Professor Yun - Spring 2008

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance is strongly recommended. It is the single most important way to sort out the important concepts among the rather large amount of material covered in this course. In-class participation is part of your grade.
Readings: Assignments in the text ("Pathway to Astronomy, Stars and Galaxies (Volume 2)" by Schneider and Arny) for each class are listed in the syllabus and are required. Reading the assigned materials before each discussion is critical for having productive class time. You will also need to do the reading in order to do your prelecture OWL assignments. You are not expected to master the material before class. However, you are expected to know the vocabulary and concepts introduced in the reading and to come to class prepared to discuss the material and ask questions.

Pre-class quizes on the readings will be given throughout the semester. These quizes are administered through the OWL system and will be worth a total of 10% of your final grade. Reading assignments and the associated quiz will be available immediately following class. The quiz must be completed prior to 1 hour before the following class.
Internet Access: You will need internet access to have access to the homework and the quizes.
Exams: There will be three one-hour exams and a final exam. The best three of the four exam scores will make up the 70% of your total grade. Exam questions will be drawn from both class material and reading assignments.

Be sure to bring your ID and a #2 pencil to all exams, since we will be using machine-graded forms. No calculators allowed. The exams will test concepts and some basic math ideas; they are designed to test your understanding, not your ability to push buttons.

Makeup exam policy: Makeup exams will be given only for documented medical or family emergencies or by prior arrangement. Makeups may be essay-style or oral.
Homework: There will be six homework assignments, worth 10% of the final grade. There are also five APOD assignments. Both assignments are found in OWL, and solutions will be posted in the syllabus page.
Academic Honesty is expected of all scientists, and also of all students of science. Cheating on an exam will result in a grade of zero for that exam. This zero will not be dropped as one of your low exam grades! Cheating on homework or in-class exercises will result in the reduction of one letter grade in your final grade. Failure to observe the rules of academic honesty may result in a failing grade for the entire course as stated in your student contract.
Common Courtesy Guidelines
For the benefit of your fellow students and your instructors, you are expected to practice common courtesy with regard to all course interactions. For example:
- show up to class on time
- do not leave class early and do not rustle papers in preparation to leave before class is dismissed
- turn off your cell phone
- Be attentive in class - stay awake, don't read newspapers, etc.
- If you must be late or leave early on any particular day, please inform your instructor or TA in advance.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in expulsion from class and a grade of "0" for the in-class attendance/participation grade.

Summary of Components of Final Grade:

3 best of 4 exams	70%
OWL quizes on readings	10%
in-class participation	10%
OWL homeworks	10%

Grades will be assigned on the following scale. Letter grades may be adjusted upward if an exam is unusually hard.

If you get at least...	your grade will be at least...
96%	A
92%	A-
88%	B+
84%	B
80%	B-
76%	C+
72%	C
68%	C-
64%	D+
60%	D

Nighttime viewing through the UMass campus telescope on Orchard Hill will be available every Thursday night from 7:30 - 9:30 PM. You are encouraged to stop by and see with your own eyes many of the objects and phenomena we discuss in class. You should write a short extra-credit report.

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