Grading Scheme for CSCI 1228

Important Notes on the Grading Scheme

1. To compute each student's mark on the on-line submission portion of the final grade, the lowest mark on any submission will be dropped from consideration, and the remaining marks will be averaged. This means that each student has one "free" submission (one that does not have to be handed in, or more accurately, one that can be missed if special circumstances lead to such an unfortunate occurrence, since all students are encouraged strongly to hand in all required submissions). In any case, there is only one "free" submission, however interpreted, and after that there is a penalty for non-submission.
2. Late submissions will not be accepted, in any form, for any reason. Students should note that it is particularly annoying to receive them as e-mail attachments or as hard-copies slid under my office door, when a perfectly adequate on-line submission mechanism is in place. So, please don't send them as e-mail or slide them under my door.
3. Either the mid-term will contribute 30% and the final exam will contribute 40%, or the mid-term will contribute 10% and the final exam will contribute 60%, whichever favors the student.
4. If a student makes less than 50% on both the mid-term and the final, or makes less than 40% on the final, that student will not pass the course, irrespective of the total point value including the submission portion of the grade. If a student misses or opts not to write the mid-term and fails the final, that student will not pass the course.
5. The length of the final exam will be the longer of the following two times:
   • three hours
   • however long it takes 2/3 of those students actually writing to finish and hand in their papers, plus 1/2 hour
6. All students who miss a mid-term or final exam and are given the opportunity to write that paper late must write it at the same time and in the same location.
7. It is impossible to arrange for each required on-line submission to involve the same amount of time and effort for completion, so students should note any differences carefully, and plan accordingly.
8. The total numerical grade determined on the basis of the percentages in the above table will be the key factor, but not the only factor, in assigning a final letter grade for the course. A passing grade for the course may not be given if a student has clearly not made an honest effort to complete all parts of the course, so any student who ignores any significant portion of the required work does so at his or her own peril.
9. Attendance, although it is not allotted any direct point value, is also regarded as important, as noted in the General Rules and Policies for the Course.
10. Actual letter grades will be assigned according to the scheme outlined in the university calendar, and based on the numerical total calculated according to the above table.