Physics 303: Electricity & Magnetism I
Fall 2010

Homework

I will collect and grade homework exercises periodically. I will grade each exercise (or section of a multi-part exercise) on a four-point scale. For incomplete or incorrect solutions, I may give a provisional grade, and give you the opportunity to re-submit the solution later for a higher grade. If you turn in homework late, I will deduct points.

Honor Code Provisions

Please be aware of the provisions of the Presbyterian College Honor Code, as stated in the "blue book." All material that you submit for a grade (tests, homework, etc.) must contain a pledge statement.

You must take all tests and examinations without outside assistance, including textbooks and other reference materials, unless I explicitly allow you to do otherwise. For example, I may allow you to bring a sheet of equations for reference. In particular, please do not ask me for hints or assistance on test or exam problems. I will be happy to clarify a problem statement if you don't understand what I am asking for, but that is all.

You are encouraged to help each other with homework assignments, but you must do the detailed work individually, and your work must be clearly recognizable as your own in style, format, details, etc.

Attendance policy

If you have more than ten absences from class, I will drop you from the course with a grade of F. I will not distinguish between "excused" and "unexcused" absences in this respect. You are responsible for finding out from classmates about material that was covered, or announcements that were made in class, during your absence.

I will normally take attendance near the beginning of the class period. If you arrive after I take attendance, I may decide to credit you with a "fractional" absence.

If you miss a previously-announced test because of absence, I will normally allow you to make it up only if you are absent because of:

• college-related business such a class field trip or participation in an athletic event
• illness that requires examination and specific treatment by a medical professional
• family or personal emergency such as serious illness, accident, death, or disruption of travel plans for reasons beyond your control
• a job interview that cannot be scheduled at some other time
• possibly other similar situations which I haven't anticipated

In such situations, you must notify me in writing (via e-mail or signed written statement) as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements for a makeup test. For anticipated absences such as field trips or athletic events, you should notify me before the absence if at all possible; for unanticipated absences you must notify me no later than the second weekday following your return to campus. Your notification must briefly summarize the reason for your absence, with documentation or at least enough information that I can verify it if I choose to do so.

I will also follow the rules described above in handling late homework.

Course Schedule and Reading Assignments

The primary source of reading and homework assignments, timing of tests, etc., will be in-class announcements, so if you miss a class, you should check with another student or with me to make sure you find out about all assignments. I will try to keep an on-line listing up to date, but you should not rely on it completely. You are resposible for the material covered by the reading assignments, including topics and examples that we do not specifically cover in the lectures, unless I tell you to ignore certain material.

Consultations

Please refer to my daily schedule for my "official" office hours. You are also welcome to try to catch me outside of office hours; I will be glad to talk to you unless I absolutely positively need to get something finished just then. If you need to see me at some particular time, I suggest that you make an appointment. Finally, please feel free to send me e-mail (jbell at presby.edu).