Coursework and grading

Laboratory

The weekly lab section will have three purposes:

  1. An opportunity for you to get help with the homework or your mini-project
  2. Further discussion of material from the lectures
  3. Introduction of additional material related to your AI's area of research

We will not take attendance in the lab sections, but it is to your advantage to attend because you will be responsible for what is discussed there.

Coursework

Programming assignments (75%)

There will be five programming homework assignments and one "mini-project". We will drop the lowest of the five homework scores in figuring your homework total. Homework assignments will be posted here, at least a week before they are due. It is important that you start early on an assignment so that you can ask about what you don't understand in class or office hours. The mini-project will be similar to the homework assignments, except that you will work together with one or two partners and will have a choice of topics. The homework assignments will count 50% of your total grade and the mini-project 25%.

Exam (25%)

There will be a final exam on all of the material in the course, but emphasizing the material not covered in the homework assignments. You will be responsible for all of the topics covered in the lecture (and summarized in Lecture Notes) and in the assigned readings (even if not discussed in class or Lecture Notes). You may use the textbook and any notes you want during the exam. If you will not be able to take the exam at the scheduled time (Thurs., Dec. 15, 7:30pm), please let us know well in advance.

Grading procedures

Late submission

We will not accept late assignments. There is also no reason for you to come to us with excuses for late assignments, however valid, unless you are asking for, and believe you qualify for, an Incomplete in the class. Excuses end up being discriminatory because some students are more likely to use them than others, who have equally good reasons, so, in the interest of fairness, we will ignore them altogether. Remember that one of the homework grades is dropped, so you can still get an A in the class if you weren't able to do one of the homework assignments or submit it on time.

Incompletes

The policy towards Incomplete grades in this course is the university's own policy. The following is from the IU Academic Handbook.

CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTING INCOMPLETES
The grade of Incomplete used on the final grade reports indicates that the work is satisfactory as of the end of the semester but has not been completed. The grade of Incomplete may be given only when the completed portion of a student's work in the course is of passing quality. Instructors may award the grade of Incomplete upon a showing of such hardship to a student as would render it unjust to hold the student to the time limits previously fixed for the completion of his/her work.

Probable grading breakdown

97-100 A+
91-96 A
89-90 A-
87-88 B+
81-86 B
79-80 B-
77-78 C+
71-76 C
69-70 C-
67-68 D+
61-66 D
59-60 D-
<59 F
© 2005. Indiana University and Michael Gasser.
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