How to Get an A in CSCI 640 Operating Systems
Tyson Henry


At the end of the semester I assign a letter grade for the assignments and one for the exams.  The course grade is the average of these two grades.

This can be good news if you are good at assignments and hate exams.  If you get an A on the assignments and a C- on the exams, your grade is 4.0*.6 + 1.7*.4 == 3.1 which is a B.  However, if you get below a C- on either the exams or the assignments, a C is the highest grade you can get in the class.

However, if you want to get an A, you must get an A on both the assignments and the exams.  Since the assignment grade is the average of all assignments and the exam grade is the average of all the exams, you don't have to get an A on all assignments and exams, but you must average an A in both.  


Students who get an A in this class usually do all of the following:

1. Start the assignments early.  The assignments can be deceptively time consuming. 
2. Prepare for the midterm.  Many students are shocked at how hard the tests are.  
3. Write code to practice for the exams.  Sit down at a computer and write answers for previous semester's exams.  If you get them to work you will know your solution is correct.
4. Attend all the classes.

Students who don't turn in all the assignments and/or cheat will get a disappointing grade.