FW: curve

[Zellmer, Robert]

Perhaps something needs a quick clarification after an e-mail I received.
The following from the e-mail was misinterpreted.  I've marked an important
word in red.

"That doesn't mean the curve will have to be huge and we're going
down to 40% for passing."


It's not likely with everything included we would be going down to 40%

for passing.  With everything included (Mastering, recitation, lab,

midterms and final) the average for the class will be higher than the

average on the exams.  I'm not going to say we won't go below 50%

for passing (a D) but you should not count on that.



Also, the curve is not necessarily linear.  We don't just add a set

percentage to everyone's scores across the board.  Actually, you will

not see your numeric scores change.  What changes is the grade

associated with scores.  On most normal grading scales you would

need a 60% for passing with a D.  If passing with a D winds up to be

55% that's a curve.  That's just an example not an actual number.



Dr. Zellmer

From: Zellmer, Robert <zellmer.1 at osu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2021 5:09 PM
To: cbc-chem1220 at groups.asc.ohio-state.edu
Subject: curve

A couple of people have asked about the curve.  Well, it's a bent line.

Seriously, the question was about the class average being lower than
their previous chem course.  You can't compare the curve in one course
to that in another or even another semester for the same course.
Averages are not the same for 1220 across the different semesters in
a year, even with very similar exams.  I won't go into reasons for that.

Also, please keep in mind we're doing exams under some unusual
circumstances.  You're not allowed to move backward in the exam.
That can lead to slightly lower scores and averages.  We're using
some of the fill-in-the blank numeric questions.  That can sometimes
lead to slightly lower scores.

We are fully aware of this and all of this will be taken into consideration
when we curve the grades at the end of the semester.  I've been
teaching 1220 during summer semester for many years, except last
year when we didn't have classes.  I know what the averages on
summer exams generally are in normal semesters and I have a pretty
good idea at this point what the above changes have had on scores.

The same applies to the quizzes.  Normally we would have had
paper quizzes with partial credit.  While I've included many questions
in the on-line quizzes which give partial credit I know it's not quite the
same.

That doesn't mean the curve will have to be huge and we're going
down to 40% for passing.  If you're exam and quiz scores are in the
upper 40% range you could still wind up overall in the 50% range due
to lab and the Mastering.  However, I've seen several students who
have done little to no Mastering.  It's worth 7.5% of your overall grade.

I know this makes people wonder about what they need to get on
the final to get a certain grade.  That's not an easy thing to say.
Carmen allows you to see what you would need on the final and
the last quiz to get certain percentages for the course.  I'm not
sure it helps to sit around and worry about this.  Just do the best
you can between now and then studying and then on the quiz and
final.  That's really all you can do and need to worry about and not
worry about the quiz and final.

I'll be sending another e-mail with more info about the final and
the review for it.

Dr. Zellmer


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