Grading & Assignments
Evaluation: The grade for this course will be determined by the following:
- Current Event Assignments: 20%
- Homework Assignments: 10%
- Projects: 20%
- Quizzes & Exams: 25%
- Clicker Questions: 25%
NOTE: These are approximate percentages, not a weighted total. Your final grade will be based on a total number of points accumulated vs the total possible. No assignment or exam will be weighted as being worth more than others. There is no extra credit and no options to improve your score other than the assigned course work.
Grading Scale:
100-94% = A, 93-90% = A-, 89-87% = B+, 86-84% = B, 83-80% = B-, 79-77% = C+, 76-74% = C, 73-70 = C- 69-67% = D+, 66-64% = D, 63-60% = D-, <59% = F
*I round up final grades from 0.45 (meaning 89.45% is a 90%).
Assignments:
All assignments, quizzes, and activities can be found in the Modules tab in the Menu to the left. Brief descriptions of the assignments are listed below along with their respective Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs).
Current Event Assignments - Follow the instructions given for each assignment. Summarize a current event from the news that happened during the semester. Each of the current event assignments will be opened during the first week of class. They will be due near the end of the semester. This large window of time may encourage procrastination, but our course schedule will be driven by your completion of these assignments. To ensure that course content is spread evenly throughout the semester, I have created current event quizzes with due dates. You are to complete the quiz by informing me of which current event you completed. ELOs - 1, 3, 4. Skills - Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Communication
Course Projects - Follow the directions given for each assignment. The work for these projects should be spread throughout the semester. While they are due at the end of the semester, they are meant to be completed as class discussions progress throughout the term. Complete assignments must be submitted by the due date/time. ELOs - 1, 2, 3, 4. Skills - Data Analysis, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Digital Literacy, Information Literacy.
Homework Assignments - Follow the directions given for each assignment. Complete assignments must be submitted by the due date/time. See late penalties above. ELOs - 1, 3, 4. Skills - Data Analysis, Critical Thinking.
Quizzes - All quizzes will be open on Canvas for 2-3 days. Each quiz will contain a combination of multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions. The quizzes are timed so you will need to complete them in an efficient manner. You are allowed to use notes and the textbook during the quiz, however the time constraints will require you to organize your notes and thoughts prior to starting the quiz. Pay attention to the due dates and times to allow yourself time to complete the quiz. Everyone gets one (1) attempt for each quiz. ELOs - 1, 2, 3, 4. Skills - Critical Thinking.
Clicker Questions - Most days, we will have some sort of in-class discussion/activity/assignment that will include a series of questions. Students will respond to the clicker questions during the allotted time. 1 point will be awarded for participation and 1 point will be awarded for correct answers. ELOs - 1, 2. Skills - Data Analysis, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Teamwork.
Exams - All exams will be completed in the Testing Center. Exams will be given on paper and will be completed without notes or calculators. All exams will be in multiple choice/true-false/fill in the blank format. ELOs - 1, 2, 3. Skills - Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Problem Solving