Text: Griffiths, Introduction to
Electrodynamics, Third Edition (Prentice Hall, 1999)
ISBN 0-13-805326-X
Tests and Grading:
In-term exam (date TBA, probably late October; covers thru Ch. 4) will count 30%
Cumulative final will count 30%
Problems and Participation will count 30%
Whichever of these three components yields the best score will count for
the last 10%.
The immediate evaluation of graded work will be mainly an evaluation
of what fraction of the whole problem you did well. That fraction is seldom
commensurate with a 90%=A to 59%=F scale; about half right is often a
respectable result, especially considering time constraints. Hence, total
of the point scores will be curved at semester end, unless that would
produce downward revisions.
Most exam material will be problems. Partial credit will be given when
earned, but relevant steps must be shown to receive full credit for correct
answers. Multiple-choice or other short-answer question forms will be
used to a limited extent.
Attendance, etc.:
Prompt regular attendance is important to success in every scheduled endeavor,
including classes. Because recent changes in government policies require
such information, I will generally check attendance. However, there is
no component of this course grade directly attributed to attendance.
If you can complete the assignments and score high (honestly) on
the tests, you can receive an A without sitting through
any other part of the course. (However, that is extremely implausible
unless you are registered for this course only in order to validate
knowledge acquired elsewhere.)
You should recognize that, in accordance with Murphy's Law, if you miss just
once, that class that you miss will probably be the only time that some
concept will be covered that will mean ten or twenty points on a test.
I do not drop students for excessive absences, normally; if you simply stop
coming, you may expect to receive an F. Further, under government
regulations you may face financial penalties.
Actions such as coming late, leaving early, being interrupted by cell
phones, etc., are substantially matters of infractions of courtesy to your
classmates, and I expect to leave responding to such interruptions to their
discretion, as long as they are not substantially disruptive.
If degree candidates will require an early final, they should notify me early
in the term, and again about two weeks before finals. At the latter time,
a time for such an early final will be arranged. If an early final is
scheduled for degree candidates, then other students may choose to take
the final at that time, thereby finishing early. However, the final
will cover the entire course even if the early exam time precedes discussion
of some sections.
Make-up arrangements will depend on circumstances; these must be discussed
as soon as possible: before the scheduled exam time if possible.
The assignments used in previous years are already accessible.
These will be my starting point for building this term's assignments.
Hence, if you have more time now than you expect to have later,
you can work on these and if you complete all those from one
previous-year assignment, you will have done much of this term's
corresponding assignment.
The final forms of the assignments will be announced as they are
determined, to be due not less than one week after being announced.
Content, schedule:
We will progress through the indicated text, I trust covering to Ch.
7 at least. Ch. 9 and 10 include the fancy stuff; it would be nice to get
that far.
(These paragraphs adapted from materials distributed to TAMUK
faculty.)
Students with Disabilities, including learning disabilities, may have
reasonable accommodations made if appropriate notice is given. This normally
requires registration, including appropriate documentation, with the Services
for Students with Disabilities office.
Misconduct: See the Student
Handbook. Students who engage in any form of misconduct are subject to
disciplinary procedures. This includes academic misconduct which specifically
includes plagiarism and all forms of cheating.
The faculty reserves the right to check submitted work for plagiarism,
including by the use of suitable software.