All papers, examinations and
other work for credit
will
be graded on the basis of a raw score equal to the percentage of the
total number of possible points (100). The final letter grade will
be determined by the total raw score. Thus, two people with the same
raw scores will receive the same letter grade. The scale of
determination, however, is made only at the end of the course, once
all the grades are in. Estimates may be offered earlier.
Class attendance:
Students are expected to attend classes. In the
unlikely event that a class needs to be canceled (e.g., because of
weather), I will try to leave a message on my voice mail (575-5826).
Late papers:
Latepapers will be accepted, but the instructor reserves
the right to deduct up to one point for each day a paper is late.
Spelling and Grammar:
Mistakes in spelling and grammar are not
appreciated. While no points will be taken off any paper or
examination solely for mistakes in spelling or grammar, clarity is
important in philosophy and errors in spelling or, particularly,
grammar can make writing more difficult to understand. The same
applies to illegibility. A paper with such errors may therefore
receive a lower grade than it otherwise would, because it may
therefore be less clear than it could be. Furthermore, the
instructor may disregard any claim made in an ungrammatical sentence.
Make-up tests:
Make-up tests will be given where a reasonable (to
the instructor) and verifiable excuse for inability to take the test
at the scheduled time is offered. Any make-up tests, however, will
be offered without options. For example, if on the normal test
students were asked to answer three out of five questions, the
student taking the make-up test will have no choice about which three
questions to answer (and the questions may be different from those
offered in the original examination).
Reevaluation:
Any student may request that any paper, examination,
or other course work be reevaluated if she or he feels that it has
been unfairly or carelessly graded. No penalty will be imposed for
taking advantage of this option, of course, but neither is there any
guarantee that the grade will not decrease if the work looks inferior
on the second reading.
Incompletes:
Failure to complete the assigned work on time is not a
sufficient reason to be granted a grade of "incomplete" in the
course. Giving birth to a child the morning of the final examination
is, if a good faith effort has been made up to that point to keep up
with the work.
Academic Dishonesty:
Cheating will not be tolerated. If
academic
dishonesty is suspected, it will be reported to the judicial
coordinator and to the All University Judicial Board, where
appropriate.