Grading for the course is based on two parts: quizzes given each class and the final exam.
Class quizzes will be given at the beginning of most class periods. The quizzes are short (generally 5 multiple choice questions) and are based on the previous class period's material. We will have 11 or 12 quizzes over the course of the semester. Each quiz is worth an equal amount. The two lowest scores will be dropped before the quiz scores are averaged. The average of all of the remaining quizzes makes up 45% of the final grade.
The final exam composes 55% of the final grade and covers material from the entire semester.
The grading scale is a modified straight scale. The exact scale won't be determined until the final exam is taken, although it will be similar to the last time AST101 was taught. The following scale was used in Fall 2002 and should provide a good approximation of the scale for this class.
| 4.0 | 93-100% |
| 3.5 | 85-92% |
| 3.0 | 79-84% |
| 2.5 | 74-78% |
| 2.0 | 68-73% |
| 1.5 | 58-67% |
| 1.0 | 44-57% |
Attendance is not kept, as such, but makeup quizzes are not provided. If you miss a quiz, you receive a zero for that quiz and it becomes one of the two that will be dropped. In other words, you can miss two classes before absences effect your grade. If you miss a class, it is important that you become familiar with the material that was covered in your absence, since it will appear on the next quiz, usually the next class session.
Updated Aug. 25, 2003