ASTROPHYSICS (PH418) 2011 - 2012
course expectations

Instructor: John Kolena, Bryan 443, kolena@ncssm.edu

Textbooks

• Universe, 9^th edition by Freedman, Geller,  & Kaufmann
  
• Physics, 3^rd edition by Walker
• Astrophysics 2011,  a miscellaneous collection of diagrams, tables, and data

Daily Work: You are expected to participate constructively in class each day.  In particular,

• 1) read/study the relevant textbook sections.  I cannot emphasize enough how important reading the relevant text sections and studying the worked examples in advance of my talking about them are to your success in this class.  Astrophysics has an extraordinary amount of jargon with definitions that we won't cover in class.  Reading is the way to learn those!
  

All assignments will be available on the course web site:     http://www.phy.duke.edu/~kolena/astro11.html\

Please get into the habit of checking the web site daily; I will try to have any relevant messages and assignments posted by 6 pm.

2) answer the  "Review Questions" associated with the text sections assigned for reading

3) answer 1 or 2 of the back-of-the-chapter "Advanced Questions" (your choice) associated with the textbook sections assigned for reading; you can use these for class presentations

4) prepare written and electronic assignments as assigned.

• Participation means contributing productively (answers and questions) to class discussion and problem solving, volunteering to present problem solutions to the class (or presenting when called upon), taking notes when appropriate during class.
  
  
• I expect you to have your working (!) graphing calculator with you every day, along with your notebook, your text (perhaps shared with table partner), and lab stuff on lab days
  
  
• Problems to be turned in on paper will sometimes be due in class (and collected at that time) and sometimes be due at 5:30 pm to the black box on the table outside my office.    The web page should be clear about the due time for each assignment.   It's important to understand that problems due in class count toward your grade as much as written, turned-in problems.  If you get stuck on a problem, make sure to get help in time (in person during the day; via email at a reasonably early hour so that I can respond) for it to be ready for presentation or turn-in.
  
  
• All non-test work turned on paper or via Moodle MUST have your NAME (first and last).  Homework MUST be stapled if more than one page. There is a stapler mounted on the 4th floor Bryan wall across from room 441.
  
  
• Students are expected to follow the Physics Safety, Tardy, Classroom Computer Use, Cell Phone Use, Peer Respect and Academic Honesty Policies.  You will receive a copy to read and sign.  It is also linked to the course web page.

Home and Lab Work

• Often lab instructions will be available days before we actually do the lab. Read them beforehand so that you know what we are doing. Links to the instructions will usually be on the class website. Lab expectations are in the Physics 352/354 Lab Guide handout (which you will tape into your lab books).
  

• We will use Moodle for JIT quiz submissions, some labs, and some readings.  Check to make sure that you are enrolled.
  
  
• Solutions to homework problems and lab will be posted on the bulletin board by my office
  |
• You are expected to have printing privileges, as you may need to print during some labs.

Lateness

• Classes will begin on time, and you are expected to be on time.  "Tardy" means not being in your seat at the time when class is scheduled to begin.  For classes that start at 8 am or immediately after lunch, you will be marked tardy if you are not in your seat at the beginning of the class period.  For classes that start at other times, I will allow a minute or so after class has started before counting you tardy.
  
  School policies require that you be marked severely tardy, if you are 15 - 25 minutes late, or absent if you arrive 25 minutes or more late. 
  Unexcused tardies will be dealt with according to the Physics Tardy Policy. Grade penalties may also result for work that is missed due to being late.
  
• Assignments that are submitted electronically to the Moodle website (e.g., the JIT quizzes) may not be submitted late. There is no credit for late electronic work.
  
• Written assignments that are due at times other than class time are turned in to the Astro box outside my office. Staple multiple pages of an assignment, as unstapled papers will not be graded.  Late submission of homework means that the assignment is received at any time after the due time.  Late homework assignments (labs, problems, etc.) are assigned a maximum penalty of 25% for the first day late. Credit may not be given for homework or lab work turned in more than 24 hours late.  If you miss 2 of any combination of major assignments, you will report to Saturday Morning Restricted Study. Any additional miss after the first 2 missed assignments will result in additional Saturday referrals.
  
• If you intend to miss class due to an discretionary-absence activity (including sports), you are responsible for letting me know well in advance (at least 2 days for a regular class, at least a week for a lab class) so that we can make arrangements for you making up any work in advance of the absence  date.  You are expected to turn in all work by the regular due date/time.  If you miss a number of classes for medical or other unplanned reasons, you should arrange with me a plan for making up any work you missed. 
  

Tutorial & Office Hours

• Check the posted tutorial schedule on the Physics hallway. My tutorial night is alternate Wednesdays.
  

• My teaching blocks are EG.  You are welcome to visit me in my office, to talk about astrophysics or anything else. I will particularly try to be available after class and one or two afternoons of the week, though I expect you to use my free blocks as your main source of out-of-class assistance. My schedule is posted on my door to help you know when I may be available.
  
  

Class Commitment

Even though we will not have formal tests in this class, you will be tested every day in class in a variety of ways; examples of such are in the following (non-exhaustive) list:

• coming to class and turning in your work on time
• showing enthusiasm in your learning!
• working problems beyond the ones required for turn-in
• taking useful notes
• asking questions of your own and answering mine in class
• challenging explanations or examples that leave you confused
• convincing me that you did the assigned daily reading
• being prepared for and taking leadership in labs
• following verbal and written instructions, especially in lab
• helping your classmates where appropriate
• re-doing returned assignments or labs that do not earn at least a grade of C+
• taking initiative in getting missed notes & assignments from a classmate (or the web) after an absence so that you are prepared for class
• taking initiative in completing and turning in assignments (homework and lab) before a planned absence or ASAP after an unplanned one (including assignments due in class)
• getting extra help from me outside of class when appropriate
• posting problem solutions when the option arises

Your class commitment grade is the sum of my daily assessment of how committed you are to making this class a successful learning experience not only for yourself, but also for the rest of the class. You are encouraged to talk with me periodically during the year about your class commitment grade.

Grading

• Pre-final-exam Trimester grades will be based on
  

10% for Class Commitment
10% for Class Presentations (minimum 2)
10% for JITs (weekly reading quizzes submitted before class via Moodle)
35% for Homework assignments
35% for Lab and Project work

• In determining the final trimester grade, your final (trimester) exam will count 15% - 25% (your choice).
  
  
• The following grading scale applies to all work in this class

A: > 80                    (A- if < 83.0)
B: 70 -- 79.99etc   (B+  if > 77.5; B- if < 72.5)
C: 60 -- 69.99etc (C+  if > 67.5; C- if < 62.5)
D: below 60