1. Add the scores of your best three exams. If you're doing this before you have taken Exam 4, or before the Exam 4 grades are posted (which is expected to happen by Wed., Dec. 14), then take the scores of the first three exams. (If you missed an exam, take the scores of the two exams you did complete, add them together, and multiply by 1.5.)
   
   
2. Divide the sum for item 1 by 4, to convert each exam score from a scale of 1 - 100, to a scale of 1 - 25. (Each of the three exams counts for 25% of your course grade.)
   
   
3. Add up your participation credits. These include quizzes, in-class (index card) activities, documented attendance at star parties, graded article write-ups, write-ups on special events, the background survey, and book reports. Star parties can provide up to 4 points; article write-ups a maximum of 6 points. Depending on when you're doing this estimate, there may or may not be an Activity Total already computed for you. The last opportunities to earn participation credits are Tues., Dec. 6 (a 1-point index card) and Thurs., Dec. 8 (when the last article write-up must be turned in). If the participation credits total is more than 25 points, it will be rounded down to 25 points; no more than 1/4 of the course grade can be earned by participation alone.
   
   
4. Add the quantity from item 2 to the participation total from item 3 (not exceeding 25). This is your numerical score.
   
   
5. This numerical score corresponds to a letter grade according to the table below. If you wish to attempt to improve your course grade, you may take the optional comprehensive final exam (see Announcements). The final exam score will replace the lowest of your previous exams, but only if this improves your grade. If your final exam score is lower than the previous worst exam, it will have no effect on your course grade.

Letter Grade		Score Range
A		85 or higher
B		75 - 84.99
C		60 - 74.99
D		50 - 59.99
F		below 50