Grading

Numerical ranges for final grades are as follows: 90-100 points = A, 80-89 points = B, 70-79 points = C, 60-69 points = D, 0-59 points = F. Final grades will not be curved.

Don’t trust the grade calculation on WebAssign! Instead, use this spreadsheet, which allows you to calculate your final grade based on your current grades and expectations for the remaining tests and bucket points.

Excel grading calculator

The Core Points – 88 points of required work for all students

45ptsEvening Tests: There are three Tuesday (Monday for 2211C) evening tests weighted from your lowest to highest test score (12pts, 15pts, 18pts). The dates for these tests are listed on the course schedule.

  • The format may be a combination of multiple choice and free response
  • Closed book/notes except for a formula sheet (provided with your test and available in advance on Piazza)
  • Arrangements will be made for ADAPTS students on a per-person basis – please consult with the instructor.

25ptsFinal Exam: The final is comprehensive and is twice the length of the other tests.

18ptsLaboratory: Please bring your laptop with you to lab every week.

  • You must attend the lab section for which you are registered in order to receive credit.
  • Lab exercises will account for 18pts of your final grade in the course and may include group problems, experiments or computational modeling.
    • Many labs will have an associated pre-assignment on WebAssign to be completed in lab. In additional, there will be occasional individual lab assignments. These assignments are worth 3 of the 18 lab points.
    • Your TA will assess your lab group’s writeup according to a rubric. Your average writeup score will count for 10 of the 18 lab points
    • At the start of approximately half of the labs, you will have 20-25 minutes to complete a lab quiz. Your lab quizzes will count for 5 of the 18 lab points.

The Bucket Points – Earn 12 points from any combination of these activities

5pts – WebAssign Homework: Accessed by clicking on the WebAssign link here.

  • WebAssign Homework is due every Sunday evening at 11:59pm. Correct submissions submitted more than 48 hours before the deadline earn a 30% bonus. Homework scores greater than 100% will count as extra credit. For example, correct homework always submitted early would earn 1.5pts of extra credit on the final course grade.

3pts – Paper Problem Homework: Posted on Piazza in Resources > Resources

  • The Paper Problem Homework is due every Monday morning at the start of class. These will be graded on a scale of 0-3.

3pts – Participation: Class participation is monitored through a series of in-class polling-type questions.

  • GA Tech has purchased a university-wide TurningPoint 8 app license. You can download and use TurningPoint for free on your mobile device. If you prefer, you can use a physical TurningPoint clicker but you will need to purchase it separately.  See the faq at  http://www.ctl.gatech.edu/it/clicker/student for more details.
  • To receive credit for your class participation, you MUST log in to T-Square and register your app and/or physical clicker using the TuringPoint tool on the left-hand menu bar. Note that this is the ONLY time we will use T-Square in this course.

2pt – Seminar Reviews:

  • After attending one of the pre-selected seminars, submit to webassign either (A) a short video review or (B) a half-page written review. In your review, do not just summarize but also give your own observations on the work and how it may connect with the class. Attend and review four seminars for the full 2 points. Two will be due mid-semester and two at the end, i.e., they cannot all be submitted on the last day. See the link at the top of the Schedule page for a list of available seminars; if you want to attend a seminar not listed, please ask for approval first.

2pts – Reading Assignments:

  • A few questions on the reading assignments are due at 11:59 PM on the day before each class. No partial credit will be given; each assignment is graded all-or-nothing.