Invertebrate Zoology
(Z374), Fall 2011 GRADES Back to Course
Webpage
Instructor: Spencer Hall, sprhall at indiana.edu, 5-6009, JH 015
Grade update – final grades (as of 17
Dec. 2011)
|
Category |
Item |
Date |
Total
pts |
Mean |
SD |
|
TOTAL POINTS |
Total |
17 Dec. |
660 |
512.0 (77.6%) |
63.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instaquizzes |
Total |
17 Dec. |
75 |
65 |
10.8 |
|
Class Particip. |
Total |
17 Dec. |
50 |
39.2 |
8.7 |
|
Assignment |
Assignment #1 |
28 Nov. |
15 |
13.7 |
3.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quizzes |
Quiz 1 - Phyloquiz #1 |
9 Sept. |
20 |
18.1 |
3.7 |
|
|
Quiz 2 - Phyloquiz #2 |
14 Sept. |
20 |
16.8 |
4.4 |
|
|
Quiz 3 – Environments |
5 Oct. |
20 |
17.4 |
2.9 |
|
|
Quiz 4 – Bilats #1 |
17 Oct. |
20 |
14.7 |
3.7 |
|
|
Quiz 5 – Bilats #2 |
21 Oct. |
20 |
14.8 |
4.4 |
|
|
Quiz 6 – Molluscs Intro |
9 Nov. |
20 |
18.8 |
1.5 |
|
|
Total quizzes |
-- |
120 |
97.0 |
17.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exams |
Midterm #1 |
30 Sept. |
100 |
66.5 |
13.4 |
|
|
Midterm #2 |
28 Oct. |
100 |
71.0 |
14.6 |
|
|
Final |
12 Dec. |
200 |
152.8 |
21.5 |
|
|
Total exams |
-- |
400 |
282.6 |
66.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How do I calculate my grade?
1.
Tally
up your points in Oncourse
2.
Calculate
your z-score.
First, subtract the course mean (512) from
your total points. Then, divide by the
standard deviation (63.1).
This calculation produces a Z-score, where
zero is the mean.
Example: my score is 550. My Z-score is (550-512)/63.1 = 0.64
3.
Use
this chart to estimate your grade based on your z-score.
Z-score range Letter
Grade Number of
Students
1.33 + A+ 2
1.00 to 1.33 A 5
0.67 to 1.00 A- 1
0.33 to
0.67 B+ 7
0.00 to 0.33 B 6
-0.33 to
0 B- 3
-0.67 to
-0.33 C+ 2
-1.00 to -0.67 C 3
-1.33 to -1.00 C- 2
-1.67 to -1.33 D+ 1
-2.00 to -1.67 D 2
Below -2.00 F 1
Based
on my example Z-score (0.64), I would receive a B+.
Grade Distribution
1.
The
course mean was a 77.6% for the B-/B cutoff.
This is lower than the norm, perhaps, in
many classes.
However, one benefit of a lower mean:
grades assignments are clear to make for me.
Grades are not based on subtle differences
or small amounts of points.
2.
I pasted in the tentative distribution of
grades above.
The grades cover the entire spectrum, with
many As, B+s, and Bs.
Notes on items above
1.
Instaquizzes (75
points total):
We were short one IQ (i.e., we took 14 of
15). Everyone received a five for that
one missed.
I graded for attendance only rather than for
correctness of answers. (Thus, you
received a 5 or a 0 for each IQ).
I took into account excused absences in my
tally.
2.
Class
Participation (50 points total):
I assigned a score from 1 – 3 for class
participation. Most received 2.5. I gave those who really added to class a 3.0.
Then, I weighted the class participation by
attendance – you have to be in class to participate.
Thus, I calculated your total score using
this formula: (pt score / 3) * (IQ score
/ 75) * 50
3.
Final
Exam:
* The mean was a 76.4% of the total -- a
marked improvement of Exam 2 and especially over Exam 1.
The class as a whole really
improved over the semester on the exams.
That was great to see.
* The class excelled at the Arthropod
innovation and buoyancy questions.
The class had the hardest time
with the circulation question and the last page (parasites, muscles).