METHOD OF EVALUATION:
 

• Class participation will be partly determined by attendance which will be taken regularly.
• Everyone begins with 100 points for the in-class participation grade.  Five (5) points will be deducted for each 50-minute class period absence.  Two night a week evening classes which meet 50 minutes one class period & 100 minutes the other will have 5 and 6 points deducted respectively.  Regular two day a week classes will have 6 points deducted for each absence.  One night a week evening classes which meet 150 minutes per class period will have 7 points deducted for each absence.  Short summer session classes which meet 100 minutes, MTWR will have 5 points deducted for each absence.  For all the above class formats, only three (3) points will be deducted for absences due to university-sponsored activities that are approved by the V. P. for Academic Affairs or the V. P. Student Affairs.
• Participation grade points may be deducted or added at the discretion of the instructor during class periods.  For example, if a group fails to research a question and cannot report an answer when called upon during the class participation time, points may be deducted (especially if a group fails to report multiple times).  Individuals sleeping in class may have points deducted as well.  If a group or individual responds to a question in a manner in which the instructor deems to be superior, points may be added to the participation grade.
• As stated in the syllabus, extra or make-up points for the participation grade are possible by observatory attendance and participation in designated extro-class labs.  (Even if you are not taking the lab.)  Each certified observatory attendance will count one (1) point on your participation grade and the designated extro-class labs usually count three (3) points each.
• If a student misses the equivalent of seven 50 minute classes (~14% of scheduled classes), it is the prerogative of the instructor to drop the student from the class roll with a W or WF, or to continue the student in class.  Seven 50 minute absences results in a participation grade of 65.  If the class participation grade is below the exam average at the end of the term, then only the exam grade average will be used to designate the letter grade.  This means that the participation grade can only help your final grade and not lower it.  Note however that perfect attendance results in a class participation grade of 100 which counts 25% of the class grade, easily enough to raise most averages one letter grade.  For example, if a student has an exam grade of 75 and a participation grade of 100 their final class grade would be 81, a "B" rather than the "C" (75) if only the exam average is used.  It is very advantageous for the student to participate fully by class and observatory attendance as full participation almost always results in a higher letter grade.

PARTICIPATION GRADE ATTENDANCE POLICY:
 

• Class participation is determined in part by attendance.  If you are absent from class then you are NOT participating.

THEREFORE, ALL ABSENCES WILL BE COUNTED, NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON! This includes but is not limited to absences due to illness, death in the family, family emergency, university sponsored events, athletic events, military events, and transportation problems.  Absences during a scheduled exam are counted even if you are allowed to make-up the exam at another time.  See Method of Evaluation above for details related to class format and "excused" absences.
• However, it is possible to make-up points lost due to absences by superior in-class participation, observatory attendance and extro-class lab participation.  (Even if you are not taking the lab course.)  See Method of Evaluation above for details.
• Five observatory attendances (which are counted as extra points on the participation grade) are equivalent to making up one 50-minute class period absence.  Participation in designated extro-class labs may also be used to make-up class absences or for extra points on the participation grade.  Designated extro-class labs usually count three points on the participation grade.

Please contact your professor if you have any questions about the class participation grade.
 
 

SIZE AND COMPOSITION:
 

• Maximum 3 students per group.
• Group members will be chosen in alphabetical order from class roll.

STRUCTURE:
 

• Moderator:  Moderates group discussion of researched notes, questions and issues.
• Recorder:  Records notes, questions and issues generated by the group.
• Spokesperson:  Liaison with instructor during small group discussions and presents researched notes, questions and issues during report periods.

OPERATION OF GROUPS:
 

• The instructor will post discussion/essay questions covering topics from the online outline at each class period.  (Probably three questions per 50 minute class period.)  By using the online outline, students should be able to determine upcoming topics.  They should read and review the material related to those topics in the textbook before class.  All groups will research the questions using the outline and the textbook for approximately 40% of the class time.  The rest of the class time will be reserved for groups to report their researched notes on the assigned questions.  See the diagram below for specific class formats.
• The instructor will choose groups at random to report on the questions.  After a group reports on a question, there may be discussion/questions from other groups and supplemental lecture from the instructor.  Other group or class activities (class demonstrations, exercises, etc.) may also be completed during this portion of the class.
• Participation grades are derived from class participation, class attendance, and extro-class participation.  See above for details.