Course Grading Policy --- Stat 433
Q: Do You Grade on a Curve?
The topics of the course are quite standard and almost universally taught. These are good grounds for an absolute standard.
One should get an A if the material is well understood, a B if there is a useful level of understanding with some weakness about the finer points, and a C if some evidence of learning is present but operational capacity is quite shaky. Grades of D and F are fortunately rare and these are almost always foretold by lack of attendance and poor homework.
In practice, this absolute standard works out to be "curve like" in its application. Here are my expectations based on experience:
- Typically, about half of the class will get an A.
- Typically two of these will be A+ for which there is a clear, absolute standard.
- The remainder of the A's are usually split between A and A-, with perhaps a few more A grades than A- grades.
- Typically, about half of the class will get B's and these are usually split about evenly between B+, B, and B- (e.g. 35%, 45%, 20%).
- How about grades in the range C, D, or F?
- It is easy to stay out of the F range. If you attend regularly, if you do all of your home work in a way that complies with the academic standards, and if your tests are not all profoundly bad (e.g. 10/100), then you will get a passing grade. The grade of F is rare.
- In the case that one has done all of the homework in an acceptable way and the tests are poor on both an absolute and relative basis, then the "gentlemanly" C is a grade that one should accept with grace. Pluses and minuses can be allocated on the principle of absolute standards.
- In a class of size 40, the presence of 2-4 grades of C would be an unremarkable event, but, in a senior class that is an elective, there is no a priori reason for there to be any C's. This would be the preferred out-come.
Q: Make Up for Missed Tests
To make up a missed test, please provide me with confirmation from the appropriate person in Student Services that your reason for missing makes a make up appropriate. A grade of "incomplete" will be recorded until the test is made up.
Q: Stay Healthy ...
There are times when the pressures of school or other aspects of life can pile up. If you find yourself in a stressful or depressing situation, you should know that there are many people who can help you.
President Gutmann recently wrote to the faculty:
Our message to students is unwavering: “You are not alone. Tell a friend, talk to an advisor, reach out to a trusted staff member, faculty member, or your family. Support is all around you.” Each of you is an important part of that support network. Working together, we can ensure a safe and healthy environment for every Penn student.
I can attest that the faculty wholeheartedly agree with the president's statement.