Coursework

Work in this class will include readings from the textbook and from additional sources I provide, weekly assignments, two one-hour exams, a final exam, and in-class activities including collaborative exercises and written quizzes.

The total course load is intended to be 12 hours per week (including class time); the load should be spread evenly across the semester.

• Grading: Final grades are determined by the weighted average of exam scores (15% for the two one-hour exams, 30% for the final) and homeworks (40%). I reserve the right to adjust final grades based on in-class participation, quizzes and other factors.

• Exams: The two midterm exams are scheduled for Thursday 8 October and Thursday 12 November. The final exam is scheduled for exam slot 5. There will be no makeup exams for any reason. If you miss a midterm for an extremely legitimate reason, your final grade will be based on the other exams. If you miss a midterm without a legitimate reason, you will receive a zero. If you miss two midterms for any reason, you cannot pass the class. If you miss the final exam for an extremely legitimate reason we might be able to work something out.

• Assignments: We will have weekly assignments that are meant to give you an opportunity to apply and practice the material we cover in lecture. You will get the most benefit from these assignments if you work on them alone, although you are of course free to discuss the problems with other students and me.

In any class like this, it is difficult to draw a sharp line between accceptable and unacceptable forms of collaboration. Here are some guidelines that might help:

Plagiarism:

It is never acceptable to present someone else's work as if it were your own. Unless stated otherwise, I will assume that all work you hand in is yours and yours alone. If you ever find yourself in a gray area, it is always safest to acknowlege the people you worked with.

Self-deception:

If you get a lot of help with an assignment, it is easy to convince yourself that you are learning the material when you are not. Be careful.