Grading Policy:

• All questions in web-based exercises, on-line quizzes and short-answer questions in written exams will be scored according to the stated points scale. 
• Partially correct answers to multiple-choice questions in written examinations may earn partial credit.
• 3pt is awarded for the correct answer.
• 1pt is available for one or more other answers on some questions.
• Scores for questions in exercises, quizzes, reflective questions and exams will be determined by:
• Content, accuracy and relevance, and clarity of presentation. 
• Answers in written exams will be marked to denote correct work, errors and omissions.
• Assignments submitted using oncourse are not automatically graded, but require manual scoring. 
• Concerns about possible errors in grading or addition of scores should be expressed promptly and will be addressed. 
• The instructor (Simon Brassell) will grade the written exams and reflective questions, the associate instructor will grade the exercises and the on-line quizzes.
  
• Scores for exercises are typically higher than those for written examinations.
• There are many opportunities for bonus credit within both exercises and examinations.
• If you have questions about your scores for any assignments please ask.
  

• Exercises (On-line assignments administered using Oncourse).
• The initial exercise on oceanographic concepts is worth 5%.
• The five main exercises (earthquakes & plate tectonics, spreading rates, ocean temperatures & salinity, hurricanes, and tides) are each worth 7%.
• Points a consists of a series of preliminary group questions (2%) and a series of final questions (5%).
• Scores for the group questions are awarded for honest efforts to answer the questions.
  
• The exercises are the topic of class discussion sessions, which provide a forum for discussion of the exercises.
  
• Note that each exercise is graded manually. Scores will NOT appear automatically when the assignment is complete.
  
• Examinations (Taken during regular class times)
  
• The mini-exams (Feb. 6 and Apr. 3; marked out of 30pt, graded out of 24pt) are worth 4% each.
  
• The mid-term exam (Mar. 6; marked out of 60pt, graded out of 48pt) is worth 8%. 
• The Final Exam (May 3; marked out of 150pt, graded out of 120pt) is worth 15%.
• Quizzes (On-line assignments administered using Oncourse)
• Each of the three on-line quizzes (graded out of 20pt, 25 pt available) is worth 4%. 
• Note that some questions on the quizzes are graded manually. Your raw score will NOT reflect your true total until the manual grading process is complete.
• Reflective Questions (On-line assignments administered using Oncourse)
• Each of the five on-line reflective questions (graded out of 20pt 25 pt available) is worth 2%. 
• All questions on the reflective questions are graded manually. Your raw score will NOT reflect your actual total until the manual grading process is complete.

• Scores will be curved if the grade distribution deviates from previous norms.
• There has been no need for such scaling recently in this course!
• The points scale used to determine interim and final grades is as follows: 

Department of Geological Sciences,  1001 E. Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-1403 Phone: (812) 855-5582  Last update: 7 January 2007 Comments: simon@indiana.edu Copyright 2007, The Trustees of Indiana University

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