GRADING POLICY & SYLLABUS

INTRODUCTORY PROBABILITY
M362k, unique number 55875    FALL 2014

INSTRUCTOR: C. RADIN
Office: RLM 12.114    Office hours: Wednesdays 10:00-11:00


This is a introductory course in probability. The prerequisite is official credit for 408d, with a grade of at least C-. (This will be enforced.) In particular we will be using integration in several dimensions.

The textbook is "Probability", by J. Pitman, and I hope to cover most of the first 6 chapters. More detail about the material to be covered can be obtained from the homework list linked on the course web site, http://www.ma.utexas.edu/users/radin/teaching/14f/362/

Homework will be collected and graded. The homework will be worth 10% of the course grade. There will be one in-class 60-minute `midterm exam', on Tues Oct 21, worth 40% of the course grade. The grade will be curved. There will be a 2 hour final exam at the time scheduled by the registrar: Wed Dec 10, 9-11am. It will be worth 50% of the course grade, and the grade will be curved.

In part to allow for occasional illness or other absences, the curved grade obtained on the final exam, on Dec 13, can be used to substitute for the curved grade obtained on the midterm exam, the choice being made individually and AUTOMATICALLY for most benefit to each student; this will be the only ``make-up'' offered. Also, the curved grade on the final exam will be used to clarify borderline grades; specifically, any curved total score for the course which is within 1 point of a higher grade will be raised if the curved grade on the final exam is at least at the higher grade; for instance 89.02 will be raised to 90.00 if the curved grade on the final exam is at least 90.00, but 89.90 will not be raised to 90.00 if the curved grade on the final exam is below 90.00.

I will not be assigning plus/minus grades. A curved course grade above 90 is an A, between 80 and 89.99 is a B, etc.

There will be a strong emphasis on accuracy: partial credit will be allocated sparingly. Also, the exams will be designed to test not only knowledge of the material but also the ability to compute the answers within the specified time limit. The grading system is designed to determine the degree of fluency with the basic material.

If you are having difficulty with the course, and/or would like to discuss alternative texts, please feel free to come by my office at any time.

The last day to drop the course is Nov 4.

The University of Texas provides appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information,contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY. If you plan on using accomodations, you need to notify your Instructors early in the semester.