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Astronomy: Stars & Galaxies

Professor M. M. Hanson, Department of Physics
T/Thu, 9:30-10:50am, 525 Old Chem




The Nature of the Course & Grading
The topic of this course is modern astronomy, starting at the Sun and ending with the Big Bang and the fate of our Universe. Four exams will be given, the fourth is the FINAL exam. The FINAL exam will be given at the designated exam time during Final's week (Tuesday, Mar 13th, 8am) and will be cumulative.

Final grades will be based on the following 100 percent point scale:
A 90%, A- 85%, B+ 80%, B 75%, B- 70%, C+ 65%, C 60%, C- 55%, D 50%, F < 50%.

Each of the four tests are worth 30 points. The test with the lowest score will be dropped (this may include your final exam test, if it is your lowest score or you choose not to take it). The remaining 10 possible points come from in class work which is done every lecture except the lecture preceding an exam. During the lecture preceding an exam we will have very specific group activities which help to review the material, but these will not be handed in for points.

THERE ARE NO MAKE UP EXAMS FOR ANY REASON. Missed exams will be dropped as your lowest score. Additional missed exams will count as zeros. You also can not make up missed in class work for any reason.

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In Class Work
Everyday you will work in a group of Three. Even during lectures where we are reviewing for an upcoming test, activities will be done in groups of three. You are allowed to choose your group each lecture and you are not required to keep the same group if you do not wish. Each person in the group will be assigned rather specific duties with one of the following titles:


• Coordinator. Keeps the trains running on time, helps group stay on track, seeks equal participation, is the one to say, "we need to move on" or "let's hear what Sally has to say", etc.

• Skeptic. Looks for errors, suggests alternative ideas, seeks to explore all possibilities, is the one to say, "lets look at this another way", or "why?".

• Reporter. Scribe, summarizers, checks that all have adequate understanding, is the one to say, "do we agree on this answer?", or "is this a good way to state our understanding?". Will read written summaries when asked in class.

Each person's duty on the activity will be acknowledged and all members of the group sign their name as proof of participation.