101 Test and Final Exam Policies SCHEDULING AND COMPOSITION The three tests will cover material indicated in the schedule by lecture numbers. Our three tests will each be at WebAssign. Each test will consist of about 4 MC questions worth about 5 points each, a group of numerical questions with about 6 answer boxes (worth about 6 points each) distributed among about 4 questions, and 2 free-response questions which will each require a PDF submission (worth about 22 points each). For some of the MC questions, you may be asked to very BRIEFLY explain your reasoning for your answer. For this MC reasoning, we will not be grading the "quality of your explanation"; instead, we just want the BRIEFEST possible set of words to show that you have a reasonable Newtonian reason for your MC selection. If you were to leave this space blank, or if you were to write "I just guessed at this one", then your MC credit for that question might possibly be voided. The multiple choice questions will cover conceptual questions or the simplest kind of calculation. For the numerical questions, you will get three tries, but you will lose 2 points for each incorrect try. The numerical and free-response questions may be similar to homework, but they may also represent applications of principles in different circumstances. The final examination will consist of 30 numerical questions (actually 30 answer blanks distributed among something less than 30 questions). The final will be comprehensive, with roughly one-third of the questions coming from the material from each third of the course. For the test and final exam dates, please see the lecture schedule which accompanies this syllabus. PROCEDURES The tests will open at WebAssign at the beginning of the lecture session during which the test is scheduled; there will be a 75-minute time limit. At the end, there will be a 10-minute period which you may use to perfect your pdf submissions for the test. To get credit for the test, you MUST join the Zoom meeting (in Dr. Adams' meeting room) for the lecture session during which the test is scheduled. If we decide to set a password for the test, then you will only find the password by joining the Zoom meeting. Also you MUST turn on your camera while you are working on the test. Please direct your camera so that we can see more than just your head when you are working. Anyone completing the test without joining the Zoom meeting will receive a ZERO for the test. If your computer does not have a webcam, then please join the Zoom meeting using your phone. You will still be allowed to pick up your phone and use it to photograph your free response answers for conversion to pdf and submission at WebAssign. You are permitted to use your hand calculator, and to have blank scratch paper for the tests. You may not use help from another person, from the internet, or from any notes or book. You should take the test exactly as if you were taking it ethically in an in-person class in our classroom PSF101. Please respect your fellow students. Our equation sheet and any other needed information (such as a periodic table) will be provided at WebAssign. MISSING A TEST You must take two of the three tests. If you take all three tests, then the lowest score of the three test scores will be deleted in the calculation of your test average. If you miss one test for a unexcused reason, that test will be your dropped score. If you miss two tests, please see Dr. Adams about requesting an incomplete; you must be passing at the time that you request an incomplete, or your request cannot be considered. Deadline for class withdrawal this semester is Nov 4. The final exam cannot be dropped. CHEATING Academic dishonesty on an examination will result AUTOMATICALLY in a failing grade for the course and referral to the Dean for further sanctions. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated! GRADING AND WEIGHTING Partial credit is given on the free-response questions, assuming you follow the proper format for answering free-response questions as given during lecture. Multiple choice questions are either right or wrong. Numerical questions lose one-third credit for each incorrect try. The average of your two best test scores will account for 20% of your overall course grade. The final exam will count for 20% of your overall course grade. The final exam cannot be dropped. TEST GRADING APPEALS Tests will be graded by graders and TA's. About two weeks after test submission, your graded work for the test will appear at WebAssign. If you wish to appeal the grading of one of your tests, you must follow these procedures: (1) If you think you deserve more points on a graded problem, you must submit an appeal IN WRITING, in pdf form, following the instructions in Section (2) below. Explain carefully exactly why you deserve more points, and ask for as many points as you think your answer deserves. Please DO NOT ASK your recitation TA to consider your appeal or to give advice on your appeal; they are not permitted to do so. It is unlikely that your TA graded the problem in question. (2) Send your WRITTEN appeal, in pdf form, along with the relevant pdf page of your original test, to Dr. Adams within two school days of receiving your graded test. (3) I will return your test to the person who graded it; that person must give you a written reply, in pdf form. If you are not satisfied with the grader's response to your appeal, then you may ask Dr. Adams to consider your appeal; in such cases I reserve the right to regrade your entire test.