How
to Figure out Your Grade for Glenn’s Classes
When I design a course, I summarize the grading system for that course in a highly specific way. This method allows for students to compute their grades at any point in the semester. In other words, you can figure out what your total grade is for the course based on a subset of the assigments and examinations being complete. This information should allow you to anticipate your grade and figure out how you need to score on future assignments to receive a specific final grade in the class.
This document is essentially a tutorial on how to compute grades for my classes.
EXAMPLE: Suppose you are in my Statistics class and
you see the following statements on the syllabus pertaining to grading:
“Grading: Grades for all examinations and assignments will be converted to percentages. The following equation will be used to determine your final grade:
(Exam 1 * .12) + (Exam 2 * .12) + (Exam 3 * .12) + (Exam 4 * .12) +
(Final exam * .16) +
(Homework assignment 1 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 2 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 3 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 4 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 5 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 6 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 7 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 8 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 9 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 10 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 11 * .02) +
(Homework assignment 12 * .02) +
(Computer assignment 1 * .03) +
(Computer assignment 2 * .03) +
(Computer assignment 3 * .03) +
(Computer assignment 4 * .03)
= Final grade.
Your final grade will be on a scale from 0 to 100. Final grades will be converted to letter grades using the following criteria:
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94 - 100 = A 90 - 93 = A- 87 - 89 = B+ 84 - 86 = B 80 - 83 = B- 77 - 79 = C+ 74 - 76 = C 70 - 73 = C- 67 - 69 = D+ 64 - 66 = D 60 - 63 = D- Below 60 = F |
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“
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Further, suppose that you have completed one homework, one lab assignment, and the first two exams. Your grades are as follows:
Homework #1: 86
Lab #1: 93
Exam #1: 82
Exam #2: 78
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TO
FIGURE OUT EXACTLY YOUR GRADE AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN THE COURSE:
STEP 1: Multiply each score by the appropriate weight (as given in prior equation) to obtain a weighted product for each score:
(86*.02) = 1.72 ß homework #1
(93*.03) = 2.79 ß lab #1
(82*.12) = 9.84 ß exam #1
(78*.12) = 9.36 ß exam #2
STEP 2: Sum these new weighted products. In the current example, that would comprise:
1.72 + 2.79 + 9.84 + 9.36 = 23.71.
STEP 3: You now need to compute a ratio between that sum and the total possible sum. The total possible sum would be the sum of the weights (for all products that have been computed).
Total Possible Sum = 2% + 3% + 12% + 12% (the weights used in Step 1 represented as percentages) = 29%
STEP 4: Divide the sum of the weighted products (from Step 2) by the total possible sum computed in step 3:
23.71 / 29 = 81.76% (or a B-)
… So that’s how to do it! It’s fun! Note that this same algorithm works for all my courses. Let me know if you have any questions – I want the grading stuff to always be fully clear.