| Course Description |
Space exploration has revealed an astonishing diversity among the planets and moons in our solar system. The planets and their histories will be compared to gain insights and new perspectives about planet Earth.
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| Required Course Materials |
- Text
Title: The Planetary System
Authors: David Morrison and Tobias Owen
Publisher: Addison Wesley, 2003
- Interactive Clicker
PRS Remote Handheld Transmitter Clicker (available at the UCSD bookstore)
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| Grading |
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Problem sets (homework) |
20 % |
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PRS Participation |
15 % |
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Question of the Day |
10 % |
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Mid-term Exam |
20 % |
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Final |
35 % |
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TOTAL |
100 % |
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| Attendance |
While attendance will not be taken in class, we will be using an interactive classroom technology system (PRS) that requires your participation (see grading policy below). Some aspects of the course material will be covered in more detail than it is in the text, so it is highly recommended that you not only bring your body to class, but your mind and attention as well. Occasional in-class quizzes (Questions-of-the-Day) will count toward your grade too (see grading policy below). Attendance at problem sessions is optional.
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| PRS Classroom Remote System |
During lecture, we will use the PRS system, an interactive technology that allows for real-time class participation. We will use this technology to enhance your learning and our teaching. This is the third time that this technology has been used for this course and the first time we have used the PRS system. We hope that you will find it helpful and fun.
You must purchase a remote transmitter called a "clicker" from the bookstore. We will explain how to use the clickers in the second class. Your remote clicker will be used to answer multiple choice and true or false questions. We will ask several of these questions during each class and each will be designed to help to gauge your understanding of course material. We will be collecting individual responses transmitted by the clickers to one of our laptops. Since each clicker will be associated with your unique student ID, answers will be associated with individuals.
We will use the technology in two ways that will count a total of 25% toward your grade:
1. Student participation. We will ask multiple choice and true or false questions. You will get the same credit, one point, for responding to the answers whether your response is correct or not. These questions will count a total of 15% toward your grade.
2. Question-of-the-day. We will ask several questions per week. These questions will also be multiple choice or true or false, and you will receive one point for a correct answer and 0 points otherwise. These questions will be based on material covered in the previous class or assigned reading. These questions will count a total of 10% toward your grade. Up to three additional points will be available as extra credit.
Note that for the first week of class, we will only practice using the PRS system and your answers will not count toward your grade. This practice time should give everyone enough time to purchase a remote transmitter from the bookstore, associate it with your Student ID, and learn how to use the clicker properly. However, beginning Week 2, we will begin to collect your electronic responses and participation will count toward your grade.
Note: your body must be physically in the classroom during each class to receive credit for the PRS questions. One person, one clicker at all times. Violating these rules will result in loss of credit for activities requiring the clicker for the remainder of the quarter, for both absentee owners and the non-owner operators of any clicker involved.
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| Grading Policy |
Homework
There will be 7 problem sets assigned at a rate of about one set per week. These will be handed out on Fridays and will be discussed in the optional problem sessions. In general, they will be due at the beginning of class the following Friday. The lowest graded homework will not be counted in the final tally. This means that you have one no-questions-asked excused homework.
Final homework answers must be printed or neatly written in permanent ink.
Late Homework: Because you can drop your lowest homework grade (see above), late homework will NOT be accepted.
Working Together on Homework: Studies have shown that students learn best when they work together. We encourage you to work with each other on assigned homeworks. However, each student must turn in his or her own assignment, written using his or her own words. Any student who fails to follow this rule will receive zero credit for the question, and if the offense is severe, for the assignment.
Any ideas, writings or materials used in your answers, which are not your own, must be used only with acknowledgement or permission.
PRS Questions
We will ask questions in class that will require your participation using the PRS system described above. We will attempt to ask a few questions during each class that will require you to "buzz in" your answer through your individual handheld clickers. You will get the same credit for responding to the answers regardless of whether or not your response is correct. These questions will count a total of 15% toward your grade.
Question of the Day
In some classes (chosen randomly) there will be a Question-of-the-Day based on the material from the previous lecture or reading. There will be a single question and a correct answer will give you one point. Ten points will count toward your final grade and up to three additional points can be used for extra credit.
Exams
There will be one midterm exam and a final exam; the final exam will be cumulative. Both exams will be signed by the test-taker and photo ID's will be checked when you turn them in. The midterm will be given in class on Friday, April 27th; the final exam is scheduled for Friday, June 15th from 3:00-5:59 pm. You will be allowed to bring a single 8.5'' by 11'' sheet of paper to the exams with notes on it. It must be handwritten on one-side only and must be turned in with your exams.
Make-Up Exams/Early Exams
Make-up exams will not be given except when a student misses the exam for a legitimate reason such as illness or family emergency (a doctor's note is required in the case of illness). Please get in touch with us as soon as possible if such a situation arises. Anyone with sporting event conflicts must provide at least 2 weeks notice with appropriate signed paperwork.
Regrades
Although we work very hard to grade homework and exams correctly, we aren't infallible. You may submit assignments exams for re-grading, subject to these rules:
- When you submit an assignment or exam for a re-grade, you must also submit a written description of what you think we did incorrectly.
- We will re-grade the entire assignment or exam, not just the portion you feel was graded incorrectly.
- Because we will re-grade the entire assignment or exam, your grade will not necessarily improve as a result of the re-grade. If we find something wrong that we missed before, your grade could drop.
- We will not re-grade any non-scantron assignment that is written in pencil or erasable ink.
Course Grades
Course grades will be based on homework (20%), PRS participation (15%), Question-of-the-Day (10%), the midterm (20%), and final exam (35%). Extra credit earned by answering 3 extra credit Question of the Day questions will be added on to your cumulative grade.
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| UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship |
UCSD has an established policy on academic honesty that we will follow in this class. You can also find the policy on page 72 of the General Catalog.
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