Grading

The grading system for this class includes the grades of:

A+	Extraordinarily high achievement
A	Superior.
A-	Excellent.
B+	Good.
B	Satisfactory.
B-	Barely satisfactory
C+	Unsatisfactory
C	Unsatisfactory
C-	Unsatisfactory
D	Unacceptable work
F	Unacceptable and failing.

Please see the memorandum from former Dean Brooke Sheldon dated August 13, 1991 and the notice in the student orientation packets for explanations of this system. Students should consult the School of Information Web site (http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/programs/index.html) and the Graduate School Catalogue (e.g., http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/grad01-03/ch1/ch1a.html#nature and http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/grad01-03/ch1/ch1b.html#student) for more on standards of work. The University of Texas does not use the +/- grading system that we do at the School of Information; UT accepts only full letter grades. Therefore, for example, a B- and B+ final grade at the School of Information both translate to a final grade of B at the University level.

A grade of B signals acceptable, satisfactory performance in graduate school. In this class, the grade of A is reserved for students who demonstrate not only a command of the concepts and techniques discussed but also an ability to synthesize and integrate them in a professional manner, communicate ideas effectively, and contribute to the development of their classmates.

The grade of incomplete (X) is reserved for students in extraordinary circumstances and must be negotiated with the instructor before the end of the semester. See the former Dean's memorandum of August 13, 1991, available from the main iSchool office.

I use points to evaluate assignments, not letter grades. Points on any assignment are determined using an arithmetic not a proportional algorithm. For example, 14/20 points on an assignment does NOT translate to 70% of the credit, or a D. Instead 14/20 points is very roughly equivalent to a B. If any student's semester point total > 90 (is equal to or greater than 90), then s/he will have earned an A of some kind. If the semester point total > 80, then s/he will have earned at least a B of some kind. Whether these are A+, A, A-, B+, B, or B- depends upon the comparison of point totals for all students. For example, if a student earns 90 points and the highest point total in the class is 98, the student earns an A-. If, on the other hand, a student earns 90 points and the highest point total in the class is 91, then the student earns an A. This system will be further explained throughout the semester.