Requirements

If you would like to get a good grade in this course, here are some things you need to know and do...

Breakdown of credit:

Homework: 45%
Tests: 20% (2 x 10%)
Final exam: 25%
Participation: 10%

The scores below will guarantee you at least the letter grades indicated. We are not grading on a curve, so you are not competing against your classmates.

A	92-100%	C+	77-80%
A-	90-92%	C	73-77%
B+	87-90%	C-	70-73%
B	83-87%	D	60-70%
B-	80-83%	F	below 60%

Assignments (45%)

There are regular homework assignments for this course. They account for a substantial part of the course credit - in fact, as much as all of the tests and the final exam combined. Therefore, you should take the homework assignments as seriously as you take the exams. The homework assignments will be graded carefully. Clearly presented answers, and well-reasoned short essays will be greatly rewarded; unclear presentation and murky reasoning will be penalized.

Homework assignments will generally be due by class time on Tuesday and will be returned in discussion sections or during the Thursday class. Homework must be handed in on time, or you will receive no credit for it. You may submit homework either in hard copy or via email (send to your discussion section leader), but we cannot be held responsible for the foibles of the email systems. There will be no make-ups for exams. We have to be strict about this in order to be fair to all students in the class.

Tests & Final Exam (45%)

There will be two midterm tests, spaced roughly evenly through the semester, and a final exam. The tests and the exam will all be cumulative. These are worth a total of 45% of your grade. The tests and exam will be based on class lectures and notes, homework assignments, and readings. More specific guidelines will be posted on the web site closer to the test, but you should know that it is not enough to simply memorize facts from the textbook.

Collaboration

You can learn a lot from working through problems with others, and for this reason collaboration on homework assignments is encouraged in this class. But, collaboration can only work if you do so responsibly, and follow acceptable practices of academic honesty. If you work in a group, you should do the following:

• Write up your assignment yourself, even if you have worked on it as part of a group
• Don't hand in something that your group worked on that you don't fully understand - this is plagiarism
• If you work as part of a group, you must write this at the top of your assignment, and give the names of the people you worked with. If you fail to do this, it will look like plagiarism.
• If you are in any doubt, consult the University Policy on Academic Honesty. We will treat any cases of academic dishonesty seriously.

Participation (10%)

You will get far more out of this course, both in terms of learning and grades, if you participate actively in the course. By actively thinking and talking about the topics covered in the course your likelihood of remembering and understanding is greatly increased. The participation component of the course grade is an opportunity to receive credit for taking this initiative in your learning. It is not a stick to beat you with for not showing up at class, nor is it automatic credit.

Active participation involves:

• attending classes and the discussion section that you are registered for
• reading and thinking about assigned readings before the class in which they are discussed
• coming to discussion sections prepared to ask questions, contribute ideas, and listen to other students ideas

Absences

Only officially recognized absences will be accepted: according to university policy these include Religious Observances, death or serious illness in the student's family, or serious illness of the student. Excused absences must be recorded within one week, or they will affect your participation score.

Problems? Let us know!

OK, so that's enough regulations and admonitions. We now know where we stand. However, we genuinely want you to benefit from this course, and are committed to helping you with that. So if you are having problems in the course, or if you are having other problems which are interfering with your doing well in the class please contact us, and do so early - it is easiest to solve problems as and when they arise. You can contact either the instructor or the TA, by phone or email, by coming to office hours, or by arranging to meet the instructor or TA at some other time.