Grades FAQ

What counts towards my grade in this course?

There are 17 Mastery Quizzes in this course, one for each section of the textbook. Your grade will depend on your ability to show mastery on each of these quizzes by the end of the semester.

You can earn 0, 1, 2, or 3 points on each Mastery Quiz, depending on the number of questions you answer correctly. You can retake one Mastery Quiz of your choice during each of the scheduled Retake opportunities in class. If you take a certain Mastery Quiz more than once, then only your highest score will be counted towards your grade. See the Mastery Quiz FAQ and Homework Calendar for more information.

How will my grade be calculated?

At the end of the semester, your grade in this course will be determined by your highest scores on each of the 17 Mastery Quizzes, as follows:

  • To earn a grade of “A”
    • 3 points on at least 14 of the 17 Mastery Quizzes
    • No Mastery Quiz scores below 2
  • To earn a grade of “B” or higher
    • 3 points on at least 8 of the 17 Mastery Quizzes
    • No Mastery Quiz scores below 2
  • To earn a grade of “C” or higher
    • 3 points on at least 5 of the 17 Mastery Quizzes
    • No more than 3 Mastery Quiz Scores of 1
    • No Mastery Quiz scores below 1
  • To earn a grade of “D” or higher
    • 2 points on at least 8 of the 17 Mastery Quizzes
    • No Mastery Quiz scores below 1

I reserve the right to adjust the numbers and break points listed above during the semester if necessary, based on how things are going. I will determine what to do about situations that fall outside of these guidelines at the end of the semseter, if and when those situations arise. Any non-Mastery-Quiz assignments can help push borderline grades.

For those of you who think schematically, here is a table representing these grade requirements. You can print this table and use the last column to fill in your own current scores for comparison:hidden

A B C D your scores
3 ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔
2 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔
1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔
0

What if I need to withdraw?

The last day you can drop a class without anything appearing on your transcript is the university Course Adjustment Drop/Add deadline of January 16. After that, you can drop a class and get a “W” on your transcript until the university Withdrawl deadline of March 16.

In extraordinary situations, grades of “WP” or “WF” can be given after the Withdrawl deadline, at the instructor’s discretion. In my classes “WP” grades can only be given if the student has the equivalent of a grade of  “C-” or better at the time of withdrawl. Please discuss your situation with your academic advisor before withdrawing from this or any class.