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Here is a rough guide to how your final grade will be calculated
prelim 1 |
20% |
prelim 2 |
20% |
final |
25% |
homeworks, program assignments |
30% |
quizzes |
05% |
However, please note the following:
- The course is graded on a curve, so that at least a certain percentage
will receive A's and B's. Where the cutoff is cannot be determined until
the end of the semester.
- Anyone who does A work throughout the semester will receive an A,
regardless of curving the grades. If everyone does A work, everyone
gets an A.
- The course grade will not be determined only by the guide shown above.
After calculating a final weighted total for everyone and determining
cutoffs for letter grades, we may make adjustments for any person. Points
to be considered: Are there personal reasons for a bad performance on
some part of the course? Did the person do poorly in the beginning of
the course but then improve steadily (in which case we might count the
beginning of the course less)? Did the person do well only on the homeworks
and poorly on the exams?
- Note that the exams are important. Generally, getting an A average
on assignments but a B average on the exams will result in a B in the
course. Anyone should be able to spend enough time on the assignments
to do well, but the exams show real understanding.
- The final is optional. At the end of the semester, we will give you
a course grade based on everything except the final. You will be asked
either to accept the grade or say that you want to take the final. Taking
the final may lower and well as raise your grade. Our experience is
that taking the final does not change the grade of most people. Further,
taking the final lowers the grade of about the same number of people
that it raises.
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