121 Policies
A. General
The course during this Summer Session commences on Tuesday, June 1 and
concludes on Friday, July 2. A schedule of lectures, examinations and
homework assignments can be found at
Homework and Lecture Schedule
Lectures occur daily from 7:40 until 9:20 in PSH-153. Roll is not
taken, but attendance is strongly advised. Students are responsible for any
information imparted to the class during lectures.
Recitation sections occur daily from 9:30-10:10 (line #'s
53308 and 65304), 10:30-11:10 (line # 52177), or 2:40-3:20
(line # 52247). The recitations are conducted by graduate Teaching
Assistants. During the recitations the TA's may respond to questions
involving homework problems, demonstrate problem-solving techniques,
ask students to present solutions to the class, go over test problems
from previous semesters, etc.
Most recitations will begin with a short QUIZ similar to one of the HW
problems which is due on that day. Quiz days are indicated with a "Q"
alongside the date on the Homework and Lecture Schedule which
accompanies this syllabus.
Recitation sections are part of the obligatory classroom period for the
course and each student must participate in order to obtain a passing grade.
HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT ANY PLACE OR TIME OTHER THAN
THE RECITATION SECTION AND THEN ONLY FROM ITS AUTHOR. Thus, absence from
recitation section results automatically in a reduction of homework credit.
The Help-Study Hall (PSF-462) will be staffed by faculty and Teaching
Assistants from 11:20 to 2:20 PM each day except examination days. Help-Study
Sessions are for the students' benefit, and taking advantage of these
Sessions has made a significant difference in the success of many students,
but participation is completely optional. Teaching Assistants associated
with this course will inform their respective recitation sections of the
hours during which they will be present in the Help-Study Hall, and they
will not otherwise keep office hours. When visiting the Help-Study Hall
you may of course ask questions of any member of the course staff on duty.
Students who find it impossible to attend the Help-Study sessions because
of other commitments can arrange office appointments with the instructor
or TA's.
An e-mail account is available for every student enrolled at ASU.
Instructions for obtaining an e-mail account can be obtained at the ASU
Computer Commons. Use of this resource is optional to Summer Session students
in PHY-121, but highly recommended. Useful class information will be
disseminated through e-mail. If you currently have an ASU e-mail
account, then you need do nothing. If you DO NOT currently have an e-mail
account at ASU, or if you do not receive an e-mail from the instructor by
June 7, then you should send the instructor a message at the address
gary.adams@asu.edu. Please sign your name to the message. Your e-mail
address will be copied from your message and added to the class list. Here
are the e-mail addresses for the Summer Session TA's:
Asiya Gul Asiya.Gul@asu.edu
Eric Dykeman Eric.Dykeman@asu.edu
Yoshiko Oharu Yoshiko.Oharu@asu.edu
Razieh Behkam Razieh.Behkam@asu.edu
Alaine Young Alaine.Young@asu.edu
B. Homework
A list of assigned homework problems can be found at
Homework and Lecture Schedule. There
is one problem set for each lecture. Due to the time constraints of a five-week
session about half as much homework is assigned as during a normal fifteen-week
session; however, in general the summer assignments consist of only the more
challenging problems from each chapter. Many problems are assigned from other
textbooks; these problems are available in the Online Problems section of the
course web site. The answers to all odd-numbered problems can be found in the
back of the text; answers to the assigned even-numbered problems (and problems
from other texts) are available on the class web site. You may wish to do some
of the simpler problems in preparation for the assigned problems; however, you
should turn in only the assigned problems.
There are twenty homework assignments at an average of seven problems each.
EACH ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON THE SCHOOL DAY AFTER IT IS ASSIGNED. The
following policies govern homework:
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY DURING THE RECITATION SECTION ON THE DAYS
THEY ARE DUE. To repeat, the due date is the school day after the assignment
is made. Late homework will be graded but not credited.
HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY
FROM ITS OWN AUTHOR. Don't attempt to have it delivered by a friend or
relative.
Working with others is ENCOURAGED as a means of improving one's
understanding through questioning and explaining, but written homework
solutions should be one's own. Homework that has obviously been copied will
not receive credit and the students involved will be subject to charges of
academic dishonesty. This INCLUDES homework copied from any available
solutions manuals.
Your recitation section TA will grade one problem from each assignment
for 10 points each. The problems to be graded will be selected at random but
will be the same for all recitation sections. The remaining problems will be
counted for 1 point each for each complete (although not necessarily correct)
solution. Since there are a total of 140 problems for the session, with 20
problems graded for ten points and the rest graded for one point, there are a
total of 320 possible homework points for the entire session. Your final
homework grade will be calculated as a percentage of 280 points; that is,
an equivalent of two drops is built in to the system. More than 280 points
will not be counted as extra credit; i.e., your maximum homework grade is
100 percent.
A MINIMUM OF 90 HOMEWORK POINTS IS REQUIRED
FOR A PASSING GRADE
IN THE COURSE.
C. Quizzes
There will be 16 quizzes. Each quiz will be given at the beginning
of a recitation period; the quiz days are indicated by a "Q" alongside
the date on the Homework and Lecture Schedule distributed with
this syllabus. Quizzes will be similar to one of the HW problems due on that
day. Quizzes will be the same for all recitation sections. There are four
drops; i.e. the final quiz average will include your 12 best quizzes. THERE
WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES.
