University of California, San Diego
Physics 7 - Introduction to Astronomy

GRADING

The course grade will be determined by reading quizzes, homework, a midterm, and a final exam.

• Homework: Each week (usually Thursday), discussion questions will be posted covering the material for that week. The discussion questions will be discussed in section meetings the following week. Additional material may also be covered in section depending on the interests of the students and section leader. Homework will be collected, checked for completeness and accuracy, and assigned a score on a 3 point scale:
  • 2 pts - generally complete and apparently well thought out,
  • 3 pts - exceptionally complete and showing clear signs of original thought,
  • 1 pt - minimal effort.
  Please note: Homework must be handwritten; printed homework will not be accepted
• Quizzes: Each Tuesday at the beginning of lecture there will be a quiz, covering the web reading and material covered in class for the previous week. Quiz score will be based on the best 8/9 Quiz Scores.
• Exams: will be mostly multiple choice or short answer, but there may be one or more questions requiring significant discussion. All exams will be closed book.

HOW TO DO WELL IN PHYSICS 7

I suggest the following strategy:

• Reading: Read the assigned Web pages and if possible the appropriate chapters in the book, before the relevant lecture. Review the reading before you attempt the discussion questions. Use the Checklist and Review Questions to check your understanding of the material.
  
• Lecture: Attend Lectures and pay attention to the key principles. If you do not understand something ask questions. Please do not feel intimidated or self-conscious; if something in lecture is not clear to you it is probably unclear to many other students as well. It is far better to clarify ideas when they are presented than to attempt reconstruction later. Concentrate more on the material than on taking notes; my personal lecture notes will be available from Soft Reserves. Pay attention to the slides and visual materials; tempting as an afternoon nap may be, the slides illustrate important physical data.
  
• Homework Assignments: Work out the answers to the discussion questions before attending the section meetings. Frequently the discussion questions will require some independent thought or synthesis of material presented. If the answers elude you, give them your best shot before seeking help elsewhere. The questions will be a good guide to what's important for exams. Copying the answers from a friend or regurgitating straight from the text is not only dishonest, it is counterproductive. You may, however revise your answers based on the material discussed in discussion section meetings.
  
• Discussion Sections: These are your principal means for outside help/contact. The general format will be to review the answers to the discussion questions, but it is intended that you bring questions about the lectures, reading, etc. to the discussion section as well. Experience shows that students who organize their questions ahead of time and participate in the discussion obtain the greatest benefit.
  
• Surf the Web: We've put alot of work into the Web Pages for Physics 7. In addition to reading the lecture web pages, follow the links to be certain that you understand, and, dare we suggest, have a little fun too.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Please read the ``UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship'' in the General Catalog. The rules covering academic honesty will be rigorously enforced. For the purposes of this class cheating includes, but is not limited to, submitting another person's work as your own for grade consideration, copying from another student on assignments or exams, and use of any unauthorized materials in an exam. Any confirmed case of cheating will result in an ``F'' grade in Physics 7 and referral to the appropriate dean for disciplinary action.