Grading

Grades will be based on the following metrics:

Assignments

Theory is learned by doing. You will be given one assignment each week at the end of the lecture on Monday in the week. It will be due, in hard-copy, before the start of the lecture on the subsequent Monday. About half the assignments will be done in pairs for which you will be assigned a partner randomly. If there is an odd number of students in the class one of the random teams will have three members. The task of writing the solution must be divided equally among the partners and the solution turned in as one submission. The assignments will contribute 45% to your final grade.

Tests

There will be one mid-term test and one final test. The combined contribution of the three tests to the grade will be 40%. The mid-term and final will share the weight in a 40-60 proportion. The final will be inclusive, i.e., will include all the material covered from the beginning of the semester.

Pop Quizzes

There will be an undisclosed number of pop quizzes in class, for a total weight of 15% to the final grade.

Collaboration

Since some of the assignments will be done in pairs you will certainly collaborate with your partner(s). However, you are strongly encouraged to first think about all the problems yourself before discussing with your partners. You must make sure that you understand the solution to all the problems, including those that your partner writes.