Syllabus ASTRONOMY 1020 Summer 2009 11:45-12:45 Daily

Shaw Office 235 Office hours daily 11am, or by appointment
Text: Bennett et al.  Stars, Galaxies, & Cosmology (The Cosmic Perspective) 5th ed
e-mail: jss@physast.uga.edu                homepage: www.physast.uga.edu/~jss

Below are listed the chapters covered in the course and their tests with their corresponding dates. Tests will be short answers and essays.  At the time scheduled for the final, a fourth test will be given, identical in format to the previous three.  However, it will be over all the material covered.  It may replace your lowest grade.  You may use the replacement test as a makeup.  Your grade is calculated by averaging your three best test scores.  If you are satisfied with your grade before the replacement test is given, you need not take it. 
Regular make-ups will be given if you have a legitimate reason for missing the test AND you submit a written, signed excuse.    Again, you may use the replacement test as a make-up.

The NEW UGA grading system now has plusses and minuses! Grades will be assigned according to 93-A, 90-A-, 87-B+, 83-B, 80-B-, 77-C+, 73-C, 70-C-, 60-D.

Please be careful with the new grading system! If you have a school or scholarship requirement that needs a C or a 2.0 average, a C-, which is a 1.7 will NOT be adequate!

We will try to stay fairly close to the following schedule. If we run long, part of the review day will be used to finish up the material.

INTRO

June 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ch 16

23, 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ch 19

July 10, 13

Ch 1

8

Ch 17

25, 26,

Ch 20

14, 15

Ch 4

9

S2

29

Ch 21

16

Ch 5

10, 11

S3

30

Ch 22

17, 20

Ch 14

12, 15

Ch 18

July 1, 6, 7

Ch 23

20,

Ch 15

16, 17, 18

 

Ch 24

21, 22
Review 19 Review 8 Review 27

Test 1 Ch 1, 4,5,14,15

June 22

Test 2 S2,S3, Ch 16-18

July 9

Test 3 Ch 19-24

July 28

Review for Fourth Test Wednesday, July 29      Fourth Test Thursday, July 30, NOON

ADVICE

If a concept, scientific theory, or description of how something works, formula, etc. is presented in class you need to be sure to understand it.  Although much of the material presented in class is also available in the text, it is unrealistic to expect to learn the material without study outside and inside the classroom. 
In order to efficiently learn what you need to know, you must read the material before coming to class.  This also prepares you to ask questions about what you don’t understand.  Put more effort into understanding what is being said in class than in taking a verbatim transcription.  If the material is not clear after studying the text and discussing it in class, set up an appointment for individual help.  If you fall behind, spend the time to catch up. I will endeavor to schedule a help session outside of class before each test.  However, do not wait until just before tests to introduce yourself to the material.  Do not wait until the end of the semester to try to catch up on all you have missed!           Again,don’t get lost, get help!

See FAQ for more information.  If you ask a particularly good question it might end up in the FAQ (anonymously.)

A warning about purchased class notes. These may be easier than taking notes yourself, but every semester I get incorrect test answers which can be traced back to store bought notes.

MISCELLANEOUS POLICIES

Tests
Be on time!  You may not take the test after any other student who has seen the test has left the room.

Incompletes
Incompletes are assigned only if you cannot complete the course work because of illness or other valid excuse. In order to receive an incomplete we must come to a WRITTEN agreement on what is necessary to remove the incomplete.  If you have taken three tests, you have completed the course.

Honesty
Please read University of Georgia policy on academic honesty, described in A Culture of Honesty. I take issues of academic honesty very seriously. If you cheat on the any of the exams, expect to fail the course, or worse.