The papers are an important part of your grade. You must write them. (Students with diagnosed dyslexia should talk to me as soon as they can.) If writing papers scares you, see me, or your instructor for advice.
Laboratory examinations take the form of a scavenger hunt. Each exam consists of a list of terms. You must find material from that provided to match the term and then demonstrate it carefully to the instructor. You will have a second chance (for 1/2 score) at each item. Lab questions will generally relate to material on the minimum content list. Hint, hint.
Lecture examinations will count as less than half
the course grade. Match lecture topics with the assigned readings
to get a feel for testable material. I am much more likely to test
on something that is in the book and in my lecture than on
anything else. There will be a few questions from the assigned
reading that are not in my lecture but not many (the difference between
an A and a B).
Grading is a complex affair. I will chart total scores and look for breaks in the distribution to serve as breaks between letter grades. Generally speaking, A's run to 90% of top score. B's break around 80%, give or take 2%. The bottom of the C range is hard to pinpoint. It is generally at 65%, give or take 5%. No matter how low the distribution breaks fall, less than 50% of top score will be the Fail line.
Those whose scores merit D or F grades can still
get that C- by completing the demonstration of "must know" items
and completing all the assigned essays by final exam time. Understand
that reading the text, walking into my office, and regurgitating the text
will not qualify. You will have to "convince" one of us that you
understand a minimum content item.