Class Participation/Contribution Grade

A portion of your grade will be awarded for this component as expressed on the syllabus and discussed on the first day. Come to class
prepared to contribute to the discussion of the materials assigned for that class period.

What comprises good student comments?

• Relevance: Your comments should pertain directly to the materials at hand. If you have to start off your comment with "this may not relate…" you are probably quite correct. Does your comment clarify the issues or does it take us off the track?
• Advancement: Your comments should deepen the analysis. They should also incorporate the physical concepts and ideas which we are trying to develop. Do your comments move us forward or do they require us to backtrack or detour?
• Logical: Are your comments logical? Are they consistent? Do they relate and connect to that which other comments have revealed?
• Are you drawing upon your physics knowledge?
• Originality: Are you being creative? Do you point out relationships to other subjects which we have discussed in the past? Are your comments mundane or repetitive or are they new, offering fresh insight to the subject matter? 

This is the method for determining your participation grade each class period:

     1.  No attempt during a given class: -1 point

     2.  An attempt which sidetracks us or is irrelevant: -2 points

     3.  An attempt which is relevant: +1 point

     4.  An insightful comment which moves the conversation clearly forward: +2 points

Whenever you want to discuss this component of your grade I will be happy to do so. Remember – this isn’t about "face time" – its
about your contributions to the discussion of the materials at hand.
 

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