Now we get down to the basics of the types of assignments you'll be doing and how you'll be evaluated on them. The areas below don't encompass everything that you'll be doing in this course. There are things that don't lend themselves to direct evaluation. Such things include reading the text and doing the chapter reviews. Before we get down to specifics, however, you need to know the consequences for submitting homework late.

Assignments must be submitted by the posted deadlines in order to receive credit.  This policy is intended to keep you mindful of the fact that you must keep up with the work in order to succeed in the course. In the event that you're absent, have a legitimate excuse, and contact the teacher as soon as possible (or in advance of an anticipated absence), you may receive extensions on due dates. The length of the extension will depend on the length of your absence. If you get behind in your work by even one assignment, plan on attending every scheduled class period until you're caught up. If you're prevented from completing particular assignments by technical problems with your computer or other extenuating circumstances, email the teacher as soon as possible.  Depending on the seriousness of the situation, you may request extensions.  The teacher will be more likely to take such requests seriously if you don't develop a habit of asking for them. The main way to minimize the impact of technical problems is to start your work early. Specific guidelines about submitting assignments are given here.

Online Assignments (coded E):  These include conceptual questions, exercises and participation in electronic discussions. Questions may cover reading assignments, videos, and animations.  Conceptual questions and exercises are generally single-concept items in which you apply fundamental relationships from the reading.  Participation in electronic discussions includes postings to assigned threads as well as postings of problem solutions.

Paper Problem Assignments (coded P):  Each week, you'll usually write several problem solutions in a formal style according to the course problem-solving guidelines.  Writing problem solutions completely is one way that you demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills in physics. You'll be expected to show your work in similar ways on the free response portion of the AP exam. There are several ways that the teacher will evaluate your work on P-type assignments.

• The teacher will collect and critically evaluate selected problem solutions.
• Half-period quizzes may be given to evaluate your problem-solving skills in a particular content area. Such quizzes will be announced in the schedule for the week. Surprise quizzes are not given.
• You may be called on during a class period to present a problem solution orally.

Multimedia Problem Assignments (coded M):  These problems involve the use of simulations and/or video clips in solving problems. Data must be obtained from a simulation or video clip to use in the problem solutions. Some M-type assignments take the form of lab or pre-lab activities. In such cases, they count for evaluation in the Lab category (see table below). Otherwise, they count for evaluation in the Paper Problem category.

Lab Assignments (coded L):  Some assignments involve taking and analyzing data and reporting on the results.  You can do some of these in your room.  Others will require standard physics equipment.  For that reason (and some others), we'll meet as a class every Tuesday during A/AL or B/BL.  While you may be working with other students in taking data, you'll analyze your data and write reports on your own.  There will be approximately 6 labs requiring reports per trimester.

Tests (coded T):  Some tests will be taken online during 50-minute class periods and will usually cover two chapters each. There will also be a mid-trimester test administered on paper during a 90-minute period. This cumulative test will cover several chapters at a time.  There are three important things to realize about tests:  1) They require you to solve problems, 2) they require you to show your work, and 3) the problems will be similar in method to previously-assigned problems.  Therefore, in order to be successful on tests, you must know how to solve the various problem types for the chapters that the test covers, be able to show your work clearly using standard methods as presented in the text or by the teacher, and have done the problem assignments thoroughly.  The schedule for the cumulative tests can be found in the Course Outline.

Final Exam:  The structure of the final exam is similar to that of a cumulative test.  However, the final covers all the material of the trimester.

Weighting.  Your averages in the above areas are weighted as follows.

You'll receive a final grade for the year.  This is the average of the three trimester grades.

Grading.  The grading scale for the course is given below.  The scale reflects the fact that the assignments are challenging, and you're evaluated on showing your work in detail. 

Now it's time to answer some questions about what you've read so far.  Go to the next page.