Grading and Example Scenes
For each of the creative projects we try to establish some baseline for a grade in the range of B to A-. Submissions that go above the baseline will get additional credit that will be evaluated on a type of curve. This grading scheme is a bit unusual for a computer science course, but that's because creative open-ended assignments like this are not as common in computer science, especially in classes with ~150 students... If the open-ended nature of the creative assignments makes you nervous, you can always implement the baseline as a starting point. Also note that every time we have used this system, the creative projects had a net effect of increasing the final grade for most students. They have also consistently been one of the favorite aspects of the course for a students in past years.
When grading the creative assignments, credit up to some threshold counts as uncurved ``completion" credit, and credit above that threshold counts as bonus points. The curving of bonus points happens at the end of the semester, but you can accumulate them in each creative assignment (and final project). Creative assignments will be evaluated for three things: how technically impressive your submission is, how creative / original it is, and overall presentation. You can get bonus points for any of these aspects. Bonus points in one of these categories can compensate for weakness in another (e.g., if you did something technically very basic but created some cool art with it that could balance out). Points above completion are the main thing that determines different levels of A at the end of the semester. In some cases, it can also help you recover from low scores on other assignments or a bad prelim. This is not hypothetical; every year it helps a few students who hit a rough patch for part of the semester.
Note that we value cleverness, so something does not have to be complicated to be technically impressive. We also tend to be generous on projects that are especially original, and forgiving of groups that take more of a risk. If you do something arbitrary or unintentional and try to pass it off as ``abstract art", you will be graded for a submission that is arbitrary and unintentional.
We will select the top submissions to show in class and hopefully post online. Please let us know if you would prefer to keep your submission private.
At the end of the semester, bonus points from the creative assignments and final project will be the largest factor in determining who, if anyone, gets an A+.
Below are two example scenes. The first is about full completion level, so you can think of it as roughtly a B+ quality submission. The second is a bit stronger, so maybe just a bit above full completion.
Procedural Kaleidoscope-y Pyramid:
If you want to play it super safe and also go for big bonus points, you are welcome to build this example, show it briefly, and then build something else completely to reach for bonus credit.
The basic idea behind this example is that you have some shape defined in your model (e.g., the geometry in model.verts), then your view creates several instances of that shape and transforms each of them according to some procedure.
Create interesting proceedures, create cool visuals...
Burn Baby, Burn
This example is a particle flame effect. The most basic version of it simply emits particles, controls their motion, and re-emits them at the end of their life cycle. The basic version is probably around full completion level if you make the flame look pretty compelling. With all the bells and whistles I show in this video you would probably get some bonus credit.
If you plan to ask me for a letter of recommendation, try to get bonus points in the class. If you email me about a letter later in the year, the first thing I am going to do is check your bonus point tally. If you have cool creative submissions that gives me something to potentially say in a letter. If I see a tally of 0 and don't know you from research work, then I won't have anything to write and will probably suggest you find someone else.