Work in CS 183 is divided into three main components:
Of the total course grade, the lecture component is worth 40%, the laboratory component 20%, and the project 40%.
A necessary but not sufficient precondition for passing the course is individually passing the lecture, laboratory and project components (described below).
Specifically, each aspect of the course contributes the following percentage to the final grade.
Lecture Component (40%):
To pass the lecture component requires at minimum a 50% exam average.
Laboratory Component (20%)
Laboratory exercises will be individually graded, and together will comprise 20% of the total course grade. The lowest lab grade is dropped when computing the laboratory component score.
Project Component (40%):
Passing the project component requires at minimum a 50% average for your individual contributions to the project.
Final Examination:
Students who have an 80% or better total class average by the end of Week 10 have the option of not taking the final exam (though students may take the exam if they wish). Students with an average of less than 80% must take the final exam.
If a student takes the final exam, it counts for 20% of the total course grade, computed as follows. The total class average (combination of lecture, laboratory, and project scores) is multiplied by .8, and the final exam score (out of 100) is multiplied by .2, then added.
Laboratory assignments, and project deliverables are due at the beginning of class. Due dates are specified on the course syllabus. Late items automatically receive no credit (0 points for that assignment), though in extenuating circumstances, project deliverables may be turned in late with prior approval from the instructor or TA.
Each project deliverable may be corrected, and then submitted for regrading within a week of receiving a grade for that deliverable. Up to half of all points lost on that deliverable may be recovered during regrading.
Homework and laboratory assignments, as well as article reviews, are performed individually. Project deliverables are a joint effort by each project team.
Any confirmed academic dishonesty including but not limited to copying another's homework or article review, cheating on exams, and copying project work without giving credit to the author of the work products, will result in a no-pass or failing grade. Students are encouraged to read the campus policies regarding academic integrity.
Occasionally, one or more group members contribute less effort to the project than others. In CS 183, this is initially viewed as a management challenge: how to motivate and coordinate under-performing team members. Groups experiencing this problem are encouraged to meet with the Professor or TA to discuss management tactics.
If, at the end of the quarter, multiple managerial approaches have been tried without success, it is possible to ask the Professor to assess the relative contributions of each team member. The Professor sends out an email questionnaire asking each member to rate the relative contributions of every team member (including themselves) by dividing 100 points among all team members. For example, if there are four team members, and each member contributed equally, each would receive 25 points. Based on this data, the Professor may, at his discretion, modify the total project grades of one or more team members.
Note that if no effort was made to attempt managerial solutions to the problem, then no reassessment of course grades will be permitted. This reflects the viewpoint that the situation reflects a failure to address an obvious managerial problem, as well as the failure of some team members to contribute their share of the work.
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