Grades are often a source of anxiety, both for students and parents. Here, then, is how I determine a student's grade in my courses (with the exception of English Composition--see that course page for an explanation of how I determine grades at the college level).
Every assignment and quiz is worth one hundred (100) points. Every test, with the exception of semester exams, is worth four hundred (400) points. The grade, then, is simply a question of adding up the points earned and dividing that number by the total possible number of points.
The grading scale is fairly straightforward:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59= F
The other question I am frequently asked is, "Can I do extra credit?" The short answer to that question is, "Yes, but..." (except for English Composition, where I do not award extra credit in any form). While I do give extra credit, I do so infrequently. Extra credit can neither substitute for doing the work in the first place, nor will it ever amount to the same number of points as a homework assignment, a quiz, or a test. There is a deadline during each grading period by which extra credit points must be used (by adding them to an assignment or a test), or the extra credit points earned will be lost. Note also that no extra credit will be given during the final two weeks of a semester.
Every assignment and quiz is worth one hundred (100) points. Every test, with the exception of semester exams, is worth four hundred (400) points. The grade, then, is simply a question of adding up the points earned and dividing that number by the total possible number of points.
The grading scale is fairly straightforward:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59= F
The other question I am frequently asked is, "Can I do extra credit?" The short answer to that question is, "Yes, but..." (except for English Composition, where I do not award extra credit in any form). While I do give extra credit, I do so infrequently. Extra credit can neither substitute for doing the work in the first place, nor will it ever amount to the same number of points as a homework assignment, a quiz, or a test. There is a deadline during each grading period by which extra credit points must be used (by adding them to an assignment or a test), or the extra credit points earned will be lost. Note also that no extra credit will be given during the final two weeks of a semester.