D. Examinations
The four tests will cover material as indicated in the calendar
Homework and Lecture Schedule
which accompanies this syllabus. There is no comprehensive final examination;
however, physics is a cumulative subject and material which is offered late in
the session usually requires mastery of earlier material. As a result,
TEST 4, GIVEN ON FRIDAY, JULY 2, SERVES THE PURPOSE OF A
FINAL EXAM AND IS REQUIRED FOR A PASSING GRADE IN THE COURSE. YOU MUST BE
PRESENT ON THIS DAY. Each test will consist of 4-5 problems and 12-13
multiple choice questions. The problems may be similar to homework, but
they may also represent applications of principles in entirely different
circumstances. The multiple choice questions may cover conceptual
questions as well as simpler problems. The tests for this instructor's
Summer 2003 offering of PHY-121 are available at the Noble Library
Copy Center, with solutions. These old tests will be used as recitation
material by the TA's and they make good study guides. For the four summer
test dates, see the
Homework and Lecture Schedule.
Examinations are governed by the following policies:
THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP TESTS. If you miss one of the
first three tests then that test must be your drop. You must be present
for the fourth test.
Drop policy. We have adopted a more flexible drop policy
during the summer session. The spring drop policy is that one test may
be dropped. If you choose, you may still drop any one of the first three
tests; however, in order to offer more drop options we will grade the
multiple choice and problem sections of the tests separately. A student
then has then option of dropping any one MC and any one problem section,
except that YOU CANNOT DROP BOTH SECTIONS OF TEST 4. Here are two
examples to help you understand your options:
TEST MC1 PROB1 MC2 PROB2 MC3 PROB3 MC4 PROB4 AVERAGE
possible 60 65 60 65 60 65 60 65 100%
Student A 50 48 45 52 20 45 30 55 74.7%
Student B 20 52 40 45 50 42 45 36 73.1%
For Student A the lowest multiple choice is the 20 in Test 3, and the
lowest problem section is the 45 in that same test. Dropping those two
sections gives student A 280 out of 375 possible points for a test
average of 74.7%. On the other hand, student B drops MC #1 and
Problems #4, yielding an test average of 73.1% (274 out of 375).
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!
The use of hand calculators is permitted. However, your
calculator MAY NOT contain stored physics equations.
Test paper (including scratch paper) will be provided. Bring only
your pencils and calculators.
Formula sheets will not be used in tests. Understanding a concept of
physics is tantamount to knowing its mathematical expression and how to apply
it to a given physical situation. Non-trivial derivatives and integrals,
numerical values of physical constants, and some case-specific formulas will
be provided when their use is required.
Partial credit is given. Arithmetical errors will be treated charitably,
but for answers that do not make physical sense (wrong dimensions, deviation
by several orders of magnitude, etc.) no credit will be awarded. In general,
you must get the PHYSICS right to receive any partial credit. Wrong
physics = no credit.
In the event of a fire alarm occuring during an examination, students
will be asked to close their examination booklets, gather their belongings and
leave the room as expeditiously as possible, leaving their examination
booklets on the tables where they were working. The booklets will be gathered
and graded as they are. Unless the alarm proves to represent a bona fide
emergency, there will be no make-up examination.
If a student believes there to have been an error in grading his or her
examination, the complaint should be put in writing and handed, together
with the examination, to the course instructor. The problem will be regraded
by the individual who graded it originally. If the student is not satisfied with
the grader's response to the complaint, he or she may appeal to the course
instructor. In this event, the instructor reserves the prerogative to regrade
the entire examination. (Simple errors, such as point addition, can be
corrected by contacting the student's recitation section instructor.)
D. Final Grades.
The final course grades will be determined with the following weights:
Homework: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Tests: 80%
A MINIMUM OF 90 HOMEWORK POINTS IS REQUIRED
FOR A PASSING GRADE
IN THE COURSE.
The scale for final letter grades will ultimately be determined
by the overall class performance. However, any student who earns 90% of all
possible points can expect to receive an A.
Summer 2003 grade scale
Summer 2002 grade scale
Summer 2001 grade scale
Summer 2000 grade scale
Summer 1999 grade scale
Summer 1998 grade scale
Summer 1997 grade scale
Summer 1996 grade scale
E. Withdrawal
Withdrawal policies are established by the University (see the
2004 Summer Session Bulletin
and the 2004 ASU Calendar.)
The deadline for unrestricted course
withdrawal is June 8. Other deadlines are also given in the
Calendar. The
important point to remember is that after June 8 (and before any other
withdrawal deadline) one will receive either a W or an E depending respectively
upon whether or not one is "passing" the course at that time as certified by
the instructor. In particular, a cumulative homework score of less than 20%
at the time of withdrawal will be interpreted as failing. Performance on
examinations will also be taken into consideration.
Incompletes are an alternative offered by the University for students who
are succeeding in a course, but who, because of unavoidable circumstances,
are unable to complete the coursework in the allotted time. Students who
are granted an incomplete must, in general, repeat the course from the
beginning and complete all work within one calendar year. You MUST have
a passing grade at the time that you request an incomplete, otherwise your
request cannot be considered.
Homework and Lecture Schedule
Course Updates