Mat200/Discrete Mathematics
Grading Policy (Fall 2008)
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Course Title: Mat200/Discrete Mathematics
Instructor: Dr.Edward Conjura
Text: Discrete Mathematics with Applications
Third Edition
by- Sussana S. Epp
Syllabus: Selected topics from Chapters 1 through 11
Meeting Times & Places : Fall 2007 Semester
Section 03 -M/R 02:00PM-03:20PM
Room SC-P229
W 11:00AM-11:50AM
Room SC-P201
Section 04 -M/R 04:00PM-05:20PM
Room SC-P229
W 04:30PM-05:20PM
Room SC-P201
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Mat200: Discrete Mathematics
Attendance and Grading
This course is graded on a "letter grade" basis and your
grade will primarily be determined by tests, labs and homework.
However, factors such as class participation and work ethic may also
be used at my discretion to improve or lower a grade.
I personally believe that it is impossible to do well, or
even pass this course, without attending class lectures and labs.
I also realize that sometimes events occur that may result in you
missing or being late for a class. We all get sick, and sometimes
things come up that require a change in schedule. If you provide
me with an acceptable reason for missed time, I will accept it.
However, as the following policy makes clear, I do reserve the
right to lower your final grade for excessive unexcused absenses
or tardiness due to your lack of regular participation in the course.
Three or more unexcused absences could result in a drop in grade
by as much as one letter. The same is true for five or more times
being late to class without a valid excuse. An unexcused absence
implies that you are late. For example, if you are late three times
and absent twice without acceptable excuse, your course grade could
be lowered. However, if you are absent twice and late only once without
acceptable excuse, it would not be.
Late or Missed Work:
Work missed because of an unexcused absence will be marked late,
with a percentage of the total credit deducted.
Assignments must be submitted in class unless other arrangements
have been established, such as submission through a computer
interface.
Work left in a mailbox (electronic or otherwise) or slipped
under a door, etc will not be accepted and will be considered
late until submitted in the required manner.
If you miss the beginning of class and walk in at any time during
class to hand in work, it will be considered late unless a valid excuse
is provided. If you are not in class to hand in work, but give it to
someone else to submit, the same applies.
Responsibility For Knowing About Assignments:
Each student is responsible for assignments made by the professor
whether or not he/she is present during the class period
when assignments are made. Assignments will generally be made through
the web. However, there may be assignments made during lectures that
do not appear on the web.
Missing a test:
There will be two tests and a final exam in this course. Missing any one
of them could have a serious impact on your final grade. The only way a
makeup will be given is if the reason for missing the exam is very serious.
If you are sick, a doctors excuse may be required. Not feeling well and
stopping by the college infirmary will generally not be accepted as a reason
for a makeup. You must also notify me as soon as possible if you believe
you will be unable to take an exam, preferably prior to when the exam is
given but certainly within 24 hours prior to the exam time and date.
Work Submitted and Grading
Standards for Work Submitted
Your work will be graded on the basis of content (correctness) and other
academic and professional standards (academic honesty, timeliness,
neatness, organization, presentation style and completeness).
For example, paperwork submitted should be stapled, with no rough edges.
In the case of the homework portfolio, it must be in a binder.
Also, there should be nothing crossed out and it should be readable.
In general, work should be done in pencil or on a computer so that minor
errors can be corrected neatly. Credit will be deducted for failure to
do any of the above and/or the work will be returned as unacceptable,
depending on the extent and/or frequency of the problem.
Acadmeic Dishonesty
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Any case of academic dishonesty
will be dealt with according to college policy, with minimal recommended
punishment generally being a grade of "F" for the course.
Reference to any outside source must be provided with each
assignment. Failure to do so will be considered as plagiarism.
Teamwork
In this course you will be required to work in teams on the
computer labs and homework. You will find that working in teams
will improve your learning ability and it will develop interpersonal
skills that are essential for success in the "real world".
The names of all team members must be listed in the documentation
for work done. It will be assumed that the percentage of work that
each member contributed to the final product is equal. If this is not
the case, differences in effort should be reported to me by the team.
Course Requirements and Grading
Grades will primarily be based on:
Three exams (two scheduled individual exams and an individual final exam)
Computer Labs (team project)
Homewoprk (team project)
Class participation and board work may contribute toward
improving your grade.
The point weight toward the final grade of each of the above
will be approximately as follows:
Test #1 100 pts / 22% (1hr 20min)
Test #2 100 pts / 22% (1hr 20min)
Final Exam 150 pts / 33% (3hrs)
Lab/Homework
Portfolios 100 pts (50 pts each)/ 22%
Homework/Labs:
Homework:
Homework from the textbook will be assigned for each topic
covered in the course. In general, it will serve as a basis for
exams, and by doing homework you are reinforcing your learning
and preparing for the tests. A Homework Portfolio will be collected
and graded.
Labs:
Most of the time spent during the 50 minute period held in SCP201
will be devoted to learning Mathematica and how it can be used as
a mathematical tool in this and other courses. Mathematica is a
computer language known as a Computer Algebra System. Learning
Mathematica will provide you with an asset that will be of value
to you both at TCNJ and after you graduate. A Lab Portfolio will
be collected and graded.
Please note that lab reports should NOT include the entire text
of the tutorial that was used to introduce lab materials. There
will be parts of the tutorial materials that will be needed
in order to complete the lab assignment. Such materials will
generally be Mathematica functions (and their output) that are
needed to answer lab questions.
Homework and Lab Portfolios:
Homework/Lab and other work submitted must contain the following
information on a cover page:
your name
team name ( + name of other team members)
course prefix, course number and course name
course meeting days/times (including semester)
course meeting location
instructors name
Portfolios must also include a table of content, which will note
assignment titles/descriptions
dates due
lists of problems assigned (if appropriate)
The following must appear with the answers to questions:
chapter/section number (if appropriate)
the page number (if appropriate)
problem number
problem statement (at least enough of the problem
statement so a reader or grader can make sense out of it)
Also, problems must be answered in the order assigned.
REMEMBER: Neatness is a virtue. Don't use pen unless you plan to do
perfect work and not make mistakes that need to be corrected!
The following rubric will be used in the grading of
the Homework Portfolio.
Rubric used to grade Homework Portfolio
The following rubric will be used in the grading of Lab Portfolio.
Rubric used to grade Lab Portfolio
Basis for Test Questions:
In all cases exam questions will be based on material found in the
homework assignments, class notes, the labs and the text.
The Required Nature of Your Answers on Labs, Homeworks and Labs:
A VERY important thing to remember in this course is that final
answers are of no value without supporting work. Simply stating
a final answer, without supporting evidence, will generally be
graded as a failing effort.
Your work must include the logic used and the process followed in
arriving at the final answer in order to be considered for full credit.
Please note that correct textbook problem answers can be found in the
back of the text and the supplement to the text that you purchased for
this course. Please remember that sometimes the answers you see in your
texts will not include the missing details that demonstrate logic
and process and so simply submitting the answer found in the
answer key may not result in full credit.
How Final Grades are Assigned
Final grades will be based on a 'curve' but cutoffs will not exceed straight
percentage (eg cutoff for an A will be no more than 90% of total points,
no more than 80% for a B, 70% for a C, and 60% for a D). Labs
will generally be graded on a straight percentage basis and in-class
tests will be graded on a curve which is <= straight percentage.
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Last updated 8-23-2008