MEDIEVAL WARFARE

Computing Grades

The following information will help students understand how grading procedures work in this course.  It will make clear how all grades are compiled.

I. Grading Scale:

A+   (above 95)

A     (92-96)

A-    (90-91)

B+   (86-89)

B     (82-85)

B-    (80-81)

C+   (76-79)

C     (72-75)

C-    (70-71)

D+   (66-69)

D     (60-66)

F      (Below 60)

II. Exam Grading Procedure:

A.  For those who take the test in the regular class period when it is given:

The machine that corrects scantrons calculates the grade to two decimal points.

 

That is what I call the base grade.

 

I then add two points for anyone who has taken the exam at the proper time.

 

(For example, if you receive an 80.67 on a test taken at the designated time, your base grade is 80.67, to which two points are added bringing it to 82.67.)

B.  For those who miss the original exam period for whatever reason and then take a make-up within three weeks:

Any student who takes the makeup within three weeks will not be penalized. 

 

That person will not receive the two-point add-on, regardless of the nature of the excuse for having missed the exam when it was administered in class.

 

Most exams will be given on a Friday.  As a result, the makeup should be taken by the end of office hours on the third Friday thereafter in order to escape a penalty. 

 

If an office hour within that period has to be cancelled, then the non-penalized period for making up the test will be extended into the next office hour.

 

Make-up exams may not be corrected until such time as all of them have been taken.

C.  Taking the test after the three week grace period:

After the grace period of three weeks has expired, the student must have permission from the professor or the TA to make up an exam.

 

There will be a 10 point penalty attached to any such makeup. 

 

If the student does not receive permission to take a late make-up, it is strongly advised that he/she drop the course.

III.  Arriving at the Final Grade:

A.  Computing the grade

The final grade is based primarily on two major factors:  (1) the exam average; and (2) the paper grade. 

 

Very good or very poor attendance will also be taken into consideration.

 

The exam average counts for 2/3 of the grade; the paper grade counts for 1/3.

 

Both + and - grades will be used in computing the course grade which will also be expressed using a +/- scale.

 

The following are the steps used to compute a final grade:

 

1.  Average the two exams (the mid-term and the final) to two decimal places, with both exams counting equally.

 

2.  Convert the number to a letter grade using the scale shown in section I.

 

3.  Express the letter grade in the following 0-12 scale:

 

A+   12

A     11

A-    10

B+    9

B      8

B-     7

C+    6

C      5

C-     4

D+    3

D      2

F       0

 

4. Arrive at an average in this scale with the exam counting two and the paper one. 

 

(For example, if the student has a B exam average and a B+ paper, the equation will be as follows:  8 + 8 + 9 = 25 divided by 3 = 8.33 giving a final grade of B.)

B.  Adjusting for attendance (good and bad)

Excellent attendance, defined as under 5 absences, will be rewarded by the grade being raised a single step. (For example, an A- will become an A;

a B will become a B+, a D+ will become a C-, etc.)

 

From 5 to 12 absences, there will be no alteration in the grade.

 

Thirteen is the magic number:  13 or more absences will lead to a penalty, which increases with every five absences until a point where the student will receive a grade no higher than D.  See the following scale:

Absences         Deductions

1-4                  + one grade (e.g. A- to A)

5-12                 No change of grade

13-18               - one grade (e.g. A- to B+)

19-24               - two grades (e.g. A- to B)

25-29               - three grades (e.g. A- to B-)

C.  Adjusting for a superlative job in one aspect of the course

If a student receives an A+ on either the paper or the exam average, the final grade average will be raised by one grade.  (E.g. an A- becomes an A; a B+ becomes an A-, etc.)