Because we do so many assignments and so many planned and unplanned revisions --
and because there are so many other variables
(absences, lates, participation, penalties for negative participation and cell
phone use, etc. . .) -- it's not possible to determine your exact grade.
However, you can
estimate your grade based on the info below.
1. Average
your grades on the major assignments to get your tentative major assignments
grade. This is your most important grade.
Average your grades on the minor assignment to get your tentative minor
assignments grade. This is your next most important grade.
2.
What is your participation? Is it all positive? As the policy sheet makes
clear, negative participation harms your grade severely.
I do not calculate your participation until I have all of the others grades
in; I do this because, when determining your course grade,
I may weigh one category more heavily in your favor. Let's say you were not
so great with positive participation, but did extremely well on your
work
and had very few absences and no negative participation. Then I would raise
your participation grade so that your final grade would be higher than it
would
if I factored in your exact participation grade.
Students who participate negatively often fail to factor that in and are
surprised when they get a low final grade, though they shouldn't be.
It's been on the policy sheet since day one and we have talked about it in
class.
If I have had to talk to you personally about these kinds of problems, it's
not a good thing. Expect your final grade to be lower than the average of
your assignment.
3.
4. Have
you exceeded the allowed number of absences? If so, calculate the
deduction from the above total.
Have you not done any assignments? have you [] an Fails on Pass/Fail
assignments?
If so factor that in: see the grade-description page available from the
syllabus.
Be sure to factor in attendance and lates: see the policy page available
from the syllabus.
Things can and
do change, but there is more than enough info for you to get an idea of
where you stand.
As the semester progresses, just add in any new assignments and recalculate.
If you have made the necessary estimations and
done all of the math and still are uncertain,
please stop by during
my office hours.