Grading Information

ECE6414

 

Course Grading Policy : Your grade will be determined using the following scheme:

 Four short quizes  25%
 Five projects  50%
 Final Project  25%

Grades will be assigned on a curve; however, I will guarantee the following grades if you reach the following percentages: 89% for an A, 79% for a B, 60% for a C, and 50% for a D. Rarely does the line for a C or D move as a result of a curve; the curve for an A and B vary significantly between classes.

In each unit, there are homework problems that would be to your advantage to work out , but they will not be collected.  It is assumed that before you need to turn in a project or take a quiz, that you have worked through and understand these problems.

 

Quizes: Relavent information for quizes

  • There will be four, closed book quizes each of 25-30 minute each.  We will go over the exam immediately after the quiz. 
  • The entire quiz will be on a single sheet of paper (front and back)
  • Each quiz is basically cumulative: Every unit builds on all the previous units.
  • Quiz dates are firm
  • Expect the unexpected: I reserve the right to make any / all problems not look like problems you have seen before. I expect that you get the intuition of the key concepts from the previous assignments; in the quiz, I want to see if you can apply these concepts to slightly different problems.
  • All grades become final one week after they are returned in class.
Quiz Dates: Jan 25, Feb 18, March 15, April 3

Projects : Design projects (5 this semester) will be assigned during the semester. The results will be turned in electronically, one set of materials per group, as well as will be orally presented on the day the project is due. The projects will be based upon experimental data, that we will take for the IC process we are designing for, that will be provided to the class on the website. The projects will include computer simulation problems using SPICE. Here are some further important details about the projects:

  • These projects will be completed in groups of two, and occasionally three students.
  • These measurements will be for a fundamental structure that is needed for that particular unit. You will be expected to characterize the resulting data measurements (through MATLAB), and expected to have a matching SPICE simulation results. These results should give confidence with the level of modeling needed for the circuits described in that unit. Using these results, we will design a structure to meet particular design specifications.
  • You may discuss the questions in large groups, but each person must independently perform and write-up the required work.
  • MATLAB: We will use the computer program MATLAB for analyzing data and for filtering; therefore your projects will require a simple understanding of MATLAB. We will use only a small fraction of MATLAB's capability in this class.
  • We will evaluate the project based upon an oral presentation by each of the groups. Any or all of the members of each group may present their project. Further, we expect that the presentation slides (powerpoint or .pdf files) will be electronically e-mailed to us by 11am on the day the project is due. Additional electronic materials not used in the presentation, such as MS word files, other .pdf files (no pure screen dumps from simulator outputs will be looked at) are welcome for consideration, if received by 11am on the day of the project presentation. You should integrate any figures and equations directly into the text of your paper. Clarity of your results will be a factor in your grade for each project.
  • All five projects are equally weighted.
  • The projects will involve using experimental data; some of this data will be provided to you in an ASCII, double-column format that can be easily read by MATLAB (using the "load" command).

  • There is no need to show any MATLAB code unless the project explicitly asks for it.
  • Results from your project are due electronically at 11am, and will be presented in the resulting class period starting promptly at 12noon. Extensions on due dates will not be granted unless there is a very compelling reason (e.g., a medical problem). To get an extension, you must talk with me 24 hours before the due date.

Academic Honesty: It is the responsibility of the instructor to encourage an environment where you can learn and your accomplishments will be rewarded fairly. Any behavior which compromises the basic rules of academic honesty as described in the General Catalog will not be tolerated.