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Academic
Standards:
This class will
be conducted in accordance with the college student code of conduct and
basic standards of academic honesty.
Cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty are not
acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Violations of standards of academic honesty will be reported to the
school dean for appropriate action.
Homework:
No specific
homework will be assigned.
HOWEVER: there will be a 25 point quiz given over the
material in each chapter. These quizzes will be found in the ASSESSMENT
SECTION, Under QUIZZES AND SURVEYS. You will be allowed two attempts at
each quiz. All quizzes must be completed by the end of the session.
Late Quizzes
and/or exams will not be accepted!
Examinations:
There will be
two 100 question exams during the semester: a midterm approximately
half-way through the session and a non-comprehensive final exam given
during the last full week of classes. Each exam is worth 150 points. You
will be allotted 2 hours to complete each exam. The exam format will be
multiple choice, matching, true-false, etc. Dates on exams can be found on
the Homepage.
Please watch the due date for the exams, as well as the
times: 12AM is midnight!
example: 12am Wednesday
is actually Tuesday night at 12:00
Extra
Credit:
2 points of extra
credit may be earned by posting the URL's of articles describing various
astronomical discoveries, theories, projects etc. These articles may be from
newspapers, science journals, popular magazines, as well as news sites
(CNN, NBC, ABC, etc.). WITH THE URL, PLEASE INCLUDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
THE ARTICLE, AS WELL AS ITS RELATION TO YOUR COURSE MATERIAL. IF THE
FINDING CONTRADCITS MATERIAL FROM YOUR TEXT, PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS.URL'S
WITHOUT THIS DESCRIPTION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
A maximum of 10 extra credit points(5 submissions) can
be earned per student, and extra credit cannot be shared, if two extra
credit submissions are identical, then the submission received the earliest
will receive the credit. All extra credit should be posted in the
COMMUNICATIONS SECTION under the DISCUSSION BOARD, EXTRA CREDIT.
Academic Grading:
There will be
approximately 300 exam points plus 450 chapter quiz points for a total of
750points. Grades will be distributed using the following guidelines:
660-750 (88%) A
570-659 (76%) B
480-569 (64%) C
390-479 (52%) D
Below 390 F
Academic
Participation :
Due to the
extensive size of the class, no overrides will be given.
Responsibility to
Add, Drop or Withdraw
It is the
student's responsibility to add, drop, or withdraw from class before the
deadlines stated in the class schedule.
Petitions to add, drop, or withdraw after the deadline will not be approved
without proof of circumstance beyond the student's control, which made
him/her unable to meet the deadline.
Lack of money to pay fees is not considered extenuating
circumstance. Students anticipating difficulty in paying fees before the
add deadline should check with the Financial Aid Office about sources of
funds or other alternatives for which they may be eligible. If you decide to withdraw from this
course, you are reminded to do so before the posted deadline in the summer
catalog. If you fail to withdraw by
that date and you stop participating in class, a final grade must be
assigned to you.
Students must
email me during the first week to remain registered in the class. This
first email should contain your name and contact information, as well as
your major field of study and your reasons for taking this course.
GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR STUDYING
x Active
participation will help you retain what you are learning. Re-reading lectures and participating in
discussions is much more effective than reading someone else's notes.
x Budget your
time effectively. An hour or two
each day is more effective, and far less painful, than studying all night
before exams.
x If a concept
gives you trouble, do additional reading beyond what has been
assigned. And if you still have
trouble, ask for help: you surely can find friends, colleagues, or teachers
who will be glad to help you learn.
x Working
together with friends can be valuable in helping you to solve difficult
problems. However, be sure that you
learn with your friends and do not become dependent on them.
x When studying
your text: Don't highlight -- underline!
Using a pen or pencil to underline material requires greater care
than highlighting, and therefore helps to keep you alert as you study.
PREPARING FOR EXAMINATIONS
r Study your
notes from lectures and discussions.
Pay attention to what your instructor expects you top know for an
examination.
r Reread the
relevant sections in the textbook, paying special attention to notes you
have made in the margins.
r Study
individually before joining a study group with friends. Study groups are effective only if every
individual comes prepared to contribute.
r Don't stay up
too late the night before the examination.
Don't eat a big meal within an hour of the examination (thinking is
more difficult when blood is being diverted to the digestive system).
r Try to relax
before and during the examination.
If you have studied effectively, you are capable of doing well. Staying relaxed will help you think
clearly.
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