Grading Policy and Academic Honor Code

Earth and Life Through Time  GEOL 11042 distance-learning

Students are expected to complete the modules, do the reading, consult the web site, take the quizzes, midterms, and the final exam.  Grades are based on:
On-Line Quizzes (total of 11, drop lowest quiz )   30%
On-Line Midterms (total of 2, each worth 20%)    40%
On-Line Comprehensive Final Exam   30%
Total  100%
Extra Credit Quizzes (2 available, each worth 3%) add 6%
Quizzes:  On-line quizzes will be in multiple choice/matching format and may involve the use of maps, diagrams, and graphs.  There are 11 quizzes, and you can drop the lowest score, so ten will be used in the calculation of your grade in the course.

Midterm and Final Exam scores may be curved, at the discretion of the instructor, but each student has the potential to succeed in this course.  When grades are available, they will be posted using Blackboard.  

Midterms and Final Exam:  Midterms and Final Exams are open book/open notes and on-line multiple choice exams.    The final exam will be available for you to take beginning Monday, 8 a.m. May 4th through Friday, 6 p.m. May 8th, and is a comprehensive exam (use the Quizzes and Midterms to help you prepare for the final exam).  It will also be a multiple choice exam. 

Make-ups:  Quizzes are available for each week until midnight Sunday of the end of that week .  After that, they will not be available, and no make-ups will be provided except in the following circumstances:  Students who miss a Quiz due to documented illness (physician/health center), or official University travel or active military service - in all cases, students must provide official documentation in order to receive a make-up Quiz.  If you are involved in the military or official athletic activities, review the syllabus schedule early in the semester and consult with the instructor prior to the examination dates if you have a conflict. 
 

Important Notes Regarding Quizzes, Midterms, and the Final Exam

ON-LINE QUIZZES:  There are 11 quizzes, and the lowest score of the 11 will be dropped.

The final exam is required and will be offered on-line beginning May 8th (Monday) through May 13th (Friday) Students are expected to arrange any end-of-semester travel so that they will be be available to take the final exam at this time.

Academic Honor Code:  All students in the course are expected to abide by the academic honor code, as specified in the University's "Digest of Rules and Regulations."  The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense.  This includes misrepresenting the source, nature or other conditions of your academic work to get undeserved credit.  It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism will result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course.  Kent State University has strict policies and procedures (see section 3-01.8 of the University Policy Register) for dealing with student cheating and plagiarism.  Please become familiar with these policies and procedures, as they will be followed and enforced to the maximum extent by the instructor of this course.  You can find the policy here.