131 Policies
A. General
The course during this Summer Session commences on Wednesday, July 5 and
concludes on Friday, Aug 4. 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 PSF-173. 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, which is distributed with this syllabus. To more fully prepare for
lecture, also take an advance look at that lecture's homework problems.
A small 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 PRS
transmitter. You must register your PRS transmitter in order for your
responses to be graded. A guide to PRS, 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 receive an E for the course, and may
be referred to the Dean for further sanctions.
Recitation sections occur daily from 9:30 - 10:10 (line #73804),
10:30 - 11:10 (line #75661), or 1:30 - 2:10 (line #75767). 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, review lecture material, 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 11:30 to 3:00 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-131, 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
July 14, 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:
Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed.Abdullah@asu.edu
Michael Lesniak Michael.Lesniak@asu.edu
Eric Dykeman Eric.Dykeman@asu.edu
Sampriti Bagchi Sampriti.Bagchi@asu.edu
B. PRS (Personal Response System)
You will use your PRS transmitter to answer Multiple Choice questions
during the lecture period. Your answers will be graded, and your
PRS grade will count 5% of your overall class grade. For the first
week, PRS questions will be considered practice questions, as
you learn to use your PRS transmitters. Beginning Mon. July 10, PRS
questions will be graded. You are always encouraged to discuss PRS
questions with your neighbors in lecture, but when answering, always
think for yourself. A correct answer will be counted as 3 points,
an incorrect answer will be counted as 2 points, and no answer will
be counted as zero points; so the penalty for an incorrect answer is
very small. There are expected to be about 50 PRS questions over
the course of the session, so the maximum possible PRS score will
be about 150 points. The final PRS grade will be determined as a
percentage out of 135 points (or ~ 90% of all possible points
should the number of possible PRS points change.) Your maximum PRS
grade is 100%, i.e. more than 135 points will not be counted as extra
credit. Since only 90% of all possible PRS points are required for
a perfect PRS score, no opportunity is provided to make up missed
PRS questions. USING SOMEOME ELSE'S TRANSMITTER, OR ALLOWING SOMEONE
TO USE YOUR TRANSMITTER, WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC FAILING GRADE FOR
THE COURSE. It is your responsibility to make sure that your PRS
transmitter is in working order, and that your response is recorded.
See the PRS page on our class web site for
tips.
C. 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 nineteen 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.
Your recitation section TA, or a grader, 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 133 problems
for the session, with 19 problems graded for ten points and the rest graded
for one point, there are a total of 304 possible homework points for the
entire session. Your final homework grade will be calculated as a
percentage of 270 points; that is, an equivalent of two drops is built in
to the system. More than 270 points will not be counted as extra credit;
i.e., your maximum homework grade is 100 percent.
LESS THAN 90 HOMEWORK POINTS IS AN AUTOMATIC E.
D. Quizzes
There will be 15 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 three
drops; i.e. the final quiz average will include your 12 best quizzes. THERE
WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES.
E. 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, AUG 4, 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 2005 offering of PHY-131 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 calendar
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.)
F. Final Grades.
The final course grades will be determined with the following weights:
PRS: 5%
Homework: 8%
Quizzes: 7%
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 2005 grade scale
Summer 2004 grade scale
Summer 2003 grade scale
Summer 2002 grade scale
G. Withdrawal
Withdrawal policies are established by the University (see the
2006 Summer Session Bulletin
and the 2006 ASU Calendar.)
The deadline for course withdrawal is July 21. Other deadlines are also
given in the Calendar.
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