Interpretation of score display. This page explains how to interpret the score display and how the average grade shown is computed. Be sure to check here, and the Course Information Sheet for the grading policies, before asking questions about the display.
Curving for Exam 1: The raw score was curved with cutoffs for A/B/C/D set at 42/34/26/18. Thus, for example, a score of 42/60 was curved up to 90 % of 60 points, or 54/60; in the score display, the raw and curved scores are indicated by a notation such as 42<54/60. See here for a more detailed explanation of the score display.
Intermediate scores were converted by interpolating between the above data points. The curving resulted in all scores being increased by a few points, and those in the bottom half of the range by much more; for example, a raw score of 30 out of 60 was curved up to a 45 out of 60. No score decreased as a result of the curving.
Curving for quiz scores: Quiz scores were curved up in a similar manner, using 8/6/4/2 as cutoffs for A/B/C/D; due to additional rounding this resulted in a score of 9/10 on a quiz to be curved up to a perfect 10/10.
Letter grades: The curved scores correspond to letter grades with plusses and minuses as follows:
Current grade: The grade shown at the end of the score display represents your current grade. This grade is computed by averaging the curved exam and quiz scores with appropriate weights (45/70 for exams, 25/70 for quizzes).
Missing or incorrect scores: Check the score display and report any missing or incorrect scores to your TA right away, showing him the exam or quiz that has not been properly recorded. If you registered late, it may be possible that a score for the first quiz is missing even if you took that quiz, because your name was not on the official roster at the time those scores was entered. In that case just show the quiz to your TA, and he'll fix it.
A missing score is indicated by a double dash (--) and counts the same as a score of 0. By contrast, an "excused" grade for a quiz is indicated by a single asterisk (*) and is not factored in when computing the quiz average. If you don't see an asterisk for a quiz or exam for which I have granted you an excused grade (assuming you have provided appropriate documentation or a dean's letter), let me know.
Partial credit may be given in case of significant progress towards a solution. For most problems, I have set specific guidelines on how to assign partial credit. For example, if a solution requires several steps, each of the steps was worth a given number of points, and partial credit was assigned depending on how many steps you have reached.
Common errors were graded uniformly. We try to be as fair as possible in grading the exams, but oversights and grading mistakes occasionally happen. If you feel that there was such a mistake, talk to your TA first. If it is a clear-cut case, he/she will take care of it; otherwise, they might refer you to me. (In the latter case, talk to me after class.)
Note that you have to show work in order to get full credit; except for multiple choice problems a correct answer alone will not earn credit, and points may be deducted if the explanation/justification is inadequate or incomplete.
The deadline for all grading appeals is Monday, October 9.