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Carefully read the following course policy (*.html version 080118) regarding
contact information, grading, and attendance.
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Welcome to Physics 5A (sections 4987, 4988)
This course is the first semester of a two-semester sequence, introducing the fundamentals of classical physics. Student learning outcomes are organized into four general topics:
We will be using the following class materials, all available at the Cuesta College Bookstore (San Luis Obispo campus: 546-3206; North County campus: 591-6206):
Contact Information E-mail will be the preferred (and most reliable) means of communication, and will be checked regularly throughout the day as well as from off-campus. When using e-mail, include "Spring 2008 Phys 5A" in the subject line. Voice mail messages left at the number listed below will be checked regularly during the workweek.
Lectures are MWF 9:30-10:30 AM in Room 2402. Attendance is mandatory. You are responsible for all topics covered and materials handed out in lecture. Missing class means that you cannot receive credit for participation in responding to CPS clicker questions. You are expected to take quizzes and midterms in class at the scheduled dates and times. Tardiness and absences for any reason whatsoever will result in a zero quiz score, and arrangements for missed midterms can only be made under special circumstances. Students are responsible for their own enrollment status in this class, and are expected to handle their own adds and/or drops accordingly, as authorized by the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to drop students due to non-attendance. Due to campus policy, under no circumstances are non-registered students or visitors allowed to attend lecture, unless written permission has been explicitly granted by the Physical Sciences Division. Course Components The responsibility for learning is yours. If you complete the assigned readings, homework assignments, laboratory reports and participate fully in the group in-class activities and individual CPS clicker responses, you should do well on the quizzes, midterms and on the Final Exam. All students in Physics 5A should be able to attain the expected level of understanding. You will not succeed if you do not attend the lectures, and/or do not regularly put forth a good effort into the reading, homework, and responding to CPS clicker questions.
There is no curve for this course, your performance is determined by a 700-point scale. This scale will be strictly adhered to--there will be no adjustments nor any "rounding up" of scores. Your accumulated points towards this scale will be tabulated periodically throughout this semester. You are expected to retain all graded work that is handed back to you as a record to check for unintentional record-keeping errors; a *.pdf worksheet is available to keep track of your scores throughout this semester.
Your course grade in Physics 5A is comprised of your lab work, homework, quiz and exam scores, and individual CPS clicker participation: [700 points] total = [100 points] lab + [150 points] quizzes + [250 points] exams + [200 points] clickers. Labs [approximately 14.3% of your course grade] Different lab report grading and late policies may apply in your section; inquire with your laboratory instructor for details. Your lab grade points will be renormalized, if necessary, to reflect a score out of a maximum of 100 points. Note that the Physical Sciences Division policy is that three or more missed labs will result in a failing grade for both lab and lecture for Physics 5A. Quizzes [21.4% of your total course grade] There are eight quizzes, and each quiz will take up 25 minutes of class (from 9:30-9:55 AM). Do not be late! Quizzes are closed-book and closed-notes. Each quiz has ten multiple-choice questions of equal weight (each worth 3.0 points), intentionally taken from homework assignments. No work needs to be shown for multiple-choice questions. No partial credit is given for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. No scantron forms are required for quizzes, as you will record your answers on the quiz itself. Calculators are allowed for the quizzes, midterms, and the Final Exam; make sure you have a scientific calculator available. The sharing of calculators between students during a quiz is strictly prohibited. The procurement and possession of a scientific calculator for a quiz (or midterm or Final Exam) is solely the responsibility of each and every student. A limited number of calculators may be available for student use from the instructor, but under no circumstances is the instructor obliged to provide "loaner" scientific calculators to each and every student who fails to bring one. In any case all students are expected to be able to perform any and all calculations by hand; use of scientific calculators on a quiz (or midterm or Final Exam) should be considered a privilege and not a right. Since there are eight quizzes in this semester; your three lowest scores are dropped, and are not included in calculating your course grade. Thus your five highest quiz scores are each worth 4.3% of your