BES 301A

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Grading

two overlapping histograms Positive regression normal curve Histogram

To help alleviate stress and focus on learning, I grade all my assignments as complete/incomplete. My instructions for each assignment will be clear, so you can grade your own work before turning it in to guarantee that you'll pass it. In case you have questions beforehand, we'll go over assignments in class before they are due.

The main focus of this course is completing a portfolio that demonstrates what you have learned this quarter. You will choose which assignments you want to improve and include in your portfolio.

Because this is a hybrid course, there are a lot of assignments to compensate for the time we're not in class. They typically take 6-12 hours a week.

What if I get an incomplete on an assignment?

Making mistakes—and correcting them—are part of learning! If you receive an incomplete on an assignment that you turned in, then you can redo it and resubmit it within a week of having the grade released.

Each assignment can only be resubmitted once. Please include a reflection with your resubmission in which you think about what you learned through the process of revision by answering the following questions:

Please note that you cannot resubmit the final portfolio.

Estimating your grade

To find your course grade, begin by finding your course percentage in Canvas, then subtract 55 and then divide by 10. For example, if your cumulative percentage for the course is 75%, then your corresponding grade would be: (75 - 55)/10 = 2.0. With this grading scheme, if you score 61% or lower in the course, then you will receive a 0.

Due dates and late work

Because I prepare for class by grading your homework, it’s important for you to turn things in on time. Homework assignments are due midnight every Sunday.

Sometimes you might be late for an assignment. I'm giving each of you 100 "late hours." So, if you submit an assignment 2 hours late, you use up 2 late hours, and you have 98 late hours left in the quarter. I round your late hours: under 30 minutes rounds down to the nearest hour, and over 30 minutes rounds up to the nearest hour. For example, if you turn in an assignment 4 hours and 15 minutes late, I'll count it as 4 hours late. But if it's 4 hours and 30 minutes late, I'll count it as 5 hours late. Once you use up all your late hours, I will not accept late work. You can always check on your late hour tally in the Canvas gradebook.

Assignments

You will have 5 types of assignments in this class, as follows:

Participation (14%)

Participation is especially important in hybrid classes, because we only have 10 class meetings. We’ll spend our time actively working on understanding and applying fundamental statistical concepts from different fields of study. I will determine your grade based on Poll Everywhere questions. If you miss class, you have up until the following Friday night to complete the activities.

I will drop your lowest grade in this category.

Developing Understanding (25%)

You will have weekly assignments in your textbook and occasional reading assignments. Please note that your textbook has a video for each chapter—so, you are welcome to watch the video instead of doing the reading.

I will use multiple choice quizzes to assess what you learned from the readings. Some of the questions are also in your readings—so you can easily check whether your understanding is correct. I’ve used AI to generate some of the questions, too.

This category of assignments also includes stats problems to solve.

I will drop your lowest grade in this category.

Statistical reports (24%)

The objective of these assignments is to practice interpreting statistics. For these assignments, I will give you statistical output and ask you a series of interpretive questions about what story emerges from the data. Your reports must be submitted as accessible, structured files—no worries if you don’t know how to do this yet. I will teach you.

Statistics in the wild (12%)

The objective of these assignments is to interpret statistics that you encounter in your daily life. For these assignments, you will find examples of statistics, and evaluate the conclusions that are reached about them. Your assignment must be submitted as accessible, structured files—no worries if you don’t know how to do this yet. I will teach you.

Final Portfolio (25%)

Your final portfolio will compile your accomplishments throughout the quarter, with reflections about what you learned. To prepare your portfolio, you will: