Grading Policy - Online Psych 56

   GRADING POLICY

A. Grading Policy - Grade weighting. Homework assignments, exams, other course assignments (workbook), and participation count for 100% of a numerical final grade. Other options and factors may increase or decrease a final grade.

B. Exams - All students must take 4 out of 5 online exams. The 5th exam is also the designated make-up exam. A student who misses two exams, will automatically fail the course --- regardless of circumstances. Each exam is multiple choice or true or false and is worth 100 points. Remember we don't use percentages in this course only total accumulated overall points. Again, students must complete 4 out of any 5 exams. Please note permission is required for taking the make-up 5th exam. Total points for exams is 400.

1. Please note that a student may take an exam during any 2 hour block of time during any 24 hour period on the actual day of the exam. Exams are on Saturday unless otherwise noted. This should make exam taking quite flexible for nearly all students. This day was chosen as the vast overwhelming numbers of students preferred it.

2. Students are urged to read carefully and follow the strict online testing policy, guidelines, and directions posted within each of the actual exams. This policy is strictly enforced.

3. Be sure to take each of the practice exams and each of the chapter quizzes provided within each of the 15 online modules.

C. Module Homework Assignments - There are two (2) required written module "Homework Assignments" --- that must be thoroughly answered --- from fifteen (15) to choose from. Be sure to note your total word count at the end of each of the two (2) fully completed modules due for this course (10 point deduction for failure to do this!).

Each of these 15 assignments also contains a "Thought Provoking Question" that a written response is required for and then posted on the "Discussion Board." This task is like "class discussion" in face-to-face classroom. Assignments have deadlines. Make sure you know the deadlines. Late assignments may not be accepted. And if they are accepted late, they are, generally speaking, marked down 10% to 30%; depending on how late. Reminder - Students may not submit more than two fully completed online modules. Once two are recorded in the grade book, further such submissions will be deleted.

 Don't wait until the last few hours before deadlines --- submit early or pay the  price! All online Canvas module homework (HW) assignments are laid out as independent teaching modules. If you click on the Modules link (in the "Navigational Toolbar" in the left sidebar) you will see each module laid out complete with timeframes and deadlines. You can find the same information at the end of the Course Syllabus. Within each module (0-15) you will note assignment links you may click on. Each of these links will take you to each of the 15 online homework assignments from which you must choose four to complete thoroughly. If you have explored the course website thoroughly as requested you will have no problem finding this information, but to be on the safe side, I have provided some pertinent information here too. 

1. During the regular semester there must be at least a one-week spacing between module assignment submissions. For example, if a student submits Module #2 graded assignments, then they may not submit Module #3 graded assignments as one of their four choices. The purpose of this rule is to encourage students to spread out their choices and workload, not be rushed, and not wait until the last minute to submit assignments --- which generally speaking is often rushed and of poor quality.

2. During the summer program, only one module may be submitted each week from the three assignments offered. Late assignments are not accepted, so know the deadlines.

3. ALL 15 module assignments must be reviewed, though only written proof for four is required.

4. All 15 "Thought-Provoking Questions or Articles" (TPQ) in each of the 15 modules must be responded to on the Discussion Board. Students are asked to respond to at least three (3) other students' posts for each week's TPQ. I've now repeated this point three times in this "Grading Policy" discussion, so no excuses for saying: "I did not know."

5. Again, students may choose any four assignments they wish from the 15 Modules provided. You will find them listed in the modules section of the Course Syllabus. Late assignments are not accepted. Note: Each of the 15 online homework assignments --- from which you must choose two --- has a deadline. No late assignments are accepted. Are you "Ontime and Online?"

6. Again, students are expected to at least review each of the 15 online homework assignments. Don't cheat yourself out of a good education.

7. To enhance the course and make it more meaningful to you and other students, comment on --- or otherwise provide "Cross Dialogue" feedback --- to three (3) other students' TPQ discussion board posts each week --- or marked down 20%. Choose your favorite student posts. 

8. Again, always remember to post each of your 15 TPQs on the actual discussion board and NOT in the 15 online homework assignments UNLESS they are that assignment is part of the two required.

9. Each of the 2 required module homework assignments needs to be between 1500 and 3000 words for the entire assignment --- all tasks combined. Your assignment should also be tightly woven with relevant assigned textbook readings tied in. 70% of each assignment's grade is based on word count/length and 30% on quality. Here is a further important breakdown. NOTE: Do not submit more than two modules for full grading. Submissions after two will be dropped by the computer. Students who submit more than two will receive a penalty of 10 points for failure to follow directions as well.

