Grades
Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on submitted work and exams. The available points are distributed as follows:
Points Distribution
| Source |
Available Points |
| 5 Progress Evaluations, 100 points each |
500 |
| Midterm Exam |
500 |
| Final Exam |
500 |
| Total |
1500 |
Grading Scale
| Grade |
Percentage |
Total Points |
| A |
93–100 |
1395–1500 |
| A– |
90–92 |
1350–1394 |
| B+ |
87–89 |
1305–1349 |
| B |
83–86 |
1245–1304 |
| B– |
80–82 |
1200–1244 |
| C+ |
77–79 |
1155–1199 |
| C |
73–76 |
1095–1154 |
| C– |
70–72 |
1050–1094 |
| D+ |
67–69 |
1005–1049 |
| D |
63–66 |
945–1004 |
| D– |
60–62 |
900–944 |
| F |
0–59 |
0–899 |
After completing the course, you will receive a grade report that gives your final exam score and your letter grade for the course. The Center will not mail your grade report until all outstanding balances have been paid.
Academic integrity. You are expected to follow CDIS guidelines for academic integrity and freedom. Please review your academic rights and responsibilities.
Progress Evaluation
This course has 5 progress evaluations, all instructor evaluated. Progress evaluations follow lessons 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11 and are worth 100 points each. For each progress evaluation, you will write a carefully organized essay of 2–3 pages (double-spaced, normal-size font). Each essay should have a clear thesis in the opening paragraph and should use specific details and examples from the reading to support the points you make. You may use any assigned readings, your notes, and other course-related materials to complete these assignments. The points you earn on your submitted work count toward your final course grade.
You must submit all assigned work in sequence (Lesson 1, then Lesson 2, etc.), and you cannot submit more than three (3) assignments in a 7-day period.
After your work has been scored, you will receive a report that provides individualized feedback and/or comments on your work. Look carefully at what you missed and read any corresponding feedback. Then study the lesson materials to make certain that you can accomplish the associated learning objectives. The scoring rubric below will be used to evaluated your work.
Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions on how to submit your work.
Scoring Rubric
- A—addresses each question or issue accurately and in detail, using examples where appropriate
- B—is similar to an A essay but may be lacking in clarity or detail
- C—consists of numerous inaccuracies and little detail
- D—exhibits very little in the way of accuracy and detail and includes no examples
- F— is inaccurate and displays no grasp of the subject matter
Exams
You are required to take two formal, supervised exams for this course. (See the exam matrix below for details.)
You may request an exam over the Web using the "Request" button below, but exams themselves may not be taken online. It is your responsibility to schedule your exams, so allow enough time (generally 7–10 business days) for the Center to receive your request and prepare copies for your chosen exam site.
CDIS has approved exam sites throughout the United States and around the world. However, if you are enrolled in a university course and live in Columbia, Missouri, you must take your exams at the Center's campus office in Columbia. No appointment or exam request is necessary to take exams at our office, and any CDIS student may take an exam at the Center during regularly scheduled hours. For more information about scheduling exams, see the CDIS guidelines on examinations.
You may not use any textbooks, notes, or other outside resources during an exam unless otherwise noted below.
Exam Matrix
|
Midterm Exam (covers Lessons 1–5) |
Final Exam (covers Lessons 6–11) |
| When to Request an Exam |
after you receive your feedback for Lesson 5 |
after you receive your feedback for Lesson 11 |
| Questions |
- 5 short answer (20 points each)
- 1 essay topic with multiple questions (400 points)
|
- 5 short answer (20 points each)
- 1 essay topic with multiple questions (400 points)
|
| Points Possible |
500 points |
500 points |
| Time Limit |
2 hours |
2 hours |
| What to Bring to the Exam Site |
- #2 pencil
- a valid photo identification (MU students can use their student ID cards.)
- your CDIS ID number
|
- pen or pencil
- a valid photo identification (MU students can use their student ID cards.)
- your CDIS ID number
|
How to Prepare for Exams
- Complete all assignments.
- Review the lesson objectives; make sure you can accomplish them.
- Be prepared to explain any key terms and concepts.
- Complete any review exercises, study questions, and activities; check your answers.
- Review any feedback and/or comments on your lesson reports and previous exams; look up answers to any questions you missed.