BIOS 103 COURSE GRADING: The total points which can be earned in this course is 466. This total includes 300 points that can be earned on Lecture Examinations and 166 points associated with the Discussion and Laboratory. The point minima listed below are guaranteed to result in the following letter grades:
A = 405-466
B = 350-404
C = 295-349
D = 233-294
E = less than 233
1. EXAMINATIONS: The 3 exams scheduled during the term are worth 100 points each. They will consist of approximately 40 short answer questions drawn from Lecture, Lab/Dis and assigned Readings. Each exam will include multiple choice questions (4 points each), true-false questions (2 points each) and possibly some diagrams (2 points each). Examples of exam questions will be posted on the web page syllabus. The first two questions on each exam will be available at the BioS 103 website one week prior to the exam with directions for finding the answers on using the internet. The 3 EXAMS given during the term will be non-cumulative. They are scheduled during the lecture period on the following dates:
Thursday, Sept 21st
Thursday, Oct 26th
Thursday, Nov 30th
The OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM will be given only at the scheduled time during Finals Week: Wednesday, DEC 6th, 3:30-4:30, in 250 SES. The Optional Final will be a cumulative exam and the score on this exam will replace your lowest exam score, or a missed examination.
During the 15th week you will have a conference that will enable you to determine your PROJECTED GRADE once you learn your score of the 3rd scheduled exam (Dec 2nd). Some students will be able to improve their Letter Grade by doing well on the Optional Final, but for others it will be impossible to improve their Letter Grade by taking the Optional Final. Details are provided below.
2. DISCUSSION & LABORATORY: A total of 166 points may be earned as follows:
Before each Discussion students will answer one of the Discussion questions/problems. To receive credit this answer must be submitted at the beginning of the assigned Discussion period. There will be 10 Discussion assignments worth a maximum of 2 points each for a total of 20 points. Discussion and Lab sections will not meet during weeks 3 and 14 and points will not be assigned for week 15.
The Field Trip to the Museum of Science and Industry must be completed and the questionnaire (worth 12 points) turned in to your lab instructor by the week 8 laboratory. No formal time is set aside for this trip, it is your responsibility to complete. We encourage you to get small groups together to facilitate travel to the museum and to make the visit more enjoyable. The Race for the Cure or the AIDS Walk can be used to substitute for the Field Trip. Each will be worth 12 points.
During each Laboratory students will fill in Data Sheets based on their observations and understanding of observations. 10 data sheets must be submitted, each worth a maximum of 4 points, for a total of 40 points. Laboratory sections will not meet during weeks 3 and 14 and points will not be assigned for week 15.
3. Final Grades & Optional Final Exam:
During the 15th week you will have a conference with your lab instructor in 3098 SEL during the regularly scheduled Laboratory time. You should bring your records of all the points (Discussion, Laboratory, & Exams) you have earned to the conference. Any differences between your records and those of your lab instructor must be raised and will be settled at the conference. There are no ways to earn points other than those described in the syllabus. You should not ask if any other option is available to you. At the conference, your lab instructor will give you the total points you have earned up to that point.
On Thursday, Nov 30th the 3rd lecture exam will be given in 250 SES. On Friday morning (Dec 1st) we will post the Exam III results in the glass case outside the lab. Add your score on Exam 3 to your conference total and determine the grade you have earned by refering to the score/grade distribution at the top of this page.
After you determine what your final grade will be you can decide if you should take the optional final. You should think about the total context of your individual situation: what other finals you have, amount of improvement needed, etc., before deciding to take the optional final.
The OPTIONAL FINAL will be given on Wednesday, DEC 6th, 3:30-4:30, in 250 SES. The exam will be given only at this time. The optional final will consist of multiple choice, true/false and possibly diagram labeling questions, equally covering the semester. The score on this exam will replace your lowest exam score, or a missed examination. A score on the optional final that is lower than your lowest regular exam score will not be added to your total points. It cannot lower your grade.
Examples: Student X learned at conference that she had earned 216 total points to date. She scored her copy of Exam 3 and found she earned 60 points. X's total = 276 and is a D. Her lowest exam score is 40. If she earned 59 (or more) points on the optional final (19 points more than her lowest exam score), she could raise her total to or above the minimum C (295 points). Student X can improve her final grade by taking the optional final and scoring 59 or more points.
Student Y had a total of 256 on his three lecture exams. With the 100 points he earned in the lab he has a total of 356 points, a B. His lowest exam score is 50. He would need to score at least 99 on the optional final to raise his total to the 405 points needed for an A. Realistically, student Y cannot improve his final grade by taking the optional final.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All students are expected to be familiar with the concept of Academic Integrity (see the STUDENT HANDBOOK for a summary). All forms of cheating on examinations will be dealt with sternly. Plagiarism on Laboratory Reports will be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. Students are expected to write up their work on their own; identical writing will be considered as evidence of plagiarism.