If a student cannot take one of the midterms when it is scheduled, no makeup will be given under any circumstances. There will be no exceptions to this policy. The makeup final exam will be in an all-essay format. If a student believes that an answer on an exam deserves more credit than was awarded, the student may appeal to the instructor for reconsideration. All such appeals must be in writing, and reconsideration will be based on the quality of the appeal as well as the quality of the answer concerned.
Reconsiderations can be downwards as well as upwards when partial credit has been awarded.
It is recommended that assigned readings be done before the lecture for which they are assigned. Academic honesty on examinations is of the utmost importance. Examinations are to be taken without consulting books or notes, and without looking at other students' exams. Prior to examinations, of course, students are encouraged to cooperate and to assist each other as much as they like. Because the grading scale is fixed and not curved, such helpfulness can never hurt a student's grade and probably will increase his or her own understanding of the material.