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Calculating Your Course Grade

As we reach the end of the term, I want to review how your course grade is calculated. As explained in the Course Manual Links to an external site., grades in this course are based on the accumulation of points. The points are all equal, and all add up toward your total course grade.

Find Your Current Number of Points in the Course

Go to Grades in Canvas, and find your total number of points in the upper right (outlined in yellow in this screenshot).

Screenshot of Grades in Canvas

In this case, Test Student only has 6723 points. Test Student doesn’t do much of the course work, so the total is low. Your total is likely higher.

Adjust Your Current Number of Points, If Appropriate

Your course grade may be lower than the total shown on the Grades page in Canvas if you did not work every week of the course. The Absences & Missed Work policy Links to an external site. in the Course Manual explains:

You need to participate in this course on a regular basis every week by turning in your work and collaborating with your classmates. If you do not participate for a full week, you will be considered absent. Failure to participate for one full week will result in lowering of grade by a full-letter grade. Failure to participate for two weeks will result in a failing grade for the course.

If you miss a deadline completely because of an illness, death in the family, or family emergency, see information from the Dean of Students Office for details on how to document the situation. You must provide official documentation within one week of any situation.

If you have an issue that affects your ability to complete the course, you may qualify for Academic Relief. For personal medical issues, contact the Schiffert Health Center, and for psychiatric or psychological issues, contact the Cook Counseling Center.

If you have missed one full week of the course, turning in none of the work, deduct 1000 points from your current number of points to determine your current course grade.

Ignore the Grade Calculation in Canvas

It is possible to earn more than 10,000 points in this course. In order to allow you to choose the activities you want to complete, there have to be more than enough points. Additionally, if you did not try all of the activities, Canvas may show that you had fewer than 10,000 points in the course.

Because of the available choices, the course grade calculation in Canvas will be wrong. Look at the information for Test Student in the screenshot above. Test Student has 6,723.00 / 8,594.00. Canvas has calculated that Test Student has a C+, which is incorrect. You have to use the course grade scale to determine your grade, which is explained in the next section.

Compare Your Current Number of Points to the Grade Scale

Visit the Points and Grade Scale for the Course Links to an external site. information in the Course Manual. Since Test Student has 6723 points, she falls in the D+ range for her course grade:

Points by Week Screenshot

Complete Remaining Work in the Course

Your points total in the course cannot be any lower, unless you fail to participate in the remaining time in the course. For instance, Test Student has a D+ locked in. Her grade will not be any lower unless she decides not to participate.

As you complete the remaining work in the course, your points total will rise. You can decide what work to complete based on your goal for the course.

Decide Whether to Take the Final Exam

The Final Exam is completely optional. If you are happy with your points total by the last day of classes, you do not need to take the exam. The Final Exam is worth 500 points. If additional points will move you to your goal for the course, give the Final Exam a try. You cannot lose points in this system.

As a final example, let’s say Test Student still have 6723 total points at the end of the term. She decides to take the Final Exam, since she can move into the C- range if she does well enough. If she does not do well on the Final, her grade will not be any lower.

Remember These Policies for the Course

The following policies are included in the Course Manual Links to an external site. and apply to your work in this course:

  • All work and participation in this course is governed by the  Undergraduate Honor System.
  • All submissions in this course are due by 11:59 on their designated days (see individual assignments).
  • The Grades tool in Canvas calculates your points total in the course.
  • I do not round grades.
  • I do not provide extra credit for people who have not met satisfactory performance goals.

What do these policies mean for your course grade? Your grade is equal to the points total listed in Canvas. If you want to improve your course grade, complete as much of the remaining work in the course as possible. Remember that ungraded Major Projects will increase your points total once they are graded and released.