| Q.: |
What grade is a score of ___ on an exam [or project]? |
| A.: |
For statistical reasons, it is not possible to assign letter grades to individual exam or assignment scores. You would not necessarily get the same results if averaged the weighted letter grades instead of assigning final letter grades based on the total number of points. One problem is that the one hundred percent scale, with straight cutoffs of 90%, 80%, 70%, and 60% is not proportional to the four point GPA scale. Another more complex reason has to do with a phenomenon of "regression toward the mean." This regression comes about because it is much less likely that someone will do extremely well (or extremely poorly) twice in a row than it is that an individual will score this way once. |
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| Q.: |
Should the project proposal, the secondary sources, and the applications paper the be done on the same venture? |
| A.: |
Yes. |
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| Q.: |
I am having problems signing up for experiments. What should I do? |
| A.: |
Please use the messaging function on the web site to nofity the administrators. |
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| Q.: |
I need to miss class on ___ due to a doctor's appointment. Do I need to bring any documents to be excused? |
| A.: |
Classes missed are not excused even if they are missed for a good reason. However, you can petition to complete a makeup assignment if you miss a class for a good reason. You can miss up to three discussion sessions or parts thereof without loss of credit. By university policy, classes missed for the observance of a religious holiday are "blanket" excused--no makeup is required if notice is given in advance. |
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| Q.: |
How do I sign up to participate in the research requirement? |
| A.: |
Please see http://www.buad307.com/PDF/ResearchParticipation.pdf . |
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| A.: |
If you received zero on a paper, there were almost certainly other major problems than the use of the term "etc." However, the use of that term leaves a very poor impression on me. The person who used the term may not have deliberately intended to deceive, but I tend to seriously doubt that most people who use this term have really thought through what the "so forth" actually entails. It is usually far from obvious, and not at all clear that you know. |
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| A.: |
When is the deadline for ____? |
| Q.: |
Please see the syllabus. |
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| Q.: |
The assignment guidelines call for me to emphasize "managerial implications." What does that mean? |
| A.: |
Managerial implications refer to the practical use of the information and/or observations made for making practical decisions--e.g., whether to go ahead with a venture, how much to invest, which distribution system to use, or how to allocate the firm's budget among items such as research and development, advertising and promotion, and market research. |
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| Q.: |
I am taking BUAD 304 this semester, too. Can I participate in the same research studies for both classes? |
| A.: |
No. These are separate requirements and programs. The research participation requirement is imposed by the Marketing Department and is beyond my control anyway. |
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| Q.: |
Are the assignments for this course individual, as opposed to group, projects? |
| A.: |
Yes. |
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| Q.: |
Why do you give individual assignments when much of the work in industry is really done in groups? |
| A.: |
It is true that there is a value to learning to work in groups. However, even if you believe that working on group projects in college will help you become a more effective team player in industry, the vast majority of other business faculty assign group projects. Therefore, I believe that the marginal value of individual assignments is greater. |
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| Q.: |
Aren't individual projects unfair to lazy students who now either have to work--which they passionately hate--or risk a low grade? |
| A.: |
I don't think so. |
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| Q.: |
Why did I get such a low grade on my paper? The grade I got is not proportionate to the effort I put into the paper! |
| A.: |
As discussed in the syllabus, grading is based on performance and not based on "effort" which you may or may not have put into the paper. If you would like to discuss the merits of your paper, please come by my office. |
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| Q.: |
Why did you give me an F in the course just because I never showed up for any of the classes and didn't do any assignments? Don't you know that the U.S. Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment? I hate going to class and doing homework! |
| A.: |
I am well aware of this Constitutional provision, but I do not believe that it is "cruel and unusual punishment" that individuals who fail to meet couse requirements fail to pass the class. The Marshall School of Business is a top business school that maintains high standards. |
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| Q.: |
Why did I get so many points taken off my assignment? |
| A.: |
It is really not meaningful to talk about having "points taken off" or being "penalized." Papers are not presumed to be perfect, deserving a perfect score unless there are major problems. You receive points for things done well in a paper. |
