Text: Griffiths, Introduction to
Electrodynamics, Third Edition (Prentice Hall, 1999)
ISBN 0-13-805326-X
Tests and Grading:
In-term exam (date TBA; covers thru Ch. 4) will count 30%
Cumulative final will count 30%
Problems and Participation will count 40%
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 might be
used.
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.
Several assignments are already posted. After the first ones, they
are indicated as 'provisional'. Here, that means (1) the due date
may be pushed back; if so, that will be announced; and (2) the
list may be added to, but unless it comes to my attention that a
problem is in some way bad, the list will not be subtracted from.
Hence, you can freely work rather far ahead if you have more time
now than you expect to have later, and your work will count.
Additional problems for these assignments, if any, will be
selected and announced as they become appropriate, to be due
approximately 1 week (sometimes more) later. Assignments
subsequent to these will also be announced, due normally at
least 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. In accordance
with federal law, 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.
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Academic misconduct: (See also the Student Handbook)
Academic honesty: You are expected to practice academic honesty in every
aspect of this course and all other courses. Be familiar with the Student
Handbook, especially the section on academic misconduct. Forms of academic
misconduct include:
- Cheating: misrepresenting one's mastery of information on an exercise;
giving or receiving aid unauthorized by the instructor on assignments or
examinations.
- Academic misconduct: tampering with grades, taking part in obtaining
or distributing improper copies of any part of a scheduled test.
- Fabrication: use of invented information instead of obtaining correct
information, or falsified research.
- Plagiarism: unacknowledged quotation and/or paraphrase of someone else's
words, ideas, or data as one's own in work submitted for credit. This
includes information or text from the Internet. Use of such work is not
plagiarism if the source is properly acknowledged, though the value toward
the assignment may approach zero.
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Nonacademic misconduct: (See also the Student Handbook)
A university respects the rights of instructors to teach and of students
to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires campus conditions that do not
impede their exercise.
Nonacademic misconduct includes conduct that interferes with (1) the
instructor's ability to conduct the class; (2) other students' ability to
profit from the instructional program; or (3) rights of others.
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Sexual misconduct: (See also the Student Handbook)
Sexual misconduct includes all forms of sexual harassment. Sexual
harassment of anyone is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any
member of the University community violating this policy will be
subject to disciplinary action.