Course Requirements
1. Lectures. Students are responsible for material covered in each lecture and for reading text assignments. In this regard, lesson learning objectives are helpful guidelines for studying what is considered important in each lesson. Students should be able to work problems similar to those done during lecture and labs. Students should know the key words at the end of each chapter in the text which were included in the reading assignment. See Enclosure I (pages 8 - 12) for tentative class schedule.
2. Lab and Multimedia Exercises. Students are required to perform each lab and multimedia exercise during the designated lab period. If it is known in advance that a lab or multimedia exercise cannot be done at the scheduled time period, prior arrangements should be made with the instructor to do the lab or multimedia exercise with another class section the week this lab or multimedia exercise is being done. No makeups will be allowed for missed lab or multimedia exercises. Thus, missed lab and multimedia exercises count zero. However, one lab and one multimedia exercise can be missed and the student will receive the average grade of the other exercises for the one missed exercise. See Enclosure I (pages 8 - 12) for tentative lab and multimedia schedule.
3. Tests. Unit tests are given in the classroom or lab. Lab tests are given in the lab. If it is known in advance that a test cannot be taken on the scheduled date, arrangements should be made with the instructor to take the test early, if feasible. Only excused absences (e.g. family emergencies, or serious illness) will allow students to make up a unit or lab test. A missed test must be made up within one week after the student returns to classes at JCCC. Makeup tests may be in essay format. It is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor and arrange a mutually agreed upon time to complete missed work.
4. Observing Session. There will be one evening observing session of about 45 minutes to observe the Moon and planets with a high-power telescope. Observing times will be announced in class several weeks in advance. This session will be counted as extra credit (10 points).
5. Quizzes. Eleven quizzes are scheduled during the semester and are given in the classroom. Quizzes cannot be made up if missed. Thus, a missed quiz counts zero. However, on week 15 lesson 31, there will be a 10 point review quiz covering information from the entire semester. If you have missed a quiz the score from this quiz will substitute for that missed quiz. If you have not missed any quizes these points will be added as extra credit points.
6. Article Quiz and Written Summary. An article on a physical science subject from a current science magazine will be assigned during the 4th week of the course. A 20 point quiz will be given over this assignment. A missed article quiz cannot be made up, but it may be taken early subject to approval by the instructor. Additionally, students will be required to write a summary of the article that is also worth 20 points. A written summary submitted late will count zero. Guidelines for the article quiz and written summary will be distributed later in the course.
7. Final Exam. The final exam is comprehensive and is given in the classroom at the time designated for each section in the class schedule. The final exam cannot be made up, without prior arrangement, and will be graded as a zero if missed. However, if an emergency occurs, such as hospitalization or illness, and the instructor is notified before grades are turned in, a grade of Incomplete (I) may be awarded until the exam can be taken and the final course grade determined.