Grading of Labs. The grade for each experiment is a composite of the lab notebook (30%) (pre-lab plan = 15%, in-lab journal = 15%), the report (60%), and the quality of your lab work (10%). The grade in the laboratory counts 25% toward your overall grade for the course. A passing grade must be obtained in the laboratory in order to pass the course.
Grading of Laboratory Notebooks. Lab notebooks are graded on the degree of adherence to the format described in the guidelines and on the completeness and quality of each section. Omissions will lead to significant deductions so make sure your notebook is complete.
Grading of Lab Reports. Lab reports will be graded primarily on the completeness and quality of each section as delineated in the guidelines. The results section, the questions, the conclusions, and the attachments are all equally important. The overall writing quality (including neatness, organization, and writing quality) will also be factored into the grade for each report.
Quality of Lab Work. Please notice that the grades on the labs include a contribution reflecting the quality of your lab work (10%). Low yields, impure products, or otherwise poor results and excessive amounts of glassware breakage will adversely effect your grade in this area. The products from each experiment are always submitted for grading prior to proper disposal.
Due Dates. Due dates for the reports are one week after completion of the experiment (unless otherwise instructed) and late lab reports will be penalized at least 5%. The pre-lab is due at the start of the lab period the lab is to be performed. Late pre-labs do not receive credit and you will not be allowed to work on any experiment without handing in a complete pre-lab. The in-lab journal is always due the same day it was written and is turned in before leaving the lab.
Team Contribution Forms. When turning in the lab report for each experiment each team member needs to also submit a team contribution form (TCF). (The TCF forms will be available electronically at the D2L site.) Ratings of "ordinary" or below from your teammates will result in at least a 15 point penalty on your grade for that lab. Ratings of "5" or "above and beyond" will earn you bonus points for the lab. A maximum of 5 bonus points can be awarded for each experiment. If all three team members rate each other as 5s then each person gets one bonus point. If only two team members both earn 5s then they get 2 points each. If only one team member is rated as a five by both other team members then that person gets five bonus points.
Attendance. Your attendance at all scheduled labs is required. If you have a legitimate excuse then it is your responsibility to contact the instructor prior to the lab in order to work out arrangements to make up the lab if possible. One absence may be acceptable as determined by the instructor considering the circumstances. Additional absences will receive a zero grade for the experiment.
Experiment Weighting. There will be nine experiments with each experiment counting 10% toward the overall lab average. The lab notebook is turned in at the end of the semester and the assigned grade counts for the remaining 10% of the lab grade. In other words, the lab grade is simply the average of your grades on the 9 experiments and the lab notebook.