Attendance is not kept, as such, but like most science courses, the information in each class builds on the information from previous classes. If you miss a class, it is important that you become familiar with the material that was covered in your absence, as well as complete any homework assigned, since it will likely be due the next class period. NOTE: You are allowed one missed homework assignment before it counts against your grade (see below).
Grading for the course is based on three parts: homework exercises, a midterm, and the final exam.
Homework exercises will be assigned at the end of most class periods and will be due at the beginning of the next class period. We will have approximately 10 homework exercises over the course of the semester. Most homework exercises will be worth an equal amount, generally 5 points. The lowest score will be dropped before the homework scores are averaged for the semester grade. In other words, one absence is allowed without penalty. Attending an optional outside-of-class observing session will allow a second homework grade to be dropped. The average of all of the remaining homework grades makes up 30% of the final grade.
The midterm exam composes 30% of the final grade. It will cover material for the first half of the course, including star identification and multiple choice / short answer.
The final exam composes 40% of the final grade and covers material from the entire semester. The format of the exam will be similar to the midterm.
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. For estimation purposes, the following scale should provide a good approximation.
| 4.0 | 94-100% |
| 3.5 | 88-93% |
| 3.0 | 82-87% |
| 2.5 | 76-81% |
| 2.0 | 70-75% |
| 1.5 | 60-69% |
| 1.0 | 50-59% |
A typical grade distribution (number of students who receive each grade) is shown below.
| 4.0 | 7 |
| 3.5 | 12 |
| 3.0 | 13 |
| 2.5 | 6 |
| 2.0 | 5 |
| 1.5 | 2 |
| 1.0 | 1 |
Updated Aug. 22, 2012