#1 Q: I have a question that is not answered by this FAQ file. Should I contact Prof. Altaner or the TA or someone else?
A: * Contact the technical support group at McGraw Hill publishing company (traci_andre@mcgraw-hill.com, 800-563-4920 ext. 1392) if you have a relatively complex question about The Good Earth Web site, including problems with about logging onto the Web site.
* Contact the on-line Help Service for Illinois Compass <http://www.cites.uiuc.edu/edtech/teaching_learning/compass/student/quickhelp/index.html> if your question is about the Illinois Compass Web site, which contains an on-line Gradebook with your GEOL 118 grades
* Contact the TA if your question is about one of the following:
Class
Web site, which contains lecture note summaries, homework
assignments, announcements + other important information
Error sheets (TA has unclaimed error sheets)
Grading mistake
Homework assignments, e.g., you need additional explanation about
a question
Missed quiz (only if you know a quiz was given)
Original answer (Scantron bubble) sheet (TA has these)
Textbook (The
Good Earth) Web site (relatively simple questions only
please)
Contact Prof. Altaner if your question is about one of the
following:
Information covered in lecture
Lengthy absences
Make up exams
Other questions that were not answered to your satisfaction by
the TA or other personnel
#2 Q: What is the best way to contact Prof. Altaner?
A: Probably the best way to contact me is through e-mail. Of course, we can also speak in person after class or during scheduled office hours. Usually, it is difficult for me to speak with students extensively before class because I am busy setting up various things for class. If you telephone me and I'm not in the office, you can leave a message on my answering machine. If you want to come to my office at a time other than my scheduled office hours, then please contact me in advance to ensure that I will be available. Please do not telephone me at home.
#3 Q: I would like to add the course but U of I Direct shows that the class is full. What should I do?
A: If the on-line registration indicates that the class is full, then there is nothing that I can do to help. The class enrollment limits are the maximum possible allowed by the University based on the seating capacity of the room. If you really want to add the course, you should keep trying to register on a regular basis through the on-line registration on the chance that someone drops shortly before you attempt to add. Numerous students are able to add the course in this manner.
CLASS WEB SITE-RELATED QUESTIONS
#4 Q: Where are the lecture note summaries, homework assignments, + announcements?
A: The lecture note summaries, homework assignments, + announcements as well as other information is at the Class Web site at <http://classes.geology.uiuc.edu/05FallClass/geo118>.
#5 Q: Where are my grades?
A: GEOL 118 grades are in the on-line Gradebook at the Illinois Compass Web site for GEOL 118 at <http://compass.uiuc.edu>.
ILLINOIS COMPASS WEB SITE-RELATED QUESTIONS
#6 Q: Where are my grades? And, where can I get help with Illinois Compass if I can't view my grades?
A: GEOL 118 grades are in the on-line Gradebook at the Illinois Compass Web site for GEOL 118 at <http://compass.uiuc.edu>. Use your University network ID + University password to log onto the Illinois Compass Web site and then click on the link labeled 'GEOL 118-Natural Disasters-Fall 2005-Section A'. Finally, click on the link 'My Grades' in the upper right area.
If, after logging onto the Illinois Compass Web site, you are unable to view the link labeled 'GEOL 118-Natural Disasters-Fall 2005-Section A', please contact the TA (Emily Berna, ecberna2@uiuc.edu) and ask her to add your name to the Illinois Compass Web site for GEOL 118. For all other problems involving the Illinois Compass Web site, do one of the following:
a) Contact the on-line Help Service for Illinois Compass: <http://www.cites.uiuc.edu/edtech/teaching_learning/compass/student/quickhelp/index.html>
OR b) Contact the Individual Help Service for Illinois Compass (consult@uiuc.edu).
#7 Q: Where are the lecture note summaries, homework assignments, + announcements?
A: The lecture note summaries, homework assignments, + announcements as well as other information is at the Class Web site at <http://classes.geology.uiuc.edu/05FallClass/geo118>.
