Eastern Nazarene College Biology Department BI-104: Introduction to Ecology and Diversity Course Syllabus: Grading Policies

Grades will be calculated in the manner described in the table below:

Method	Percentage of Final Grade	Description
Summative Assessments (Exams) Formative Assessments (Quizzes) Writing Assignments and Other Homework Web page/Powerpoint Project	40% 15% 15% 30%	There will be five exams during the semester.  You will be able to drop your lowest grade.   The final exam is not cumulative, but it will pertain to the project you complete during the semester.  The final exam is required, and may not be skipped.  The exams are generally made up of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essay questions. There will be quizzes given weekly on Thursdays on the material covered since the previous quiz.   These quizzes tend to be on vocabulary, and are generally multiple choice, matching, or short answer questions. There will be a minimum of  two short writing assignments given, each requiring the student to write a 2-3 page essay on a topic related to what is being covered in class. This project is described here.

I realize that grading by nature is subjective.  However, every effort is made to be objective and fair in the administration of grades.  If you feel that a grade has been assigned incorrectly or arbitrarily and would like it reviewed, please submit your written petition to me within two business days of your receipt of the grade and make an appointment to go over the entire assignment.  Your submission should include:  a copy of the graded assignment, a detailed description of the problem and a valid reason for the proposed change including any pertinent references.  Please note that completion of this petition process does not guarantee that your grade will be changed.  Furthermore, your grade may change either positively or negatively following this review since other items on the assignment could be found to be incorrect that were originally marked as correct.  Finally, any item handed in late the same day is subject to a 25% deduction.  Assignments turned in the following day are subject to a 50% deduction.  Assignments more than one day late are not accepted.  In fairness to fellow students there will be no exceptions to this policy so plan your work accordingly.

Grades will be calculated as an absolute percentage of a possible score.  The grading scale is as follows:  (NO ROUNDING)

Basic Standards of Academic Integrity

At Eastern Nazarene College, integrity and honesty are expected and required in all activities associated in any way with academic course work.  While it is not prudent or practical to attempt to specify an exhaustive list of unacceptable behaviors related to academic integrity, examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Cheating (e.g., using any unauthorized materials or devices during an examination, allowing other students to submit your work under their name, changing responses on an exam after it has been graded, etc.).

* Plagiarism, which is presenting the work of others as your own, either directly or by implication (e.g., not giving credit to the original source for any thoughts, ideas, quotations, charts, and so forth that may be included in one's own work, etc.).

* Falsifying information (e.g., reporting of undocumented data, fabricating a set of data, fabricating volunteer hours required for a course, signing the attendance sheet for an absent student, etc.).

* Stealing and/or distributing exams which have not been authorized for release or otherwise taking advantage of dishonest behavior for the purpose of gaining an unfair academic advantage.

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