Each of these course evaluations will be given an equal weight in the determination of your final course grade. Each of these evaluations will be based upon a maximum score of 100 points. At the semester's end, your total point accumulation will be divided by the number 4. Your final course grade will then be determined by applying your average course grade to the following point gradient:

    A = 92.0 and above
    A/B = 88.0 - 91.9
    B = 82.0 - 87.9
    B/C = 78.0 - 81.9
    C = 72.0 - 77.9
    D = 64.0 - 71.9
    F = Below 64.0

COURSE EXAMS:
Exam format will consist of a variety of true/false, multiple-choice, and short essay questions. The class itself will play a major role in shaping the types of questions that will appear on the exams. However, you should make a note now that a substantial part of the examination will be drawn from the assigned readings and that class disucssions will often center around these readings and questions that you have about them. The subject matter of the classroom discussions will depend largely upon the interests and questions raised by the class and this will in turn have a strong influence upon the kinds of questions that will appear on the course exams.

CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Your class participation will be evaluated as a composite of the following factors:

1. five graded lab assignments --- 50 points [10 points each]
2. four writing/activity exercises --- 120 points [30 points each]
3. six spontaneous oral responses --- 30 points [5 points each]

The maximum class participation score is thus 200 points. Your class participation score is calculated by dividing the sum of your class participation points by 2.0 which results in a maximum score possibility of 100 points.

Each of the three class participation components is briefly described below:

1. Lab assignments are to be turned in on the following class day; late labs will not be accepted unless they are delivered that same due day. No exceptions. The importance of these lab assignments is that they provide you with an opportunity to clarify important course concepts that will be tested for on the course exams. Your course lab assignments will be graded upon a simple pass/fail basis [pass = 10 points; fail = 0 points]. However, points will be deducted for incomplete lab work. It is up to you to make sure that you understand the concepts adequately well. And it is up to you to ask questions in class if you have any doubts or confusions regarding any of the lab or course materials!!
2. Class writing/activity exercises are special projects that will be distributed--in writing-- during the semester. The basic purpose of these projects is to encourage you to apply important course concepts to "real world" events. One purpose of these exercises is to demonstrate the relevance of research methodology to everyday life. The writing component of these exercises will be quite short meaning about two typed-written pages. These papers must be turned in on the posted due dates which will always correspond to one week from teh day the assignment is passed out in class. No late papers will be accepted. All these paper assignments may be found under Course Handouts-Short Papers on the web page for the course. Please note that these papers must be type-written and should be two to three double-spaced pages in length; however, if you require an additional page, that is acceptable.
3. Spontaneous oral responses will also be solicited from students on a purely random basis throughout the semester. If you are present and you make a gamely try at responding to the question you will get the full 5 points of participation credit, if not you will forfeit the 5 points of participation credit. Life is hard but in this course, at least, it is fair.

   Questions will all be relevant to the topics covered in the assigned readings and some questions will come out of the course syllabus while still others will appear out of thin air. So, be prepared.