S428/S528
Advanced Application Development

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Grade Distribution

The final grade (based on a 1000 point scale) will be based on the following breakdown:

• Assignments: 200 points (4 assignments at 50 points each)
• Quizzes: 100 points (4 quizzes at 25 points each)
• Mid-term: 200 points
• Exam II: 250 points
• Project: 200 points
• Class participation: 50 points

Grading policy and final grade distribution

Grades for individual deliverable may be given as a numeric or a letter grade. If letter grades are given, they will be converted to numeric equivalent for final grade calculation purposes. Usually only an A+ will be given full (100%) credit, followed by 90, 80, 70 and 60% for the rest of the letter grades.

The participation credit is determined by your participation in class. This is not only based on attendance, but also your overall impression as a participant in class. I will determine a score for your participation based on the in-class exercise solutions that you submit, as well as based on questions you ask in class, amount of work you do during group exercises, etc. Do understand that some of this grade may be based on my impression of your participation.

The final grade will be determined by computing your total weighted score out of 1000, rounded off to the closest integral value. A curve may be applied for determining the final grade. Depending on the performance of the class, the curve could be positive (higher cutoff points) or negative (lower cutoff points). In case of a positive curve, an overall score of 900 or more may not necessarily ensure an A. The curve cutoff will be determined based on a marked difference between high and low performances, as well as the percentage of the recipients of letter grades. Different sections may have different cutoff points.

For example, if after the final calculation of grades, too few students (say, below 20% of the class) are in the 900-1000 range, the A-cutoff may be curved down to 890 (the actual cutoff will be determined as above. If, in a rare case, too many students are in the 900-1000 range, the curve may be positive (e.g., the A cutoff may be changed to 910).

General Grading criteria

The assignments and deliverales where a letter grade will be assigned, the assignment would be based on the following general criteria:

• Satisfactory work (C) demonstrates competence. C-level work meets, but does not exceed, my expectations at a basic level of competence.
• Meritorious work (B) suggests excellence. It may contain flaws and miss connections, but nevertheless moves beyond the level of basic competence to make new, creative connections, which demonstrates original, independent thought.
• Exemplary work (A) demonstrates excellence. Such work exceeds the meritorious level to demonstrate not only a thorough understanding of the material but also applications of it that show creative, reflective, and innovative thought beyond what is taught in the classroom. This work could be used as an example to others.
• Marginal work (D) suggests incompetence. The student does not yet control basic-level knowledge of key concepts. Questions may be answered only partially, demonstrating familiarity, but not mastery.
• Failing work (F) demonstrates incompetence. Answers are not complete. The student has not learned key concepts, terms, or facts.