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SUBJECT:  GRADING ALGORITHMS	
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REVISED 4/27/2010
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Here are the algorithms that I will probably use to compute your final
grade (subject to verification and correction of any bugs :-):

You may use them to estimate your current grade to help you decide
whether to take the final exam:

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I.  If you choose NOT to take the final exam or do the term paper, then:
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A.  Compute a position-paper grade, as follows:

	1.  Drop lowest of the 5 position-paper grades (yes!)

	2.  Convert the 4 remaining letter grades to numerical grades
	    & average them
	    (using the usual A=4,B=3..F=0 scale; see below)

	REVISED 4/27/2010:
	2.1.  Reconvert to letter grade (using scale below)
	2.2.  Reconvert that letter grade to its numerical equivalent

	3.  Multiply that average by 0.5
     (see http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/syl.html#grading)  

B.  Compute an attendance/participation/reading journal letter grade:

	1.  Compute a reading-journal grade:

		If you did not hand in a reading journal on time
		or your reading journal was unacceptable,
		then you'll get an F for the reading journal
		else you'll get an A (even if I said it was "skimpy")      

	2.  Compute an attendance grade:

		if you missed 0-5 classes (i.e.,attended ~90%),
			then A;
		if you missed 6-21 classes (i.e., attended > 1/2),
			then C;
		if you missed 22-41 classes (i.e., attended < 1/2),
			then D;
		if you never attended, then F

	3.  Compute a participation grade:

		If you missed 0 peer-editing sessions, then A;
		if you missed 1 session,
		   but participated in class or email discussions,
		   then A;
		if you missed 1 session,
		   but did not participate in class/email discussions,
		   then A-;
		if you missed 2, then B;
		if you missed 3, then C;
		if you missed 4, then D;
		if you missed all 5, then F

	4.  Convert these to numerical grades (see table below)
	    & average these 3 grades

	REVISED 4/27/2010:
	4.1.  Reconvert to letter grade
	4.2.  Reconvert to numerical equivalent
		
	5.  Multiply that average by 0.5
    (see http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/syl.html#grading)  

C.  Compute course grade, as follows:

	1.  Add (A) and (B), and re-convert to a letter grade
	    (see table below)

	2.  If your resulting letter grade is A,
		then your course grade is A-
    		else your course grade is the resulting letter grade.

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II.  If you DO take the final exam or write the term paper, then:
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A.  Compute position paper grade as above;
    Multiply that average by 0.25
    (see http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/syl.html#grading)  

B.  Compute an attendance/participation/reading journal grade;
    Multiply that average by 0.5
    (see http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/syl.html#grading)  

C.  Compute your final-exam or term-paper grade;
    Multiply it by 0.25
    (see http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/584/S10/syl.html#grading)  

D.  Add (A),(B),(C), and re-convert to a letter grade.

=========================================================================

To convert from letter grades to numerical grades:

	undergrad:	grad:

A	4.00		4.00
A-	3.67		3.67	
B+	3.33		3.33
B	3.00		3.00
B-	2.67		2.67
C+	2.33		2.33	
C	2.00		2.00
C-	1.67
D+	1.33
D	1.00		1.00
F	0.00		0.00

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To convert from numerical grades to letter grades:

(3.84, 4.00]	A	
(3.50, 3.84]	A-
(3.16, 3.50]	B+
(2.83, 3.16]	B
(2.50, 2.83]	B-
(2.16, 2.50]	C+
(1.83, 2.16]	C	(1.50, 2.16]
(1.50, 1.83]	C-
(1.16, 1.50]	D+
(0.50, 1.16]	D	(0.50, 1.50]
[0.00, 0.50]	F
========================================================================
Subject: Re: Grading Algorithms
From: "William J. Rapaport" <rapaport@buffalo.edu>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:48:44 -0400 (EDT)

A student writes:
"I understand the algorithm but I was wondering how you round.
What would a 3.5 be? B+ or A-?"

Reply:
The numerical-letter grade conversion table says:

(3.50, 3.84] A-
(3.16, 3.50] B+

That's math jargon for specifying that 3.50 is a B+
but that any grade > 3.50 (e.g., 3.500000000000001) would be an A-.

To help you plan, assume the worst, namely, that if your grade is on
such a borderline, you'll get the lower grade.
Doing well on the final could push you over the border.

If, after all is said and done, you're still on a borderline,
we can discuss it. Perhaps we'll find a point that you lost for some
minor infraction on a position paper that can be renegotiated.