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FrequentlyAskedQuestions |
How should I address you when I see you on campus
Please call me Peggy or Peg. I was given this name by my parents and I've gotten rather used to it. If I am going to call you by your first name, it seems right that you should call me by my first name. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable with this suggestion, you have my permission to address me as "your most honorable, exalted microbiology instructor". I especially appreciate this approach if you do it in front of my family and friends.
I missed a question on the exam due to not erasing fully. The machine scored a question wrong that I didn't completely erase. I actually marked the correct answer, but because the incorrect answer had been marked and erased, I got the question wrong. Can I get credit for the question?
No. Once an exam has been graded and returned, the instructor has no way of knowing whether the erasures were made at the time of the examination or after the scantron was graded and returned to the student. As an adult, you must face the consequences of your actions. If you are unable to erase an answer completely, point it out to the instructor when you turn in the exam. She will mark the question at that time so that the answer you have chosen is clear. No grades will be changed due to student failure to erase properly.
I had a legitimate excuse for missing class on the day you gave a quiz. Can I take the quiz at another time as a make-up?
No. Quizzes are as important for learning as are other activities in this class. If you do not attend a particular class, unfortunately you miss that opportunity to participate in the class learning activities. Hopefully, this problem will occur infrequently and thus will not seriously affect your grade.
Will you have a review session before each exam?
In the past, I conducted review sessions before exams. Very few students came prepared to ask questions about material that was unclear to them. Student expectations were that I would direct their attention to those items that would show upon the exam. From my viewpoint, it was a very unsatisfactory learning experience. Part of your education involves learning how to identy what information is important. It is a skill you can only learn with practice. Future employers will not hand you a report or send you to a conference and have the important information highlighted for you. In this endeavor, as in the work place, you can benefit by working with your classmates. In addition, I am available in class, during office hours, via email or phone to answer questions.
I will be out of town on the day the exam is scheduled. It is a conflict I cannot resolve. Can I take the exam early?
Yes, if the exam is ready and you have made arrangements with me well ahead of time.
I missed the exam last class period. Can I take a make-up exam?
You should be calling to ask me this question no later than the day the exam is given to the rest of the class. If that is the case, you might be able to take the exam if it can be arranged before the exam is passed back to the class and no key has been posted. Othewise, we will discuss the issue and a portion of the final exam might count as the missed examination. Note that a student cannot receive a passing grade for the course if he/she misses more than one exam.
If the grades on an exam are very low, will you curve them?
Not likely. I construct exams to reflect my assessment of the knowledge and skills you should have acquired. This judgment is based on many years of experience as both a student and teacher of microbiology. It is my job to evalute the learning you have accomplished, not the effort you put into the endeavor. In this course, there are many opportunities for earning points besides exams. If you don't do well on an exam, you can work harder on other assignments to bring up your grade.
Will you go over an exam with the class when you hand it back?
No. I have found that only a few people benefit from the class time required to go over test questions individually. I will make the exam questions and answers available for your review. I am available during office hours or by appointment to answer your questions on an indiviudal basis.If I quit attending class, will you drop me from the class and give me a "W"?
This depends on the actions you have taken and the time of the semester when this occurs. See the "Withdrawals" section of the syllabus. The syllabus is accessible on the course homepage.Do you offer extra credit?
No. I have structured the course activities to enhance learning of the major concepts of microbiology. Your grade should reflect your performance and learning of these objectives. I would be guilty of fraud to give you a grade that indicates otherwise. If you are not earning the grade you desire, let's discuss it early in the semester. It is too late to offer any constructive suggestions at semester's end.According to my calculations, I got 899 points in the course and I received a "B". I was only one point away from an A. Can't you give me an A?
An "A" means you have done excellent work throughout the course. I do not see how you can be a "marginally excellent" student. You either earn an A or you have a B, which signifies that you did "above average" work. There is no shame in being above average. If you earn 900 points or more, you will receive the A grade you earned.
What if I get close to a "C" at the end of the semester. Will you give it to me?
I don't give you any grade. You receive the grade you earn. If it is a C, that is what you get. If it is a D, that is also what you get.If I am not satisfied with my course grade, can I take an incomplete and take the course again?
No. An incomplete means you have been unable to complete some limited requirement of the course due to circumstances beyond your control. It is not used to simply repeat a course. You waited too long before becoming concerned about your grade. See answer to extra credit question above.How will I know what my grade is as the semester progresses?
Grades are posted on the internet as soon as assignments/tests are graded. If you have a free MCC email account, you can access your grade at any time. Instructions for setting up your MCC email account are provided in class. No one else in class can see your grades but you.I was sick and missed the practical exam in lab. Can I make it up?
It may be possible for you to take the practical if you discuss the situation with your instructor before your appointed practical time. If an emergency arises on the day of the practical exam, contact your instructor immediately If necessary, leave a voice mail message on the instructor's phone (480-461-7111). Otherwise, you may earn a zero for the practical exam.Will the questions on the exams show up again on the final exam?
Usually not. You will benefit most by reviewing the entire course rather than just studying previous exams. However, many of the same concepts may be addressed on both the semester exams and the final exam. At the end of the semester, you may come to my office and examine the semester's exams as a review tactic.I have further questions.
Contact me at by clicking on this link and sending me an email johnson@mail.mc.maricopa.edu or calling me at (480) 461-7703.