GRADING OUTLINE FOR ATM311 - FALL 2007 Mike Landin (ES 324, 442-4572) Office Hours landin@atmos.albany.edu 10-11 AM, Mo/We/Fr ***************************************************************************** PRIMARY REQUIREMENT FOR A PASSING GRADE: You must have submitted at least 80% of the total forecasts for the semester (54 forecasts for FALL 2007) to receive a passing grade. It is possible to receive a passing grade (minimum one full letter grade drop), if you have submitted between 70% and 80%, *IF* you have a passing EXAM grade (D- or higher) *AND* your class participation and attendance are good. If you fall below 70% of the total forecasts (i.e., 46 or less), then you will receive a failing grade (i.e., "E"). There is an additional partial letter grade "bonus" for making 95+% of the total (64 of the 67) forecasts, provided that you have a passing total EXAM grade (D- or higher). EXTENDED 3-5 DAY FORECAST CONTEST: You are required to also participate in the Extended 3-5 Day Forecast Contest, with the same 80% participation requirement and "penalties" as listed above. NATIONAL WEATHER CHALLENGE: You are highly encouraged to participate in the WxChallenge. The entry fee is $3.00 (or $5 for the entire contest). If you *qualify* for all 5 of the city periods with a cumulative score "around" +5 or better (i.e., lower) against the National Consensus, you will receive a partial letter grade "bonus", again provided that you have a passing total EXAM grade (D- or higher). ****************************************************************************** EXAMS: there will be a mid-term and a Final Exam, which together with your weekly quiz average (see below) will combine for *one* exam grade, which will count toward ~43% (3/7ths) of your final grade. WEEKLY QUIZZES (25% of exam grade): each Thursday, except 9/13 & 11/22 MID-TERM (25% of exam grade): TUE, Oct. 16th FINAL EXAM (50% of exam grade): TUE, Dec. 11th, 10:30 AM QUIZZES: there will be Station ID/Geography/SHW/Lecture quizzes (30 quiz points each) given on Thursdays throughout the semester. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEATHER MAP ANALYSIS & HOMEWORK: There will be a number of weather map plotting and analysis assignments, which will be graded as a "+", "_/+", "_/", "_/-" or "-" and will count toward ~14% (1/7th) of your final grade. The "Zer-OUCH!" grade (-3.0 GPA) will be invoked for any homework not handed in and for any map well below ATM211 standards. (The severe weather forecasting *workshop* exercise will count in this section.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FORECAST SKILL - "BEAT THE GFS MOS; BEAT CLIMO": You will be scored against 12Z GFS MOS in both GFS TEMPS and GFS POPs in the Albany Short- Range Contest, and against CLIMO in the Extended 3-5 Day Contest. Your "Forecast Skill" will be 75% Short-Range and 25% 3-5 Day. This grade is worth ~29% (2/7ths) of your final grade. The grading scales are as follows, which may be "curved" if necessary, when compared to historical semester performances: **ALBANY SHORT-RANGE CONTEST ** ** EXTENDED 3-5 DAY CONTEST ** GRADE SCORE % W.R.T. GFS GRADE SCORE % W.R.T. CLIMO ===== ================== ===== ==================== A+ ---> +10.00 and greater A+ +40.00 and greater A ---> +7.00 to +9.99 A +35.00 to +39.99 A- ---> +5.00 to +6.99 A- +30.00 to +34.99 B+ ---> +4.00 to +4.99 B+ +26.00 to +29.99 B ---> +3.00 to +3.99 B +23.00 to +25.99 B- ---> +2.00 to +2.99 B- +20.00 to +22.99 C+ ---> +0.01 to +1.99 C+ +17.00 to +19.99 C ---> 0.00 to -4.99 C +13.00 to +16.99 C- ---> -5.00 to -9.99 C- +10.00 to +12.99 D+ ---> -10.00 to -14.99 D+ +7.00 to +9.99 D ---> -15.00 to -19.99 D +4.00 to +6.99 D- ---> -20.00 to -24.99 D- +0.01 to +3.99 E ---> -25.00 and lower E 0.00 & below CLIMO -------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAP DISCUSSIONS: Each Map Discussion leader will be graded on his/her presentation, by using a thorough "checklist" system. You will work in teams of two, with each of you leading at least one forecasting discussion during the semester. This will count toward the final ~14% (1/7th) of your final grade. The discussions will be "curved" from