Quizzes

Quizzes are short assignments associated with each lecture that allow you to apply each week’s concepts. Each quiz is open-book: you may use any and all non-human resources during a quiz, but the only humans to whom you may turn for help or from whom you may receive help are the course’s heads (via a private-to-staff Ed post in the “Quizzes” category).

Many questions on the quizzes in this course are out of 4 points. When you receive your feedback on these assignments, these scores translate as follows:

• 4 is reserved for exceptional answers that demonstrate a full understanding of the material in a manner that exceeds the course’s expectations, which may sometimes involve external research. Please note that this does not necessarily mean a long answer; indeed, an overly long answer that introduces irrelevant information is not likely to receive a 4. Rather, a 4 is awarded to a thorough and well thought-out and prepared answer that focuses on the subject of the question being presented. A limited number of 4s at most will be awarded per question. A score of 4 should be interpreted as having received, in a manner of speaking, a “bonus point.”
• 3 is awarded for a strong answer that demonstrates understanding of the material in a manner consistent with the course’s expectations. A score of 3 should be considered your benchmark for success. and should not, per the above, be interpreted as having “lost a point.”
• 2 is awarded for a good answer that suggests likely understanding of the material, but is lacking in a minor way that does not fully demonstrate that understanding.
• 1 is awarded for a poor to fair answer that either demonstrates partial understanding of the material or otherwise contains an error that suggests a misunderstanding of a key detail.
• 0 is given to answers that are incorrect, exceedingly brief, or blank.