Physics 126 Grading Policy

The course grade will be determined as follows.

Grading for this class is on an absolute scale with 85-100 corresponding to an A, 75-85 to a B, 60-75 to a C, and 40-60 to a D. Sub-ranges for + and - will be determined later. If fewer than half of you manage an average above 75, the grade range will be adjusted downward so that 50% of the students will receive a B or higher. Because the scale is absolute, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by working together. It is possible for everyone in this class to get an A.

Reweighting the Low End

Since everyone has an occasional bad or missed day:

• the lowest 4 lecture scores will be dropped
• the lowest 3 discussion scores will be dropped
• the lowest Wiley Plus HW will be dropped

Your Discussion Instructor Has the Power

Your final course grade will be determined and recorded by your discussion instructor. All questions about grades should be directed to your instructor.

Academic Honesty

This course will be fair to everyone, with grades determined solely by your own ability and effort. We will run with an honor system approach, without excessive attention to security measures. But know for certain that violations will be busted, including

• Giving or receiving assistance during exams, or using unauthorized reference materials.
• Using a lecture reply unit that is not your own, or asking another student to do so.
• Giving or accepting answers to the lecture questions from someone in another lecture section.
• Having another student sign your discussion attendance sheet.
• Submitting online homework that is not your own, or allowing another student to access your account. (You are encouraged to work together and get help in the Help Room, but the final work must be your own.)
• Cheating on exams

If your own sense of personal integrity is not enough of a guide to what constitutes academic dishonesty, please see the LS&A Code of Academic Conduct which also spells out the penalties, ranging up to expulsion from the University, in considerable detail.