121 Policies - Fall 2022

A. General
     The course during this Semester commences on THU Aug 18 and concludes on MON Dec 5 (at the Final Exam).

     Class meetings are on MW from 4:30 until 5:45 either in PSH-356 or else in Dr. Adams' Zoom meeting room (https://asu.zoom.us/j/8349628496). THERE IS NO LECTURING at these class meetings. Instead, class time is spent working on the more complex homework problems. (see Active Learning, and the Active Learning Supplement for Fall 2022). Minimal preparation for each class meeting is to do the reading assignment for that day, and to answer the Reading Quiz questions (at Mastering Physics) for that reading assignment. To more fully prepare for each class meeting, also take an advance look at the homework problems which will be assigned for that day (at Mastering Physics). A number of multiple choice questions will be asked during each class meeting. These may cover the reading assignment, or may check your comprehension of some topic that has been covered earlier in the class. You are expected to record your response to these questions by logging in to your Mastering Physics account with your phone or laptop and using Learning Catalytics. You must enter your ASU Posting ID within Learning Catalytics in order for your responses to be saved and graded.

     RECITATION will meet weekly on THU from 3:00 to 3:50 PM either in PSH-356 or else in your recitation TA's Zoom meeting room. Nine of this semester's recitations will include exercises which will be completed with the help of your recitation instructor and your Learning Assistants (LA's). These exercises will usually provide an introduction to the concepts and problem-solving strategies which will then be explored in detail in the following week's readings, classroom exercises, and homeworks; however, in some cases, the concepts will have already been introduced in the reading and the exercises will provide additional practice. For recitations with exercises, a subsequent lecture will begin with a WebAssign MiniQuiz which will be directly related to the material covered in the exercise. Look for MQ within our Topic and Reading Schedule to see the dates of our MQ's. The six Tests are also given during the recitation period; on those six days, the recitation period is entirely occupied with taking the Test (see the Recitation Schedule for these test dates).

     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. Important class information may be disseminated through e-mail. The student will be responsible for receiving it. If you currently have an ASU e-mail 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. Learning Catalytics and Classwork
     You will use Learning Catalytics to answer Multiple Choice questions during the class meetings. For the first two class meetings, Learning Catalytics questions will be considered practice questions, as we learn to use the system. Beginning MON Aug 29, at least some Learning Catalytics questions will be graded. 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 170 graded LC questions over the course of the semester, so about 510 LC points will be possible. However, about 430 LC points (or about 85% of all possible LC points should there be more or less than 170 questions) are all that are required to receive an overall LC grade of 100%. Since only 85% of all possible Learning Catalytics points are required for a perfect Learning Catalytics score, no opportunity is provided to make up missed Learning Catalytics questions. It is your responsibility to make sure that your Learning Catalytics account is set up properly, and that you are therefore getting credit for your responses. See our Learning Catalytics information page for more details. Your LC percentage will count as 8% of your Overall grade for our class.

    Classwork will consist mostly of collaborative work on the most difficult of our Mastering Physics homework problems, with many Learning Catalytics questions. You will use Zoom to communicate with our LA's, or with Dr. Adams, during our classes. (If you are in the classroom, you may of course just raise your hand to ask a question.) Other classwork activities will include discussion, usually with accompanying demonstrations and related Learning Catalytics questions, of the more subtle aspects of the topics covered by the reading for that day's class.

     There will be nine MiniQuizzes (on WebAssign) given during the semester. The first MiniQuiz (MQ0 on MON Aug 22nd) will be just for practice. All MiniQuizzes will begin promptly at 4:30 and last for 6-7 minutes. Your best six of the eight counting MiniQuizzes will count as 6% of your overall grade for our class; there are no make-up MiniQuizzes.

C. Reading Quizzes and Homework
     There is one Reading Quiz (RQ) for each of the 25 topics listed in our Topic and Reading Schedule; all Reading Quizzes can be found only at Mastering Physics (MP). Each RQ is due at 1:00 PM on the day before the topic for that RQ is covered in our classroom. The final question on every RQ is an opportunity for you to ask for an in-class discussion of topics which you may have found confusing in the reading, or in the previous class. The Reading Quizzes will count 6% of your overall class grade.

     There is one assigned Homework (HW) for each of the 25 topics listed in our Topic and Reading Schedule; all Homeworks can be found only at MP. Due dates for each HW are available on the MP Assignment list. In general, assignments for topics discussed in class on MON are due by 11:59 PM the following MON and assignments for topics discussed on WED are due by 11:59 PM the following WED, but the official due dates are always the ones found at MP. While the due dates for our MP homeworks are set liberally, it is strongly recommended that you finish each MP homework within three days of the relevant class meeting. Please take a look at the Tips for Using MP.

