corrections:

You have the opportunity to complete test corrections for the exam during the time scheduled in the course calendar (during the lab exam day).

• You can earn back up to half of the points you missed. For example: If you originally scored 60%, you could raise your grade to 80% by accurately redoing all missed or incorrect work.

• You may be given a new set of problems, similar in type to those on the original exam.

• The goal of test corrections is to help you strengthen your understanding while giving you a chance to boost your grade.

• You can not collborate with your classmates during test corrections. 

• I do not drop any of the exams scores.

  • In case you have to use restroom during the exam, you have to surrender your Cell phone to the instrictor. You cannot take them with you. 

Please Note: You must have taken the original exam to do the test corrections.

Laboratory: 20%

Each week, we will complete a hands-on lab activity using lab equipment and Pivot Interactives (Access through Canvas). Lab assignments must be submitted by the posted due date.

• Late submissions will incur a 10% deduction per day, up to a maximum of 50%.

• Labs must be submitted before the lab exam covering that topic. Once the exam has taken place, the assignment will be locked, and no further submissions will be accepted.

• Attendance is required in order to submit the lab. Submitting a lab without attending, or using answers from a classmate, will result in an automatic grade of F on that lab for the whole group.

• Teamwork is an important part of the lab. If you do not actively contribute, points may be deducted from your score. Meetings with the group may be held as needed to ensure everyone understands the dynamics and that all members are participating fully. Be sure to attend, participate, and submit your own work to receive credit.

• Lab. Exam: There will be three lab exams, submitted on paper on the dates listed in the course calendar. Make-up exams are not available, and the lowest grade will not be dropped. 

Note: Lab. exam score will be added to the exam score.