Grades will be posted on D2L and will be updated regularly as the semester goes along. 

  • Exam 1: 25%
  • Exam 2: 25%
  • Exam 3: 25%. (Exam 3 will fall in finals week.  A small part of it will be comprehensive, but it will primarily cover  new material) CHANGE FOR SPRING 2020 - online (longer) quizzes on the predation and community/ecosystem modules replace the final exam.
  • Problem sets and/or quizes on computer exercises:  25%  

Several subjects will include short homework assignments. In these, you will use the methods and concepts described in lectures to test ideas with computer simulations of population dynamics or interactions between species. In some cases, a graded homework assignment or (usually) a short quiz will be based on the computer exercise.  Together, these account for 25% of the grade.  Doing one optional HW assignment will allow you to drop your lowest HW grade.

The dates of computer exercises and quizzes will always be announced in class and posted on the course outline with adequate lead time once the date is set.

Tests will be primarily multiple choice, but some questions may involve simple calculations so BRING A CALCULATOR on test days (though questions will use round numbers that should be fine for calculation with pencil and paper).

Guaranteed grade scores: I will adjust the grade cutoffs based on the distribution of scores, but will not raise them above the cutoffs shown below. After each exam I will let you know the current cutoffs.

 
Class Score   Minimum Letter Grade
90   A
80   B-
70   C
60   C- FOR SPRING 2020