Grading

Grading Policy BILD 2: Multicellular Life Summer Session I 2007

Evaluation:
Examinations will cover material presented in lecture and in assigned readings. Grading will be based on in-class quizzes, one 80 minute midterm exam and a 3 hour final exam. Together these quizzes and exams will be worth a maximum of 2000 points, distributed as listed below. All students are expected to be aware of and observe UCSD policy regarding Integrity of Scholarship.

1) Quizzes on Assigned Reading (100 points)
Beginning in the second week of the course, there will be quizzes on material presented in the preceding lecture or in assigned readings. These quizzes will be carried out in the first few minutes of class using the classroom response system. Earning 80% of the clicker points available during the quarter will earn full credit (100 points).

2) Lecture Comprehension Quizzes (100 points)
From time to time during lecture the classroom response system will be used to gauge student understanding of the material being presented. The quizzes will start in the second week, and students will receive credit for answering these questions regardless of whether or not the selected answer is correct. Answering 80% of the questions posed during the quarter will earn full credit (100 points).

3) Midterm (400 points)
This exam will consist of essay and short answer questions. One teaching assistant will grade each question. All exams will be returned one week later and an answer key posted. Any requests for regrades must be submitted in writing (reason for regrade request attached to complete exam) at section or lecture no later than one week after the exams are returned. For any exam with a regrade request other than in regard to an addition error, the instructor reserves the right to regrade the entire exam, with the potential for the overall exam grade to be revised either upward or downward.

4) In class pop quizzes with written answers (from 0-500 points)
These short quizzes are designed to familiarize you with the short answer / short essay format used on the Midterm and Final Exams. Graded pop quizzes will be returned at your section. You can choose to use the grade on these quizzes to substitute for points that would otherwise be covered by the Midterm, or the Final Exam. In other words, doing well on these quizzes benefits you; doing poorly does not hurt you.

5) Final Exam (1400 points)
   This exam will consist of questions in short answer / short essay format. The exam will be comprehensive. An answer key will be posted on the web site.

6) Course Grades
    It is my philosophy that grades should reflect your comprehension in the context of what I taught successfully in the course. The grading scheme is therefore as follows: I will average the point total for the top 10 students in the class and assign that average a value of 100%, regardless of whether it equals or is close to the theoretical maximum of 2000. Any student with a point total of at least 90% of that average will receive a grade of A- or better. A score of 80% is guaranteed a B- and a score of 70% is guaranteed a C-.

7) Integrity of Scholarship (UCSD Policies):

No student shall

- knowingly procure, provide, or accept any unauthorized material that contains questions or answers to any examination or assignment to be given at a subsequent time.

- complete, in part or in total, any examination or assignment for another person.

- knowingly allow any examination or assignment to be completed, in part or in total, for himself or herself by another person.

- plagiarize or copy the work of another person and submit it as his or her own work.

- employ aids excluded by the instructor in undertaking course work or in completing any exam or assignment.

- alter graded class assignments or examinations and then resubmit them for regrading.