the early part of the semester, down to no "curve" toward the end. Your Map Discussion grade will be adjusted (up or down) by your individual participation (or lack thereof) during all discussions throughout the semester. Everyone *MUST* forecast on their Map Discussion day (i.e., MON/WED), beginning Aug 29th (see Page 2). ****************************************************************************** GRADING OUTLINE FOR ATM311 - FALL 2007 - CONTINUED Page 2 ***************************************************************************** "WEATHER FORECASTING WORKBOOK": You will be given a workbook, which will contain Forecasting Worksheets to be filled out for *each* Map Discussion beginning WED, 8/29 or MON, 9/10. There will be a BINGO-style "lottery" drawing each Tuesday at the beginning of class to determine which three (3) workbooks are to be handed in for "grading". Any book not up-to-date will result in a partial letter grade drop off your final ATM311 grade *and* your chance of being called again will be increased for subsequent Tuesday morning drawings. Everyone will hand in their Workbooks on TUE, 9/18 and the "lottery" will begin on TUE, 9/25. ***************************************************************************** TEXTBOOKS: "SEVERE AND HAZARDOUS WEATHER" by Rauber, Walsh & Charlevoix (2nd edition), "METEOROLOGY TODAY" by C. Donald Ahrens (7th Edition - your ATM210 text), along with "WEATHER MAPS: How to Read and Interpret All the Basic Weather Charts" by Chaston (3rd Edition) ... same as ATM211. ***************************************************************************** AWARDS FOR "FORECASTING EXCELLENCE": The top ranked student in the class each week (on the "Forecaster of the Week" rankings) will receive ten (10) bonus quiz points toward his/her weekly quiz average. If any ATM311 student should be THE "Forecaster of the Week" of all participants, that student will receive an additional ten (10) bonus quiz points, for a total of 20 bonus quiz points for that week! This applies each and every week, barring any *abuse* of this feature. The top ranked ATM311 student(s) in the overall final standings *may* also receive a grade improvement! ***************************************************************************** AWARD FOR "OVERALL EXCELLENCE": If it is determined that you have an "A" in ATM311 at the conclusion of the semester, then you will be *exempt* from the Final Exam! If you have an "A-" or lower, then you will have an option of taking the Final Exam or and taking your grade. However, be aware that you may also lower your score with a poor Final Exam. ***************************************************************************** GRADING OUTLINE FOR ATM311 - FALL 2007 ** CLARIFICATION ** ****************************************************************************** PARTICIPATION: Everybody is given a "participation grade" for each Map Discussion. The grades are: +2 Major Contributor, +1 Contributor, 0 "active", -1 minor comment, -2 "inactive" (sat on hands). In addition, for each *consecutive* "-2" weekly grade, an additional "-2" penalty will be assessed. Very simply, non-participation (negative weekly grades) will ultimately result in a failing Map Discussion grade. CLARIFICATION: The sentence "Everyone MUST forecast on their Map Discussion day (i.e., MON/WED) ..." means that you *MUST* forecast for *both* the Albany short-range contest *and* the 3-5 Day Extended contest on *your* day. PENALTY: If anyone is found to have *not* forecast for either of the two contests on their Map Discussion day, then they will be expelled from that Map Discussion. This will count toward a "missed" Map Discussion (see below). MISSED MAP DISC: For each *unexcused* missed Map Discussion (including the above), the following penalty will be assessed: Total "Unexcused" Missed Map Disco Penalty ================ ============================================== 1 a partial letter grade drop off final grade and loss of *bonus* perks 2 full letter grade drop off final grade and loss of *bonus* perks 3+ failure ("E") :-( "Three strikes and you're out!" Note: a valid "excuse" is in the form of a Dean's letter.