Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:56 PM,

I do understand the anxiety about grades, and particularly in this case where 
most of you never got below a 95 on an exam before, and all of a sudden you 
got a 30 and the class average was 40.  What does this mean?

A student writes:



	 Hi, Prof. Patt,

	 As the semester draws to a close, I am concerned about my grade in EE 
	 306. I checked my grades today with all of the problem sets, program 
	 assignments and the two mid-terms in, and I calculated a grade with a 
	 best scenario situation where I get a 100 on the final exam. And I 
	 still end up failing this course for the semester with a 50. I have 
	 been trying my best in this class, I have not missed one single class, 
	 and attends the TA sessions on Fri. , and spend the entire 
	 thanksgiving break either doing the program assignment 4 or studying 
	 for the final. Is there anyway that I can still get credit for this 
	 course if you see that I do well on the final?
	 Thank you for your understanding,

	 <<name withheld to protect the student who has yet to hear what I am 
	 saying>>



I do not know how to make it any clearer than I have already.  If you 
demonstrate at the end of the semester by your performance on your final exam 
that you finally understand this stuff, then you will pass the course.

In fact, as I already told you once, the final exam will be in two parts.  
If you show me that you understand all that I ask in Part A, even though you 
do badly on the more challenging questions of Part B, you will pass the 
course.

Do not make the mistake of thinking a 50 is an F.  I have never given an exam 
that requires so little thinking that a 50 is an F.  Yes, if you really, 
really understand the stuff in the course, and there is no time pressure, an A 
student should get 85% or better.  On the midterms, there was time pressure, 
and perhaps many students did not "get it" yet.  So, the median was around 
40%.  On the final, the time pressure will be removed.  Whether the studying 
will pay off or not, I can not say.  I can say that in many, many cases, 
students finally get it late in the semester and demonstrate that on the final 
exam.  AND are happy with the grades they have earned.

Bottom line: it is not hopeless.  Please do not make the high school mistake 
of averaging your grades so far and deciding you do not have a chance.  If you 
knew everything at the halfway point, and you show nothing on the final, you 
will flunk the course.  I care about where you are at the end of the semester 
and your grade will reflect that.  I do not know how to make it any plainer.

Good luck on the final exam.
Yale Patt