#8 Q: How can I get help for using Illinois Compass?
A: Help for using Illinois Compass is available on-line at <http://www.cites.uiuc.edu/edtech/teaching_learning/compass/student/quickhelp/index.html>
LECTURE NOTE-RELATED QUESTIONS
#9 Q: I am having difficulty keeping up with note taking during lecture. What should I do?
A: I strongly recommend that you print a copy of the lecture note summaries from the Class Web site BEFORE lecture, bring those notes to class, and fill in the "gaps" during lecture. This way you won't have to focus on writing large amounts of information and instead you can focus on listening and trying to understand the material being covered.
#10 Q: Where do I find lecture note summaries?
A: Lecture note summaries are found using a link from the homepage of the Class Web site.
#11 Q: I missed class. How do I catch up?
A: Print out the lecture note summary and do the assigned reading as soon as possible. Consider asking a classmate to borrow their notes so that you can fill in the lecture note summaries with additional information given only in the class period.
#12 Q: I missed class. Hey Prof. Altaner, may I borrow your notes?
A: No, sorry about that. It would be very difficult and time consuming for me to accommodate the hundreds of students in this course by doing that.
ON-LINE TEXTBOOK-RELATED QUESTIONS
#13 Q: How do I purchase access to the on-line textbook (The Good Earth)?
A: Follow the following steps:
a) Go to <http://www.mhhe.com/earthsci/geology/mcconnell/>
b) Click on the link, 'If you do not have a code card, you must
purchase access here'.
c) At the next screen, indicate that you are a student in a US
College or University by clicking on the top button. Then, click
on the 'Next' button.
d) At the next screen, type Urbana for city, then click on the
'Next' button.
e) Indicate that you are at University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
(8th button), then hit the 'Next' button.
f) Now you are ready to purchase. Verify that the correct school
shows, then click on the link, 'Purchase: The Good Earth for $33.00'.
g) You will be asked for ordering information, including a
credit card. Follow the steps on the screen to complete your
transaction.
#14 Q: I purchased access to the on-line textbook (The Good Earth) and I received an error message either when I tried to register for a log in or when I tried the log in I received. What should I do?
A: Make sure that you are using the log in that was assigned to you when you visited the McGraw Hill registration site. Do not use your University log in. If you still are having problems, contact the technical support group at McGraw Hill publishing company. Their contact information is:
RECENTLY ADDED COURSE
#15 Q: I just added the course. What should I do?
A: Obtain a course syllabus from Prof. Altaner or go to the Class Web site and see when the first web exercise is due so that you give yourself enough time to complete it. Web exercises are available as a link from the homepage of the Class Web site. For all classes that you missed, print out lecture note summaries and do assigned readings as soon as possible. Consider asking a classmate to borrow their notes so that you can fill in the lecture note summaries with additional information given only in the class period.
QUIZ-RELATED QUESTIONS
#16 Q: Will there be a quiz next class (or on some other specific future class date)?
A: The TA and I will not answer whether or not there will be a quiz on a specific future class date. I always announce on the Class Web site and in later classes, whether or not a quiz was given in a previous class. You will be allowed one week to make up a quiz, assuming you have you have an official University excuse.
#17 Q: I missed class. How do I find out if I missed a quiz?
A: Look on the Class Web site. Whenever a quiz was given, an announcement will be posted on the homepage of the Class Web site. In addition, I will announce at the beginning of class when a quiz was given within the past week.
#18 Q: I missed class and there was a quiz. What should I do?
A: If you have you have an official University excuse, e.g., verified family emergency or illness such as a letter from Emergency Dean or notice of McKinley visit, contact the TA as soon as possible to schedule a make-up quiz. You must make up a quiz within one week of when it was given. If you do not have an official University excuse, you will receive a zero for that quiz.
#19 Q: What are other examples of "official University" excuses?