     Using online HW-answer services (such as Chegg.com) to find answers for our Reading Quizzes or HW problems is not allowed. Any students found using such services for one of our HW's or RQ's will automatically receive a ZERO for that HW or RQ. Repeated incidents will result in an E as an overall letter grade for our course.

     A total of approximately 1875 HW points will be possible. The final homework grade will be determined as a percentage out of 1685 points (or ∼90% of all possible points should the number of total HW points change.) Your maximum homework grade is 100%, i.e. more than 1685 points will not be counted as extra credit. There may be HW extra credit opportunities throughout the semester to help you obtain the necessary 1685 points. Your HW percentage will count 10% of your overall class grade.

850 HOMEWORK POINTS ARE REQUIRED FOR A PASSING GRADE IN THE COURSE.

D. Recitation Exercises and MiniQuizzes
     Nine of the 15 recitation meetings will include an exercise which will be completed by working with your assigned LA and/or your recitation TA. For recitations with exercises, a subsequent lecture will begin with a WebAssign MiniQuiz which will be directly related to the material covered in the exercise. Look for MQ within our Topic and Reading Schedule to see the dates of our MQ's. The first MQ will be just for practice; your best six of the eight counting MiniQuiz scores will count as 6% of your Overall grade for our class.

E. Examinations
     The six tests will cover material indicated in the schedule by topic numbers. The tests will be given during scheduled recitation meetings. For each test, one group (A or B) will take a Free Response version of the test in PSH-356, and the other group will take a Numerical version of the test in PSH-563. Each student will take three Free Response tests and three Numerical tests; for each type of test only the best two scores will be counted toward your final grade. The main topics for each test are given in the schedule; however, any test may also include questions which cover previous topics from earlier in the semester.

     The Free Response tests will consist of two pages of free response questions (usually two or three questions in total); the two pages of questions will be worth 50 points. These tests will be given on paper in PSH356; in-person attendance will be required.

     The Numerical tests will consist of 10 numerical questions, and will be given through WebAssign on computers in PSH-563, with assigned seating; in-person attendance will be required. For the Numerical tests at WebAssign, the WebAssign Lockdown browser will be required, and is already installed on the computers in PSH-563. You will have six tries to answer each numerical question, but you will lose 10% of the available credit for each wrong submission.

     For students in quarantine at the time of a test, we will try to provide an opportunity for a make-up test in PSH-563 at the end of your quarantine period; however, this depends on the vagaries of scheduling. Any make-ups must be scheduled and completed before the next scheduled test. If a make-up cannot be scheduled in your particular case, then that test will have to be your dropped test for our Fall 2022 semester; each student gets to drop one Numerical test and one Free Response test. For the Free Response tests, it is possible that we might be able to provide an online version especially for students in quarantine; if this turns out to be possible, then the quarantine version would require a pdf submission at WebAssign.

     The final exam is scheduled for MON Dec 05 from 4:50-6:40 PM; the method of delivery for the final exam is unknown as of 8/08/22, but it will be comprehensive.

Tests are governed by the following policies:

In figuring your test average, the lowest of the three Free Response test scores and the lowest of the three Numerical test scores will automatically be dropped.

The use of hand calculators is permitted. However, YOUR CALCULATOR MAY NOT CONTAIN STORED PHYSICS EQUATIONS. Also, you may not use your cell-phone calculator.

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! It is always possible that you may be asked to defend your numerical answers.

A full set of test rules is available at the course web site.

If a student believes there to have been an error in grading their Free Response test, the complaint should be PUT IN WRITING and given, together with the original test (the student should keep a copy of the test), to Dr. Adams within TWO SCHOOL DAYS of receiving the graded test. The complaint will be discussed with the individual who graded it originally, and that person will then write a reply to the student and return the processed complaint to the student at the next recitation meeting. If the student is not satisfied with the grader's response to the complaint, they may appeal directly to Dr. Adams. In this event, Dr. Adams reserves the prerogative to regrade the entire examination. Simple errors, such as point addition, can be corrected by contacting the student's recitation section TA.

F. Final Grades.
The final course grades will be determined with the following weights:

Learning Catalytics: 8%
Reading Quiz: 6%
Homework (total points out of 1685): 10%
MiniQuiz Average (drop 2 of 8): 6%
Free Response Tests (drop 1 of 3): 26%
Numerical Tests (drop 1 of 3): 26%
Final Examination: 18%

A MINIMUM OF 850 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 80% of all possible points can expect to receive an A of some type (A-, A, or A+); students who earn 65-80% of all possible points can expect to receive some type of B, and students who earn 50-65% of all possible points can expect to receive a C or C+. Don't depend solely on your instructors to figure your grade correctly. For a more detailed explanation see HOW TO FIGURE YOUR FINAL GRADE (usually posted later in the semester).

G. Withdrawal
Withdrawal policies are established by the University (see the ASU Calendar.) The deadline for course withdrawal is Nov 2.

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


Topic and Reading Schedule