Exams, Homework, Presentations and Grading

There are no exams in this class. Homework will be assigned as appropriate and solutions distributed, but the homework will not be graded.

Your grade will be based almost entirely (90%) on presentations to the class that you prepare. Presentations will cover a topic closely related to current course material. They may expand on a topic covered in lecture, or they may introduce a new and related topic.

Topics and dates for presentations must be chosen in consultation with Prof. McFarland.

Your work in preparing a presentation consists of

• Choosing a topic and date for a presentation in consultation with Prof. McFarland
• Providing a draft set of lecture notes, including references and/or copies of reference material, to Prof. McFarland at least one week before the scheduled date.
• Delivering a 20-30 minute oral presentation to the class and answering questions from the Prof. and classmates.
• Turning in a 5-10 page formal write-up summarizing your presentation to Professor McFarland within two weeks of your presentation or by the last day of classes (December 13), whichever comes first. This write-up should address any questions or comments raised during the oral presentation.

All other students in the class are required to turn in a page of questions and comments by the beginnning of the lecture following each oral presentation (one copy for the presenter and one for me). These may include questions raised during the actual presentation and questions or comments that come up upon later reflection. These question/comment sheets will be graded for sincerity of effort and will represent the remaining 10% of each students' grade.

I reserve the right to change this grading scheme, but I will notify you as soon as possible if such a change takes place.