ASTROPHYSICS (Physics 418)   Course Expectations  2006/2007
TEXTS	Universe, 7^th edition by Freedman and Kaufmann Astrophysics 2006 a set of data tables, pictures, graphs, and other good stuff Physics, by Walker (You won't get your own, but there are 100+ out there; go find them)
CLASS	taught by John Kolena    email: kolena@ncssm.edu   office: Bryan 443        phone: (919)416-2767 The pace of the class will be brisk, partly because I will assume that you already know a good deal of astrophysics (because you have done the assigned daily readings and have studied the worked examples suggested). We will often refer to the text for pictures and graphs virtually every class day, so please bring your text to class each day. You are required to have two lab journals. We might be taking lab data on any day, or we might be discussing lab work already in your journals, so you need to have your journals with you every day, except of course when they have been handed in for grading. I also expect you to have your working (!) graphing calculator with you every day.
	EXPECTATIONS
READING	The course syllabus is a rough guide to the order of the topics that we will study this trimester.  Refer to it often; you are allowed to read ahead!  The course web site address is www.phy.duke.edu/~kolena/astro06f.html It is your responsibility to make sure that you know what is expected of you for the next class in the way of textbook reading, homework, and   labwork.  Assignments will be available on the web. Please get into the habit of checking the web site daily.  I will try to have any relevant messages and assignments posted by 6 pm. I cannot emphasize enough how important reading the relevant text sections and studying the worked examples in advance of my talking about them are to your success in this class. Reading an astrophysics book or studying worked examples is quite unlike reading a novel or a social studies text. More about this sometime in class.
WRITING	Assigned written homework problems (many of which will be next-day or in 2 days) will sometimes be brought to class and sometimes due by 5 pm in the black box on the table outside my office,   Bryan 443.   After completing the assigned reading each night, you should check out some of the Review Questions in the back of the text.    If you cannot answer them pretty immediately, it means that you need to re-read the appropriate sections and/or re-study the worked examples more carefully.     You should be solving at least as many problems on your own as I assign. As we dig deeper into subject, you should also be working extra problems of the from the text. Keep all these extra worked problems organized in your notebook; they may be traded in for extra class commitment or class presentations. Homework MUST be stapled if more than one page. There is a stapler mounted on the 4th floor Bryan wall across from room 441. Often lab instructions will be available a day or more before we actually do lab.  Please read them beforehand. Links to the instructions will be on the class website. Lab expectations are available in the Physics 352/354 Lab Guide handout.
TUTORIAL	Physics teachers and senior tutors will be available most every M  -  Th for at least an hour. Use this opportunity! Check the posted tutorial schedule on the physics hallway.
OFFICE HOURS	My teaching blocks are CDG this trimester.  You are welcome to visit me in my office (Bryan 443) during your free periods, to talk about astrophysics or anything else. I will particularly try to be available in the afternoons  after school.
HONESTY	You will receive a copy of the  Physics Department Honesty Policy; it is also posted in the classroom.
TARDY	Of course, I expect you to be on time for class.  "Tardy" means not being in your seat at the time when class is scheduled to begin.  Because Physics classrooms have radio-controlled, accurate clocks, it will be easy for everyone to know whether you are Tardy or not.  You will be considered Tardy even if you arrive on time, but have to return to your room because you are inappropriately dressed, do not have your calculator, or do not have your lab materials (lab book, prelab, ...)  on days when lab is scheduled. The Physics Department Tardy Policy  addresses the consequences of being Tardy.  The Tardy Policy is also posted in physics classrooms.  In addition each of you will receive a copy to read, sign, and return during the first week of classes.
LATE WORK POLICY	Homework is due on the date and time assigned.  Homework that is up to one day late will be accepted for a maximum grade of 50%. Homework that is more one day late will not be accepted.  Note that major assignments are due on the day they are due regardless of last-minute illness!  Contact me before the due date in case of sustained, major illness or other unavoidable conflicts. If you miss 2 of any combination of assignments (homework, lab, class presentation), you will report to Saturday morning Restricted Study (new this year).  Any additional miss after the first 2 missed assignments will result in additional Saturday assignments.
CLASS COMMITMENT	Even though we will not have formal tests in this class, you will be tested every day in a variety of ways; examples of such are in the following (non-exhaustive) list: coming to class and turning in your work on time showing enthusiasm in your learning working problems beyond the ones required for turn-in taking useful notes asking questions of your own and answering mine in class challenging explanations or examples that leave you confused convincing me that you did the assigned daily reading being prepared for and taking leadership in labs following verbal and written instructions, especially in lab helping your classmates where appropriate re-doing major assignments that do not earn at least a grade of C+ taking initiative in getting missed notes & assignments from a classmate (or the web) after an absence taking initiative in completing and turning in assignments (homework and lab) before a planned absence or asap after an unplanned one (including assignments due in class) getting extra help from me outside of class and at tutorial when appropriate posting problem solutions when the option arises presenting 2 problems to the whole class each trimester Your class commitment grade is my assessment of how committed you are to making this class a successful learning experience not only for yourself, but also for the rest of the class. You are encouraged to talk with me periodically during the year about your class commitment grade.
GRADING	Pre-final-exam Trimester grades will be based on 20% Class Commitment 15% JITs (weekly "quizzes" submitted before class via the web) 30% Homework assignments 35% Lab and Project work In determining the final trimester grade, a final exam or project will count 15% - 25%. The following grading scale applies to all work in this class A: 80 -- 100 B: 70 -- 79.99etc C: 60 -- 69.99etc D: below 60