course grade (or a maximum of 30 points each). This in effect allows you to miss three quizzes, if you are content with the scores on your remaining five quizzes--but it is strongly encouraged that you do not abuse this policy early in the semester. Because of this, make-up quizzes are not allowed because of absences or tardiness. It is important that you come to every class in a timely and prompt manner. As such, if you come to class at any time between 9:30-9:55 AM, you will only be given the remaining time until 9:55 AM to take the quiz. It is expected that each and every student makes the necessary arrangements and contingency plans in advance to arrive promptly to class on a quiz day. Again, under no circumstances will a make-up quiz be given because of an absence or tardiness once a quiz has been collected from the class at 9:55 AM. Keep in mind that you are allowed to drop your three lowest quiz scores, regardless of whether they are due to an absence or actual low score. It is the intent of this policy to allow for whatever circumstances may arise during the semester that would preclude you from being able to take a quiz at the assigned dates and times. You cannot have the score for a quiz that you have already taken retroactively replaced, removed, or excused. By showing up and taking a quiz, your actions imply that you are prepared and able to perform to the best of your ability on the quiz at the assigned date and time, and demonstrate your intent to have your work graded equitably with the rest of the class. Note that there are only seven scheduled quizzes in the semester. "Quiz 8" is credit for showing up and taking both pre- and post-tests for educational research (Physics Survey B and/or the Maryland Physics Expectations Survey) in a conscientious and serious manner, on the first and last lectures of the semester. Exams [35.7% of your total course grade] There are two scheduled midterms, and each midterm will take up 50 minutes of class (from 9:30-10:20 AM). Do not be late! Midterms are closed-book and closed-notes. The Final Exam is scheduled to be given on Wednesday, May 21, 9:45-11:45 AM. However, the Final Exam is cumulative, covering material from Midterm 1 and from Midterm 2, with a slight emphasis on material covered after Midterm 2. Each midterm will be weighted at 10.7% of your course grade (or a maximum of 75 points each). The Final Exam is weighted at 14.3% of your course grade (or a maximum of 100 points). You are not allowed to drop nor skip a midterm/Final Exam. Each midterm is comprised of five multiple-choice questions (each worth a maximum of 3.0 points), two short-answer questions based on end-of-chapter discussion questions (each worth a maximum of 10 points), and two problems (each worth a maximum of 20 points). The Final Exam is comprised of two short-answer questions based on end-of-chapter discussion questions (each worth a maximum of 10 points), and four problems (each worth a maximum of 20 points). No work needs to be shown for multiple-choice questions. No partial credit is given for incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions. For the short-answer questions and worked-out problems, credit (and partial credit) is awarded primarily for relevant and reasoned physics concepts and skills used in your explanations, as discussed below. Note that partial credit cannot be given for a question that is left blank! (Physics 5A grading rubric for short-answer questions)
(Physics 5A grading rubric for worked-out problems)
There are no make-up midterms or Final Exams allowed, but carefully read the following policy:
CPS Clickers [28.6% of your total course grade] Throughout this semester, there will be questions presented to the class to be individually responded to using your Classroom Performance System clicker. You are responsible for purchasing, registering, and bringing your CPS clicker to each class. As an incentive for students to purchase and register their CPS clickers as soon as possible, credit will not be awarded until after you have registered your own individual CPS clicker. However, if you bring your registered clicker to class and it is not functioning reliably, you may be allowed at the discretion of your instructor either use a "loaner" clicker, or to turn in a written record of your in-class responses for credit. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to use a "loaner" clicker or to submit a written record of your in-class responses unless you have already purchased and registered your CPS clicker.
There will be opportunities near the end of the semester to accumulate extra-credit points. It is the intent of these extra-credit points to allow for circumstances where your total course points are very near a letter grade cut-off, which in effect will be "rounded up" with the inclusion of these extra-credit points. Academic Responsibilities You will be expected to be informed of and to abide by all student policies outlined in the Cuesta College Catalog, 2007-2008. You are also responsible for being informed of and to abide by all student policies and calendar deadlines in the Cuesta College Spring '08 Class Schedule, especially those listed on the inside front cover. |