A: Other specific examples of "official University" excuses include required field trips for other courses, required job interviews, and deaths of relatives or close friends, The above examples need to be verified by some sort of written communication, e.g., course syllabus, letter from instructor or some responsible adult (e.g., parent, clergy, or doctor), obituary, or medical prescription. Examples of excuses that will not be allowed are oversleeping, absent-mindedness, or unverified excuses, i.e., no written communication that supports the excuse.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT-RELATED QUESTIONS
#20 Q: Where do I find homework assignments, i.e., web exercises + writing assignment?
A: Homework assignments are available as a link from the homepage of the Class Web site.
#21 Q: I forgot to bring my answer sheet for the web exercise to class. What should I do?
A: Bring the assignment to Prof. Altaner as soon as possible. You can bring it to his office (244 NHB), put it into his mailbox (outside 245 NHB) or give it to him after class. Unless you have an official University excuse, you will be assessed a 10% penalty for each day the assignment is late. Homework assignments more than 5 days late will not be accepted.
#22 Q: I missed one of the deadlines for the writing assignment. What should I do?
A: No time extensions are given unless you can verify a major illness or personal emergency. If you do not submit the essay by the required deadline, you will not be able to complete any of the assignment. If you do not submit the essay reviews by the required deadline, you will not get credit for that part of the assignment.
#23 Q: I missed one of the deadlines for the writing assignment by only 1 second. Could I please get an extension?
A: No, please see the answer to question #22 above.
EXAM-RELATED QUESTIONS
#24 Q: Should I do the assigned readings?
A: Yes, you should definitely do the assigned reading throughout the semester. They will help with your understanding of the course material and will help you do better on exams. However, exams will be based only on information covered in lecture. There will be information in the assigned readings that is not covered in lecture and you will not be responsible for that information on exams.
#25 Q: How do you recommend that I prepare for exams?
A: Of course, you should attend all the lectures and do the assigned readings, preferably before the scheduled class. I strongly recommend printing out the lecture note summaries from the Class Web site before lecture, bringing those notes to class, and filling in the "gaps" during lecture.
When you study for the exam, you should focus on the lecture notes because that is where the questions are derived. Attend the Question and Answer session scheduled the day before the exam. If you are unclear about any of the lecture topics, talk with the TA or me.
#26 Q: I have a conflict with the regularly scheduled exam. What should I do?
A: Contact Prof. Altaner (by e-mail or phone, or in person after class or during his office hours) BEFORE the scheduled exam time to arrange for a conflict exam. Make sure to inform him of the nature of your conflict and whether or not you can take the conflict exam during the regularly scheduled time. Usually conflict exam times and sign-up sheets are made available about one week before the regularly scheduled exam time.
#26a Q: I have a conflict with the regularly scheduled GEOL 118 exam and the instructor of my other course asks for letter or e-mail from Prof. Altaner verifying the specific time of the GEOL 118 exam. What should I do?
A: Because of the large size of GEOL 118 (and GEOL 100, which
Prof. Altaner also teaches), Prof. Altaner cannot provide personal
messages to instructors of other courses verifying the specific
time of GEOL 118 exams. Ask the instructor of your other course
if a paper copy of the GEOL 118 syllabus or the URL of the GEOL
118 Class Web site <http://classes.geology.uiuc.edu/05FallClass/geo118>
is sufficient verification. If not, then you will need to sign
up for a conflict exam for GEOL 118.
#27 Q: I would like to take the conflict exam before the regularly
scheduled exam. May I do that?
A: No, not unless you have an EXTREMELY compelling reason to do so. Conflict exams are normally scheduled after the regularly scheduled exam time.
#28 Q: I missed the regularly scheduled exam. What should I do?
