Grading Information and Policies

    Evaluation

    Student evaluation will be based on the following work:
     
    % of Grade
    Quizzes
    20%
    Homework and assignments
    30%
    EIS review No. 1
    5%
    EIS review No. 2
    5%
    EIR review No. 1
    5%
    EIR review No. 2
    5%
    Project
    20%
    Comprehensive final exam
    10%
    100%

    Work Description

    Quizzes.  The quizzes will be short, usually multiply choice, true-false, or short answer questions, with one or two short essay questions per quiz.  They will normally be open-book quizzes, unless I give advance warning otherwise.  Such a warning would be given a week in advance, in class and on this Web page.

    Homework and Assignments.  Assignments are individual efforts, unless otherwise noted.  If several people turn in identical papers, the grade will be divided by the number of people handing in identical work.   The exceptions to this are the cases when an assignment is directly related to the project; such assignments will be clearly identified.  They will mostly appear in the second half of the semester.

    EIS/EIR Reviews.  During the course of the semester, I will require a thorough analysis of two Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and two Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), in which I will ask you to evaluate the adequacy of those documents with regard to particular aspects, such as format, development of alternatives, identification of impacts, etc.  These reviews will be individual efforts.

    Project.  The term project will be described in detail in a separate document.  The project will be a team effort, in groups of four people.  The project requirements will include an oral presentation at the end of the semester.

    Final Exam.  The final exam will be open-book, and will be comprehensive.  The questions will resemble those asked in the quizzes but will require more elaborate essay answers.
     

    Late Work

    Papers (assignments, homework, and EIS/EIR reviews) are always due in hand or in my box by 5:00 PM on the date indicated, usually a Monday. Papers turned in late will be penalized: 10% if turned in by the next class period, 30% if within a week from the original due date, and not accepted after that.

    The final project and the final exam (if it is a take-home exam) will be due in hand or in my box by 5:00 PM on the due date.  Projects and exams turned in late will be penalized 10% day.

    If you have a legitimate conflict with a due date or quiz, or a major event on that day, contact me as soon as possible before the problem happens.  I understand that some things just happen unplanned, and I am willing to make arrangements when possible and reasonable.  However, you must also make proactive efforts to avoid, compensate for, or correct the problem.
     

    Use of Internet Resources

    A lot of references on NEPA and CEQA, and even entire EISs or EIRs, are available on-line.  This is a fine source of information, but it doesn't dispense anyone from doing a thorough literature search; one or two Web pages are generally not sufficient to write a well-informed paper.  Sources and quotations must be clearly indicated in the paper, including the URL and date accessed; original thought and analysis is always required.

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