Course Syllabus, Part 2

Graded Work for MAS 162 and MAS 170

David W. Lyons
Spring 2020

updated 15 March 2020

Note: Course policies are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Graded Work

Your cumulative average is determined by graded work in the categories listed below with the indicated weights. Details and instructions are given in the sections that follow.

Homework (daily) 10%

Exams (non-final) 60% total

Final Exam 30%

Homework

Homework is reading course material and solving problems. Each graded daily homework assignment is to show evidence of progress by submitting written solutions for at least two problems. Daily homework submissions are due before midnight on the day before every class meeting except for days marked "Review", "Exam", and "Workshop" on the Course Calendar. You may choose any problems you prefer from the sections listed on the Course Calendar for the next class meeting after the homework is due.

Homework Assignment Submission Instructions

Submit homework assignments online on Canvas. All solutions must be written using one or more complete sentences. Homework may be typed or written by hand. Work is not accepted late. There are no makeup assignments.

The simplest homework submission method is to take photos on your phone---one photo for each page of written solutions. Another possibility is to use a scanner. Submit all the homework assignment photos or scans as one packet using the Canvas phone app or to the Canvas web site using a computer.

Homework Standards and Grading

Homework assignments will be graded for preparation and completeness, not for correctness. Here is the scoring rubric for graded homework assignments.

Homework Assignment Scoring Rubric

Score Description

2 points Solutions to problems are fully prepared. Solutions are written using complete sentences. Submission is clear enough for readability on the classroom projection system.

1 points One or more solutions are not complete OR some of the submission is not clear enough to be readable using the classroom projection system.

0 points Written solutions are not prepared, or are unreadable, or not turned in before the deadline.

Homework Assignment Scoring Rubric
Score	Description
2 points	Solutions to problems are fully prepared. Solutions are written using complete sentences. Submission is clear enough for readability on the classroom projection system.
1 points	One or more solutions are not complete OR some of the submission is not clear enough to be readable using the classroom projection system.
0 points	Written solutions are not prepared, or are unreadable, or not turned in before the deadline.

Exams

Exam problems are based on, but not limited to, the assigned reading and exercises. Exam format, subject matter, and rules will be announced in advance. The final exam will be comprehensive, including material from the entire course. In keeping with College policy, the final exam can only be taken at the officially scheduled time during final exams week.

No music players or electronics with wireless or network capabilities (computers, phones, etc.) are allowed during exams. No hats with brims are allowed during quizzes or exams. If you need to leave the classroom during an exam, you must leave your cell phone at the instructor's desk in the front of the room.

For full credit, quiz and exam solutions must show not just final results, but also demonstrate with appropriate supporting work that you understand the reasoning involved. Solutions to some problems require responses written using one or more complete sentences. Solutions will be graded not only for mathematical correctness, but for clarity of writing. Illegible work or a final answer given without supporting work shown receives no credit.

Exam problem solutions will be graded using the following 5-point rubric. Exceptions will be announced in advance.

Exam Scoring Rubric

Score Description

5 points Solution is complete and correct, shows appropriate work, and uses correct vocabulary where prompted.

4 points Solution has a small flaw (for example, there's a correct solution method, but an arithmetic error throws off the final answer). Solution shows understanding of method(s) and issues involved.

3 points Solution has a "medium" flaw (too large to be "small"), or several small flaws.

2 points Response shows a start on the right direction, or has some part of the solution right, but largely goes wrong---too much wrong to earn 3 points.

1 point There is some attempt at the problem; there is plausible evidence that some aspect of the problem is grasped.

0 points No points are given for a blank response, an illegible response, or a final answer (say, for a computation) given with no supporting work shown, or if the response shows no plausible evidence that some key aspect of the solution is grasped.

Exam Scoring Rubric
Score	Description
5 points	Solution is complete and correct, shows appropriate work, and uses correct vocabulary where prompted.
4 points	Solution has a small flaw (for example, there's a correct solution method, but an arithmetic error throws off the final answer). Solution shows understanding of method(s) and issues involved.
3 points	Solution has a "medium" flaw (too large to be "small"), or several small flaws.
2 points	Response shows a start on the right direction, or has some part of the solution right, but largely goes wrong---too much wrong to earn 3 points.
1 point	There is some attempt at the problem; there is plausible evidence that some aspect of the problem is grasped.
0 points	No points are given for a blank response, an illegible response, or a final answer (say, for a computation) given with no supporting work shown, or if the response shows no plausible evidence that some key aspect of the solution is grasped.

Note on Canvas exams after 3/15/2020: Questions on Canvas exams have varying point values. For example, a multiple choice question is worth 1 point. A fill-in-the-blank(s) question is worth 1 point per entry. Free response questions have varying point values: criteria for partial credit is a scaled-back version of the "normal" (pre-online) exam scoring rubric given above.