syllabus | timetable | projects | homework | clicker questions | weekly summaries | review | images | text |
This course is approved as a non-sequence course in the Natural Sciences Core Curriculum. There are no prerequisites.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that this course will be an easy A. It will take hard work on your part to obtain an A.
The text “Cosmic Perspective” has a brief prefatory section (page xxiv) entitled “How to Succeed in Your Astronomy Course”, which advises you that you should expect to study 2 to 3 hours per week outside of class for each credit hour. For this class, that means 6 to 9 hours per week studying outside of class.
Although the emphasis of the course is on concepts, the course will involve algebra at a high-school level, especially in the homeworks. Even if you do not like math, you should respect mathematical reasoning, and the remarkable power of mathematics to describe the laws of the Universe.
The second major goal of this course is to give you an understanding of the Universe at large.
The exams will cover material discussed in class and in the assigned reading, and will consist largely of multiple choice and short-answer questions. The Mar 2 midterm will cover all material covered during the semester so far. The final will cover all material covered cumulatively during the semester, with an emphasis on material covered since the Mar 2 midterm.
I will drop either your midterm score, or half your final score, or your clicker score (see below), whichever is worst.
The principal goal of the projects is to get you to think and argue logically with your peers. The projects are not intended to be chug-and-plug exercises.
Each project will fill the entire class period. For the project, you will assemble into groups of 3 or 4. You should immediately assign one of your group to be the “Scribe”. The group should discuss and solve the project together.
It is the Scribe's responsibility to write up the results obtained by the group, and to submit them at the end of class. I will accept only one submission from each group. The write-up must include the name of the Scribe, and the names of all the other members of the group.
To simplify the logistics, the groups will be informal, probably consisting of your nearest neighbors. You do not have to stay in the same group, and indeed I encourage you to rotate into other groups. You may not work alone, since the whole point of the project is to engage with your peers.
If possible, you should rotate the role of Scribe. Make a goal that you personally should be Scribe for at least one group project during the semester.
Only the 2 best of your 4 group projects will count for grade. Thus you may omit 2 group projects without penalty. This includes cases where you cannot be in class for a project for reasons beyond your control. If you miss a project, you cannot make it up, since the purpose of the project is to engage with your peers.
Only the 4 best of your 6 homeworks will count for grade. Thus you may omit 2 homeworks without penalty.
There will be a tendency for Homework problems to be more mathematical than group projects or exams.
The evening before each Homework is due, there will be a Help Session in one of the large lecture halls. The idea of the Help Sessions is to allow you to get help not only from me, but more importantly from each other.
Clicker questions will generally be of two kinds:
You win clicker points as follows:
Points | Assessment |
---|---|
0 | No answer |
1 | Wrong answer |
2 | Right answer |
Every person gets 4 free clicker days, meaning that we will omit the worst scoring 4 days from your clicker score. These free clicker days include all eventualities, including days when your clicker fails to work, days when you forgot your clicker, days when you have a personal or family emergency, days when you have to be elsewhere to represent your team or club or University, and days when you go skiing.
As stated above under Exams, I will drop either your midterm score, or half your final score, or your clicker score, whichever is worst.
It is strictly forbidden to operate someone else's clicker for them. If you are discovered doing this, then both you and the person whose clicker you operated will receive an F. If you see a classmate operating two or more clickers, please bring it immediately to my attention.
TA Daniel Everding will be looking after the clicker system, and any questions regarding clickers should be addressed to him.
To get your 4% grade, you should turn up, sign in, and follow the TA's instructions on at least one observing night. You are welcome to turn up more than once. The TA will ask you to write a one paragraph description of one of the objects you have seen through the telescope.
Before turning up, look at the sky. SBO will be open only if the sky is clear or at least partially clear. Remember that Colorado is famous for skiing, not for astronomical observing. Do not procrastinate, for the heavens may not smile upon you.
Date | Starting Time | Moon phase |
---|---|---|
W Jan 31 | 7pm | full (100%) |
M Feb 19 | 7pm | waxing crescent (15%) setting at 9:42pm |
M Mar 5 | 7:30pm | waning gibbous (83%) rising at 10:10pm |
Th Mar 22 | 8pm | waxing crescent (30%) setting at 11:58pm |
Tue Apr 17 | 8:30pm | waxing crescent (4%) setting at 8:40pm |
Item | Date | Weight |
---|---|---|
Homework | see Timetable | 32% |
In class group Projects | see Timetable | 16% |
Clicker points | every class | 16% |
Observing | 4% | |
Midterm | Fri Mar 2 | 16% |
Final | 4:30–7pm Sat May 5 | 32% |
The grading system is designed to allow you to miss some work without penalty. Late homework will not be accepted, and there will be no make-up exams. If you need to take the midterm or final early for good reason, please let me know in advance.
Here is the relation between numerical and letter grade.
Score at least | Grade |
---|---|
91% | A |
87% | A− |
83% | B+ |
79% | B |
75% | B− |
71% | C+ |
67% | C |
63% | C− |
59% | D+ |
55% | D |
50% | D− |
0% | F |
The text comes with a bunch of on-line tools, accessible at Mastering Astronomy. You will need to have purchased the text in order to access the site.
You may expect me:
I have a very simple rule regarding the quoting or use of material obtained through the web or elsewhere:
syllabus | timetable | projects | homework | clicker questions | weekly summaries | review | images | text |
Updated 2018 Mar 14