Required Text:

Cecie Starr

Grading Protocol: Your grade will be based on the following:

A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 67-79% D = 55-66% F < 54%

Lecture:

Lecture:

Three Lecture Exams:  (250pts each) The lecture exams may include any material covered in the lectures up to the lecture prior to the exam date. Exam material may also come from concepts covered during lab lectures as these are integral to the material learned in lecture. These exams will be multiple-choice and will require Scan-tron 882-E forms.

Comprehensive Final Exam: (300 pts) It will have two sections. The first part will contain material covered since the last in-class exam and the end of the semester. The second part will contain material covered throughout the course. It will be multiple-choice and will require a Scan-tron 882-E form.

Various Assignments: (150 pts) Various Iin-class and online assignments. On-line assignments give you a chance to earn points while studying for the exams. The assignments are “quizzes” which can be accessed through the class webpage. They are written by your textbook publisher. Use your text to answer the questions and then submit the answers. After you take each “quiz” you will be able to email the results to me. You will get points for completing each chapter’s quiz. In-class assignments are intended to give you a chance to work through material with your classmates and to encourage regular attendance. These will generally be unannounced and you must be present to get credit.

Extra Credit:  

Study Guides- up to 10pts each (40pts) Study Guides are optional but effective tools to help prepare for an exam. Students who follow the study guide and write down their answers tend to do better on exams than those who do not.  Study guides that are written out on separate sheets are worth up to 10 points toward the exam. You may work on study guides together however, each student must turn in their own work (no photocopies or double computer printouts).

(NOTE: There will be no other extra credit or “make-up” projects.)

Lab:

A note regarding labs- Attendance in labs is extremely crucial to your overall grade. If you miss more than two labs, you are very unlikely to pass the class.

Weekly Quizzes: (15pts each) There will be a quiz each week in lab that will be completed at the beginning of the period– so don’t be late. Quizzes will be based on material covered in the previous lab and may be multiple choice, diagrams or fill-in. The quizzes will require the Scan-tron “quizstrips” 882-ES (you can also use the regular 882-E). NOTE: If you are late for lab and no one has finished the quiz yet, you may take it. If anyone has finished the quiz, then you are too late and will not be allowed to take the quiz.

Lab Assignments: (10pts each) Each lab has an associated lab report that you will find in your lab manual. During each lab, you will complete a laboratory assignment. I will check these off for completeness before you leave the lab, but you will retain them for study. Late labs (within one week of the lab) will earn half credit. Late labs will not be accepted if not turned in within a week. You must be present to get credit for these assignments.

Lab Participation: (25pts) Lab participation points are not earned, but can be lost. You will start out with 25pts.You can lose points by being late to lab (-3pts each tardy), not participating in group work, being disrespectful to others, not being ready to start lab, etc.

Important Dates

Friday, February 9                                 Last day to drop without a “W” (no refund)

Thursday, April 26                                 Last day to drop with a “W”

Wednesday, May 23                              2:10-4:40pm      Final Exam

 Holidays

Monday, February 19                             President’s Day: No classes                  

Monday, April 2 – 8                               Spring Break!!

Class Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend lecture and laboratory periods regularly.  I will not grade on attendance per se, but in-class assignments will be given and students who miss class will not be able to make them up. I cannot and will not demand that you attend every single lecture. However, I will do my best to encourage your attendance. WHY? It has been shown in study after study that students who attend class regularly do better on tests and students who miss classes tend not to do as well. AND I WANT EVERYONE TO DO REALLY WELL IN THIS CLASS! To that end, I will give you the answers to every exam question in advance of the exam. All you have to do is come to lecture and write them down.  

 
Drop Policy: Students are responsible for dropping a class and must fill out the appropriate paperwork by the above deadline to officially drop the course.  I reserve the right to drop students who have missed 2 or more exams or have stopped attending class by the drop deadline.

Special Needs: If you need special accommodations (for learning or physical disabilities), please see me after the first class so that I can make appropriate adjustments in the class to meet your needs.  You may visit the Learning Disability Center if you have any questions.

Support Services: The counseling office offers a wide variety of support services to help you through your college career.  Services such as tutoring, short reading and writing skills classes, financial aid, programs in educational transition and help for disabled students are offered for your benefit.

Cheating Policy: College of San Mateo (and this instructor) has a strict no cheating policy. Students found cheating on class examinations, quizzes or homework may be expelled from this class.