COMP 380-003   Computers & Society    Spring 2008

Grades

Grades are not a reflection on you personally.  Papers are often heavily commented.  The intent here is not to criticize you, but rather to point out both strengths and weaknesses, as well as to help you to avoid similar problems in subsequent assignments.  Honestly, we are on your side, although it may not always appear so.

You will be graded on content, organization, style, creativity, and writing.  While spelling and grammar are not considered as strongly as content and organization, spelling errors and sloppy sentence structure will get in the way of readability and consequently will affect your grade--more so for the papers than for the exams (exams are done under some time pressure, so I'm more interested in content & detail for those). 

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCES

Attendance is required and will affect your final course grade.  It is explicitly identified as 4% of your grade.   Being absent when other teams are presenting will count double unless you have an excused absence.

Excused absences.  Students who are members of regularly organized and authorized University activities and who may be out of town taking part in some scheduled University event are excused during the approved period of absence.  Notification of such participation must be sent by the responsible University official to the office of the student's dean, and a note should be provided as soon as possible.

All other absences for valid reasons are excused only by the course instructor.  Present an explanation as far in advance as possible, and not later than the next class meeting.  Advance notice is preferred.  If you cannot reach me in person, send e-mail or leave voice mail; both are checked daily.  Of course, you are responsible to find out what you missed. 

Late arrivals to and early departures from class should be avoided unless you have good reason.  But having said that--I would much rather have you attend some of the class than to skip it altogether.  A simple explanation before or after class is all that is needed.

LATE Assignments Policy

Please Note:

Because your team members will rely heavily on you, sub-standard performance as a team member will result in an "F" grade for the entire course, no matter what your average.  Please decide NOW if this is the right course for you!

Grading Rubrics are linked below as each assignment is posted (remind us if we forget):

Weights

The table below represents the percent of the final course grade that will be assigned to various activities.  These weights may be adjusted slightly, if necessary, and announced (see changes at bottom of page). 
Category
 %
Term Project
paper
 18
presentation
 18
36
Short Assignments
7% each
 28
Exams
Grade will be computed as the higher of the following options:

Opt 1
 Opt 2
midterm
 14
 10
final
 18
 22
32
Attendance and Participation
 4

Letter Grades

Letter grades will be assigned to all writing assignments and exams, with a corresponding standard percentage recorded in the gradesheet, as follows:
  A+
 100%
  A
   97%
  A-
   92%
  B+
   88%
  B
   85%
  B-
   81%
  C+
   78%
  C
   75%
  C-
   71%
  D+
   68%
  D
   65%
  D-
   61%
  F
  case specific
 
NOTE that we may also assign grades that fall between those shown above; for example, if your paper receives a B-/C+-, your grade will simply be an average of the two percentage grades, which is 79.5%.

Your final course letter grade will be assigned approximately as follows. 
(An average that falls within the range on the left will receive the letter grade shown on the right):
 94-100
  A
 90-93
  A-
 87-89
  B+
 83-86
  B
 80-82
  B-
 77-79
  C+
 73-76
  C
 70-72
  C-
 67-69
  D+
 60-66
  D
 <60
  F



Last update: 6 Mar 2008