Grading Details

Grades will be computed as follows:

5% Class Participation
10% Written Homeworks
20% Quizzes (or 10% Quizzes and 10% Group Study)*
25% Midterm
40% Final Exam

Regardless of total percentage earned in the course, you must get a passing grade on the final exam to pass the course.

*Please see the homework page for more details.

Class Participation

One goal of this course is to develop an ability to engage actively with the material and critically evaluate design decisions. As such, students are encouraged to ask questions, point out weaknesses, make observations and suggest alternatives during the lecture. (By no means should you take this to mean that only brilliant ideas are welcome during lecture! Lecture is for in-progress learning, not perfection.) Additionally, alerting the instructor when you are confused, lost, didn't hear something, or otherwise in need of additional explanation is strongly encouraged.

There will also be frequent opportunities for structured active participation during lecture (solving problems), in which everyone is expected to participate.

As far as grading of class participation, these points are intended to recognize the fact that I will be asking a great deal of you during class--perhaps more than you are used to in a university lecture. This includes the problem-solving activities, as well as frequent feedback to me, use of Ubiquitous Presenter, etc. I feel your attendance and your active participation merit recognition in the form of points. Note for the shy: it is not required to raise your hand and say something every lecture--you will find there are a variety of ways to be actively participating.

Exams

There will be two examinations in this course. The exams will be closed book, but you will be provided with a "cheat sheet" as part of the exam booklet. Exactly what is on the cheat sheet will be explained prior to the exam. Because we will provide you with the details, the questions will stress conceptual understanding as opposed to memorization. The final will be comprehensive covering material from the entire course.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be held every Friday, except Friday of the week of the midterm and Friday of finals week. If you miss a quiz, you will be unable to make it up at a later time. The quizzes are mainly intended to help you gauge for yoursefl how well you understand the material from lecture and homework, and ensure your readiness for the midterm and final.

Homework

For more details on homework, see the homework page.

Grading Inquiries

Inquiries about your grade should be directed in writing (email) to the TAs, no more than 7 days after the grade was posted online. All grades are fixed after 7 days.

Late Policy

Because, individually, the homework assignments are worth only a small amount, and to enable speedy feedback from the graders, no late homework assignments will be accepted.

Collaboration

Quizzes and exams are to be completed individually. Individual homework is done strictly individually. Plagiarism of homework is a serious breach of academic integrity, and will affect your entire grade for the course, not just the 10% allotted to homework.

Academic Integrity Policy

Do not cheat. If you cheat, or are even suspected of cheating, I will enforce the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship. This means that your case will be refered to the Dean of your college, who will determine your guilt or innocence, and who will determine your punishment if guilty. Punishment may be up to and including an F in the course, academic probation or suspension from UCSD. Use of any materials, consulting any person, or any other means of assistance not explicitly authorized by the instructor is considered cheating. Translation: you cannot assume something is ok just because I haven't said not to do it. If you have any questions about this, please ask.