Friday, October 09, 2009 1:54 AM,

I thought I would send this message to you all tonight, so you would have it 
before the weekend.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask the TAs in 
discussion section or office hours.  If that does not work, feel free to come 
to me.

Several items:

1. As far as I know, two of you have special requirements for taking exams, as 
per SSD.  Please be sure to get ahold of me after class on Monday, so we can 
make final arrangements for you taking the exam on Wednesday. 

2. Because of the size of the class, and to insure that everyone is provided 
with a fair examination environment, I must insist on a few ground rules that 
must be observed during the exam.  I have instructed my TAs that if they 
observe any violation of these ground rules, they should immediately take the 
exam paper from the offending students and tell them to leave the exam room.
I am sorry I have to make it this black and white, but I do not know how else 
to provide a fair examination for everyone.  Please do not treat these 
requirements casually.  They could result in you getting a zero on the exam.
I understand that some of you can not stand rules of any kind.  I tend to be 
that way also.  But I must have a fair examination environment.  Therefore:



	a. No watches, cellphones, calculators or other electronics should be
	   visible.  They should be left at home or put in your backpack.
	   Anyone seen holding any of these items will get an automatic zero
	   on the exam.

	b. Backpacks should preferably be left at home.  If you do bring one
	   with you into the exam, it should be placed such that you can not
 	   access it during the exam.  If you are seen accessing your backpack
	   during the exam, unless there is a compelling reason for doing so,
	   it will result in an automatic zero.  If you have a compelling 
	   reason for accessing your backpack during the exam, raise your hand,
	   and a TA will come to your assistance.  Otherwise, it could result
	   in you getting a zero.

	c. No talking whatsoever with anyone other than a TA during the exam.

	d. No collaborating of any kind with anyone during the exam.

	e. When I or a TA says the time is up, please put your pen or pencil
	   down and do not write anything more.  If you are seen writing after
	   time has been called, the TAs have been instructed to take your
	   exam and you will get a zero.  Please do not violate this.  Comments
	   like, "I was only putting my name on each sheet of paper" do not
	   work.  That should be done at the start of the exam.


3. Three sheets of paper.  Rather than have you memorize things that you can 
always look up in a book, you are permitted to bring into the exam with you 
three sheets of paper, on which you can write anything you want.  The sheets 
of paper can be as large as you want, and the writing as small as you want.
The writing must be the original, in your own handwriting.  Printouts or 
typewritten is not allowed.  Xerox copies are not allowed.  We will provide 
you with all the information we think you will need to take the exam.  
However, many of you will want additional information.  Feel free to write it 
all on the three sheets of paper.

4. The exam will be taken in three rooms.  Please go to the room according to 
the instructions which will be posted on the web site before the end of the 
weekend.  When you enter the room, you will be asked to show your Student ID 
to one of the TAs.  He will check your name and face against that on the ID.
When you turn in your exam by handing it to a TA, he will check your face with 
that on the student id, and the name on the id with the name on the exam.
If for some reason you do not have your student id, please let me know that 
after class on Monday, so we can attempt to make alternate arrangements to 
check your identity.  There have been examples at UT of one student taking an 
exam for another student.  In one recent case, both students were permanently 
expelled from The University.  I do not want it happening in EE 306.

I think that should do it.  Again, I apologize for having to be so strict on 
this, but it is not fair to the 439 of you who would never cheat to allow the 
five who would try to cheat to gain an advantage by doing so.  Please do not 
test me on this.  I become very unfriendly.

Other than that, study hard, get a good night's sleep Tuesday night, and good 
luck on the exam on Wednesday.  I will see you in class on Monday, and in a 
review session on Monday night if my TAs tell me you would like one.

Yale Patt