2500 - 3000 words - A range
2000 - 2400 words - B range
1500 - 1900 words - C range
1000 - 1400 words - D range
less than 999 words - F range AND no credit given

D. Course Wookbook Assignments - Each student must complete any 16 readings and/or exercises from the Grieving Days, Healing Days workbook. A 250 word typed written reaction paper must be attached to the "original pages" torn out of the workbook and sent all together by snail mail by the assigned date [post mark]. Again, send ALL 16 OF THEM TOGETHER at the SAME time. They are to be sent by "snail mail" [U.S. Mail] to Dr. J. Davis Mannino, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Santa Rosa Junior College, 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. See "Link #12" in Course Basics. 

1. Students may also hand deliver them to my office. You may slide them under my office door. My office is 1544 in Emeritus Hall. This is on the lower floor. Please do NOT burden office staff If you are going to hand deliver them and slide them under my office door. I do not share my office, so it is only me who enters my office.

2. In case of lost mail, students should keep poof of mailing and copies of all documents sent. In every course, without exception, at lease one mailed paper was delayed in arriving or lost. You are urged to mail this important course requirement at least two weeks before the deadline.

E. Discussion Board - TPQ - "Though-Provoking Question" (TPQ) or Article. In particular, students must post a response at the "discussion board" for each of the 15 online homework assignment "thought-provoking" questions or articles (called "Cross Dialogue"). Students are asked to respond to at least three (3) other students' posts for each week's TPQ. This course requirement is graded. Each of the 15 posts  is worth 10 points. Note: Remember to post each of your 15 TPQs on the discussion board as well as in any of the four online homework assignments you choose to submit. 

F. Technical Grading Information

1. Students must NOT submit more than 4 homework assignments. The computer will NOT count any points from any assignments after 4 homework assignments have been submitted.

2. Again, students who complete more than 4 assignments, will have any and all assignments beyond the 4th one dropped automatically by the computer program.

3. No credit is given for Module #0 [Professors don't give credit for telling them about one's self :-)]

G. Final Grades - Final letter grades are based on total course points you receive. Until you compete all course requirements it may seem difficult to figure out what your overall grade to date is. Ignore any letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) next to your name in the grade book. This is a "false grade" until ALL points are in near the end of the course. The easiest way to gauge your progress is to note how many total points out of the maximum possible points you receive for each graded assignment. For example, on the first graded assignment, which is the discussion intake post, the maximum possible points is 5. So if you received 4 points, that means you received 4 out of 5 points  --- or 80%, as each point in this particular assignment is worth 20%.

1. Total possible points for course (not including extra credit or bonus points) is 1105 points. They are derived as follows:

a. One "New Class 'Check-In' Discussion Board Post" – 5 maximum points.

b. Four Exams – 400 maximum points at 100 points each.

c. Two Modules Assignments - 400 maximum points at 200 points each. [Note: Do not submit more than two. See #9 above.]

d. Fifteen TPQs - 150 maximum points at 10 points each.

e. One “16-part GDHD workbook” submission at 150 maximum points.

2. Total points needed out of 1105 possible (not including extra credit or bonus points) for an A, B, C, D, or F is as follows:

a. 995 points or better equals an A = (90 average or better)
b. 885 points is minimum for a B (80 average)
c. 775 points is minimum for a C (70 average)
d. 665 points is minimum for a D (60 average)
e. less than 665 is an F.

3. Students who find themselves shy of a higher final course grade, will have such factors as (a) polite and civil tone in email  and discussion board communications, (b) not engaging in persistent pettiness, (c) not becoming either a technical or email burden, (d) timeliness in homework submissions, (e) prompt and positive participation online, (f) and overall quality factored in as consideration for receiving a higher final course grade. This decision is totally at the discretion of the instructor. 

4. Students may have their final grade reduced one letter grade and/or referred to the administration for disciplinary action for the following:

a. Disruptive, insulting, and disrespectful behavior to a professor [in chatrooms, message boards, emails or otherwise online, etc.].

b. Students are responsible for their email accounts working properly. Important messages are always sent to the "message board." Sometimes, when most important, emails are also sent to students' personal email accounts. Students are expected to check the website often. Excuses such as "I didn't get that email" are unacceptable! Check the course website often and read all emails sent carefully and thoroughly!

c. Conduct that is racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory in nature to others [disabled, elderly, etc.]

d. Conduct that is dishonest (cheating, plagiarism, etc.)

H. Course Basics - Be sure to review the Course Basics section for additional considerations regarding testing and grading. 

Dr. J. Davis Mannino - Revised August 24, 2017

Distance Education office at Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA USA