101 Policies

A. General

     The course during this Semester commences on TUE Jan 8 and concludes on THU Apr 25. The course work will consist of two lectures each week in room PSF-101, plus a two-hour laboratory session and a one-hour recitation session each week. The lectures will present a introduction to the basic interactions between the particles that make up our universe, and examine the quantities that change, or do not change, as a result of those interactions. The principal methods of scientific investigation will be examined in the laboratory. The recitation provides an opportunity to learn and practice problem-solving skills in a smaller group setting. The lab, lecture, and recitation combine to make a four-hour course; you must attend and successfully complete each part of the course. A complete schedule of tests, lectures, reading assignments, recitation quizzes, and labs is distributed with this syllabus. All homework assignments will be done online, but some of these will ALSO be turned in at recitation; homework assignments are available only at your WebAssign web site.

     LECTURES are on TTH from 9:00 until 10:15 or from 10:30 until 11:45 in PSF-101. Students are responsible for any information imparted to the class during lectures. Minimal preparation for lecture is to do the reading assignment for that day. To more fully prepare for lecture, also take an advance look at the homework problems which will be assigned for that lecture. A number of Multiple Choice questions will be asked during each lecture. These may cover the reading assignment, or may check your comprehension of some topic that I have just covered in lecture. You are expected to record your response to these questions using your Turning Point transmitter or software. You must register your Turning Point transmitter in order for your responses to be graded. A guide to Turning Point, including instructions for registering your transmitter, can be found at the course web site. YOU MUST USE ONLY THE TRANSMITTER THAT YOU REGISTER AND NO OTHER. Use of another student's transmitter is a case of academic dishonesty, just exactly like cheating on a test. Any and all students involved in any such incidents will automatically receive an E for the course, and may be referred to the Dean for further sanctions.

Full list of Turning Point Policies

Full list of Test and Final Exam Policies

     RECITATION sections occur weekly as scheduled, beginning with the MON 10:45 recitation on MON Jan 14. The last recitation meeting will be the MON 11:50 recitation on MON Apr 22. This schedule results in 13 recitation meetings for every student. The purpose of the recitation section is to give the student an opportunity in a small class environment to learn essential concepts and problem-solving strategies. Some recitation periods will open with a short quiz. In addition, all written homework must be turned in at recitation.

Full list of Quiz Policies

Full list of Homework Policies

     LABORATORY Sessions occur weekly as scheduled beginning MON Jan 22. The lab final is scheduled for Apr 22 - Apr 23. The purpose of the lab session is to introduce the student to basic principles of scientific investigation.

Full list of Lab Policies

     HELP-STUDY Sessions are for the students' benefit, but participation is optional. Beginning MON Jan 14, the Physics Success Center (PSF-186) will be staffed by volunteer faculty and Teaching Assistants several hours each day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Teaching Assistants associated with this course will keep some of their office hours in the Success Center.

     An EMAIL account is available for every student enrolled at ASU. Instructions for obtaining an email account can be obtained at the ASU Computer Commons. Important class information will be disseminated through ASU email. The student will be responsible for receiving it. If you currently have a working ASU email account, then you need do nothing. If you have not recently used your ASU email account, then you should double-check to make sure that your email is properly being redirected to your favorite email address.

B. Final Grades.

The final course grades will be determined with the following weights:

Turning Point: 10%
Online Homework: 10%
Written Homework: 5%
Quizzes: 10%
Labs: 25%
Tests (best 2 of 3): 25%
Final Examination: 15%

The plus-minus grade system will be used. The scale for final letter grades will ultimately be determined by the overall class performance; however, any student with an overall class average of 90% can expect to receive no less than A minus. You should save all graded materials in the case of an appeal or a misrecorded grade. For a detailed explanation of the grading process see HOW TO FIGURE YOUR FINAL GRADE. (usually posted later in the semester).

C. Withdrawal

     Withdrawal policies are established by the University (see the ASU Calendar and the ASU Student Information site). The deadline for course withdrawal is Mar 31. Other deadlines are also given in the Calendar or the Undergraduate Catalog.

D. Appendices

     Additional, University-required information on commericial note-taking, accommodations, classroom behavior, Title IX, and withdrawal details can be found in the Online Appendix.


Lecture and Reading Schedule