A: Contact Prof. Altaner (by e-mail or phone, or in person) IMMEDIATELY. Unless there is an extraordinary circumstance, e.g., last minute major illness, accident, or family emergency, there will be a penalty for missing the regularly scheduled exam without contacting Prof. Altaner before the exam. The penalty increases the longer it takes you to contact Prof. Altaner. Normally, if someone contacts Prof. Altaner more than week after as the regularly scheduled exam, they will receive a zero for the exam.
GRADE-RELATED QUESTIONS
#29 Q: May I do a special extra credit assignment?
A: No, the only extra credit assignments are those available to the entire class. These include one question at the end of each exam and web exercise #5 on severe weather.
#30 Q: Will there be a curve in the course?
A: The only grade curve that will be applied is if the class average for an exam is lower than 77%. If this occurs, points will be added to everyone's score to achieve a class average of 77% for the exam. The plus/minus grading system will be used with cut-offs at the following representative total percentage values: A+ = >96.67%, A = 93.33 - 96.66%, A- = 90.00 - 93.32%, B+ = 86.67 - 89.99%, B = 83.33 - 86.66%, B- = 80.00 - 83.32%, etc.
#31 Q: How are extra credit points on exams and in the web exercises handled?
A: Extra credit points are added to your exam score or web exercise total score, so it is possible to get up to 102% for each exam and up to 112% for your web exercise total score.
#32 Q: How do I calculate my Total Percentage score in the course?
A: All of your Web exercise scores are added to create a Percentage score for Web exercises. To create a Percentage score for Quizzes, all of your Quiz scores are added together, divided by 30 points (the maximum possible points for all Quizzes), and then multiplied by 100 to convert total Quiz scores to a percentage, i.e., (Sum of Quiz scores/30) x 100 = Total Quiz Percentage score. Extra credit points are added to your exam score or web exercise total score, so it is possible to get up to 102% for each exam and up to 112% for your web exercise total score.
All of your percentage scores (Exam #1, Exam #2, Final Exam, Writing Assignment, Web Exercise Percentage score, and Quiz Percentage score) are multiplied by their weighting factor and then added to get a Total Percentage score in the course. The specific equation is: (Exam #1 x 0.22) + (Exam #2 x 0.22) + (Final Exam x 0.22) + (Writing Assignment x 0.06) + (Web Exercise Percentage score x 0.22) + (Quiz Percentage score x 0.06) = Total Percentage score in the course. Your Total Percentage score in the course is then assigned a letter grade on a straight scale, e.g., A+ = >96.67%, A = 93.33 - 96.66%, A- = 90.00 - 93.32%, B+ = 86.67 - 89.99%, B = 83.33 - 86.66%, B- = 80.00 - 83.32%, etc.
If you get perfect scores on everything, then it is possible to get higher than a 100% for your total percentage score in the course. The specific number for a perfect score in the course is (102 x 0.22) + (102 x 0.22) + (102 x 0.22) + (100 x 0.06) + (112 x 0.22) + (100 x 0.06) = 103.96%.
#33 Q: I did not do well in the course. Can I get my grade changed?
A: No. I will change grades only if an actual mistake has been made (e.g., the final average was calculated incorrectly or if an incorrect score was used to calculate the final average). I will not change anyone's grade for reasons such as subpar performance on a final exam, overall grade point average, closeness to a grade cutoff, effort in the course, effort in studying for the final, or risk of retaining a scholarship + academic eligibility. The reason is that I would be guilty of capricious grading (i.e., handling one student's grade situation according to different standards than the other students). If you are unclear about capricious grading, please review the University regulations pertaining to capricious grading at: <http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_3/a3_3-107.html> in the Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
#34 Q: I did not do well in the course and this grade will hurt my academic career. May I do some sort of extra credit assignment or retake an exam or anything to get my grade changed?
A: No. See the answer to question #33, immediately above.
#35 Q: I am so close to a grade cut-off. Could you please round up my score so that I get a higher grade?
A: No, In a class with hundreds of students, there will always be many students close to grade cut offs regardless of where they are made.