Grading Formula

Your grade will be determined by summing (not averaging) the total points you earn. The grading is non-competitive so that helping another student will not hurt your own grade. Total possible points will be approximately 500. Divide your total points by 100 at the end of the course to get your grade: 400+ = 4.0. 300 = 3.0. etc.

Units: There are four 2- or 3-week units in the course. Each unit is worth 100 to 160 points, depending on length. Consult the syllabus for details.

• The quarter schedule (including holidays) makes some units longer than others
  
• Each unit will have one or two homework assignments and an exam totaling the specified number of points.

Exams: Exams will be worth about 80-120 of the total points in each unit. Consult the syllabus for details.

• Notes and textbooks are not allowed at exams.
  
• Exams will be mostly non-cumulative and will include questions on lecture, reading, and discussion material.
  
• The discussion section before each exam will be used as a review day for going over the exam material. Study guides will be handed out in advance.
• The exams will be computer-graded mark-sense multiple choice questions. Please bring a scantron form to each exam.
  
• Multiple-choice questions will involve understanding and analysis of oceanographic progress and processes, with a minimum of memorization.
• Multiple versions of the exams will be administered, with the same material but with differences in the order of both questions and answers.
• Makeup Exams Please notify your TA as soon as possible if you must miss an exam because of illness, emergency, or legitimate academic conflict. If necessary, the TA's will schedule ONE makeup exam as soon as possible after the original exam for all students with approved absences. Please cooperate promptly with the TA's to schedule a time that will work for all students involved.
  

• Assignments will consist of short-answer questions relating to lectures and discussions.
• Grades on homework will depend on completeness, accuracy, clarity, and originality.
• Due dates for homework assignments will be announced & posted on the syllabus and Ship's Log.
  
• Late homework will not be accepted.
  
• Success on homework assignments in the lecture section will depend on your participation in and understanding & documentation of class discussions.
• Internet homework assignments will be posted and submitted online. They will not depend on the discussion conducted by the lecture students.
  

Academic Honesty

• We have structured this course to include cooperative learning exercises, and we encourage students to study together and discuss their potential answers to homework, extra credit, and exam questions.
  
• Written work that is partially or completely identical to that of another student will receive reduced or zero credit. To earn credit, all written homework, extra credit, and exam work must be submitted in your own words, even if you worked with a friend in preparing it. This is the only way we can tell whether material came from study groups in which each person contributed or was simply copied from a friend.