ICS 311 Fall 2020 Assessment (Grading)

The assessment components and their default weights (percentages and points, where 10 points = 1% of your grade) include:

• Quizzes: 240 points = 24% (24 quizzes of 10 points each).
• Class (Group) Problems: 120 points = 12% (24 days, 5 points each).
• Homework (Individual) Problems: 330 points = 33.0% (11 problem sets of 30 points each).
• Midterm Exams: 200 points = 20% (two at 100 points each).
• Final Exam: 125 points = 12.5%.
• Peer Evaluation of Classwork (Section 2 only): Up to 96 points extra credit estimated on average.

There is a total of 1015 points in the planed regular assessments. We reserve the right to adjust the total number of points and points allocated to each category depending on circumstances.

Section 2 will also have peer evaluation points. The mapping to letter grades is shifted to account for the fact that Section 2 has more options to earn points.

Points, Percents and Letter Grades

A "point" will be worth 0.1% of your grade. For example, an item worth 100 points is 10% of your grade, and perfect performance is 1000 points. (The extra 15 points enables you to skip one class without penalty.) At the end of the semester, we add up all your points and divide by 10 to get your percentage of points earned, capping it at 100% (it is possible to earn over 1000 points).

To determine letter grades, we use a 4-percent spread per grade increment, as follows, with the Section 2 scale shifted to reflect peer evaluation:

Section 1:

100-97=A+, 96-93=A, 92-89=A-, 88-85=B+, 84-81=B, 80-77=B-, 76-73=C+, 72-69=C, 68-65=C-, 64-61=D+, 60-57=D, 56-53=D-, 52-0=F.

Section 2:

Above 100 = A+, 100-97=A, 96-93=A-, 92-89=B+, 88-85=B, 84-81=B-, 80-77=C+, 76-73=C, 72-69=C-, 68-65=D+, 64-61=D, 60-57=D-, 56-0=F.

If upon inspection of the distribution of grades we feel that too many students who understand the material are not getting the grades they deserve, we may then make adjustments in favor of students (especially for those who did well on exams).

Components

Quizzes (24%, 240 points):

There will be a quiz at the start of each class based on the readings and screencasts. These quizzes will test basic understanding of the chapter on which the day's topic is based, such as whether you can simulate the operation of the data structure or algorithms or get the main point of the analyses of their relative merits. Most quizzes will not involve mathematical analysis or proofs: problems requiring deeper thought will be left for the classwork and homework problems. Solutions will be given in class immediately after the quizzes are due, so quizzes cannot be made up. We are expecting 24 quizzes worth 10 points each.

Class (Group) Problems (12%, 120 points):

All regular classes will include significant time working in small groups on problems that help expose conceptual issues in the material and prepare you to work on the take-home portion on your own. Class problems will require much more thought than the problems given on the quizzes. You turn your work in as a group (a single shared document in Google Docs per group). We will discuss the solutions in class after your work is turned in.

The TA will grade classwork on a 5 point scale, giving the same grade to everyone who participated in the group (but not to those who were absent or obviously not contributing). Grading of classwork is based primarily on evidence (in the Docs) that you made an effort to understand the problems, and secondarily on correctness of solutions. Class problems are fewer points than quizzes because we want you to focus on understanding the problems without being stressed about points. They are given some (rather than 0) points because we don't want students to disengage from the group work.

See also "Peer Evaluation of Class Participation" for points earned for participating in the group sessions.

Homework (Individual) Problems (33.0%, 330 points):

On 11 of the weeks you will have homework problems in which you do more extensive work following up on the class work. The homework problems will combine the topics of both days of the week. You should do the homework problems individually. Exam questions often are similar to homework problems, so this is your chance to make sure that you understand concepts and can work problems on your own, not just in a group context. The work is graded based on 30 points per homework for most homeworks. The TAs will grade homeworks as a pool (you may be graded by any of the 3 TAs). Solutions will be posted, but won't be discussed in class unless students ask questions.

Peer Evaluation of Class Participation (77 points expected on average): Section 2 only

Updated for Fall 2020 revised procedures

Each day on which we have breakout groups to work on problem sets, each individual in the group will assign points to the other individuals in the group to assess whether they participated adequately in the group work. Participation can include helping team functioning (e.g., keeping the group focused and organized, or playing another important role), and helping others understand the material (e.g., by explaining what they understood), as well as contributions to the actual problem solution. Even asking good questions can be a contribution.

This semester the point system is very simple. We are using breakout groups of 4 persons, and each student has 4 points to allocate to group members, including yourself. The assumption is that if everyone participates well, you give each person one point. But if someone does not participate, do not give them a point. This is to give incentive to not be a "free loader".

We let you give yourself a point to give you incentive to use the points allocation tool. However, you may not give yourself more than one point!!!

If you have a group of 3 people, adjust the points per person to total 4 points by giving each person 1.3 points.

Of course, you may decide that someone (other than yourself) did a super job and give them more than 1 point, but the points have to come from someone else, for example, someone who did not participate, or perhaps you decided to give someone half a point.

Peer evaluation points are treated as extra credit, above the 1015 "regular" points. Since you have the opportunity to earn 4 points per group session and there are 24 sessions, there is the possibility of up to 96 points extra credit. Note: the letter grade ranges have been adjusted to account for the fact that Section 1 does not have this means of earning points.

We will tell you your peer evaluation score after several weeks have elapsed so you know how your peers view you. We report points only across several weeks in aggregate to keep decisions confidential (you can't figure out who did not give you points).

Programming Assignments

In case you were wondering, there are no programming assignments. We used to have them. They were to

1. implement and do comparative tests of alternative Dictionary ADT implementations;
2. implement the entire Graph ADT, and
3. design and implement various graph analysis algorithms using your Graph ADT.

While some students said it helped them understand the algorithms in practice, others said that they spent a huge amount of time on the programming assignments in exchange for little additional understanding of algorithms. They also greatly increased the grading burden on teaching assistants. Therefore we decided to focus on algorithms rather than programming.

Extra Credit

We do not offer extra credit options other than the extra points discussed above for peer evaluation. These complicate the grading too much and the workload is already high. However, if you want to pursue work related to Algorithms for credit, talk to the instructors or to Nodari Sitchinava about doing a project for ICS 499 credits.

Flexibility

We each have our own strengths. If a student performs significantly better on one area than others, we may elect to put greater weight on the area that gives the student a better grade. We are more willing to do this with strong exam performance, as exams are not easy and are proctored so we know it's the student's work.