The Truth about GRADES
Last update: October 5th, 2026 at 2:00 PM
This is the one source of truth about assignments, points, and grades! Check this before anything else!
Please also read Course Policies and Resources.
- What is the Points System? — or, why you don’t need to do everything
- Assignment Categories: General Overview
- Details on each assignment type
- Daily Worksheets (17 offered / 10 points each / 170 points total / in person / no makeups)
- Weekly Projects (9 offered / 25 points each / 225 points total)
- Learning Groups (ongoing / up to 60 points total)
- Field Trips (optional / extra credit / 20-25 points each)
- Surveys (60 points)
- In-Class Essays (3 offered / 40 points each / 120 points total / in person)
- Doing the Readings (necessary for all of the above)
- Details on each assignment type
- ***Help! What if I’m nervous about my grades?***
- What can I do remotely? What needs to be completed in-person?
- What can I make up?
- Can I get an extension?
- List of Deadlines
- Points -> 4.0 GPA conversion scale
- Special commendations for adventure and valor
What is the Points System?
Every assignment can earn a certain number of points; some earn full points on completion, while others are graded according to quality or other criteria. Details on points for each assignment follow below.
Obtaining 500 points total will earn you a 4.0. It is possible to get up to 625 points, and even more if you complete extra credit assignments. That is, the grading system is designed with the expectation that you will sometimes miss class. That is, you can miss several daily worksheets without it affecting your grade, so long as you are turning in your weekly assignments and showing up for in-class essays.
You can even miss a weekly assignment, or do poorly on one, and still have a chance to earn an excellent grade. You can miss quite a bit and even manage to get a 4.0 if you choose to take an optional field trip or two for extra credit.
Assignment Categories General Overview
📝 Daily Worksheets (17 offered / up to 10 points each). In-person and handed in at the end of each class. No make-ups.
💡 Weekly Projects (9 offered / up to 25 points each). Upload to Canvas or hand in in-person every Tuesday.
👯 Learning Groups (up to 60 points total). Provide evidence via a Google Doc link posted to Canvas.
🔭 Field Trips for Extra Credit! (15-30 points each). Mostly self-guided, optional excursions.
❔ Participation Surveys (60 points). Pre- and post-class surveys, graded on completion
📒 In-Class Essays (3 offered / up to 40 points each). Sort-of exams, completed in class a few times over the course of the quarter
📝 Daily Worksheets
Every day on entering the classroom you will pick up an 8.5×11-inch piece of paper called your DAILY WORKSHEET. You write your name and answer a few prompts at designated times in class as a tool for discussion. You hand it to your TA in person at the end of class.
17 offered / Each worth up to 10 points
√+ = 10 points = you did it!
√- = 7.5 points = you did it, in the sense that you turned something in… but you didn’t really answer the questions
0 = 0 points = you didn’t do it 🤷🏻♀️ (but it’s fine! make it up with other points!)
When is it due? Before you leave class, at the end of class, after every in-person meeting.
How do I turn it in? Hand it to your TA or put it in the box labeled with your TA’s name before leaving the classroom.
Make-ups offered? No make-ups or alternatives. If you end up missing a lot of class, look to extra credit field trips to make it up!
Every Thursday we will give you a project for you to complete over the weekend. You will turn the following Tuesday (at 12:30 PM). You have the choice to either upload your work to Canvas or to hand a paper copy to your TA at the beginning of class.
The assignment will vary week by week but usually requires a) some reflective writing and b) some activity that is not writing. Here is a list of weekly assignments. This list is subject to change, but we promise to never substantially change the assignment fewer than 6 days before its due date.
Every activity will come with detailed instructions. Some may be more difficult than others. We will grade generously, on thoughtfulness and effort. Plan to spend at least two hours on each assignment (with the exception of one that is designed to be very easy indeed). You may need more time for tasks that are outside your normal ways of thinking and doing.
This is a real case of, “you get out what you put in.” These assignments will be more enjoyable, and you will learn more, if you give each the full time it needs.
9 offered / Each worth up to 25 points / Up to 225 points total
√+ = 25 points = you did exemplary, top-level work!
√ = 23 points = you completed the assignment in good faith according to the guidelines
√- = 15 points = you seem to have misunderstood the assignment or you only did part of it
0 = 0 points = you didn’t do it (but once again — this is not the end of the world)
🚨FAILURE🚨 = YOU USED AI TO COMPLETE IT (see what happens then)
When is it due? 10:30 AM Tuesday mornings.
How do I turn it in? You may upload it to your Google Drive or bring a printed copy to class and give it to your TA.
Make-Ups Offered? You get one free re-do on one project if you are unhappy with your grade, but you must re-do it within two weeks of receiving a grade from your TA.
👯 Learning Groups
At the end of week 2, you will randomly assigned to a “Learning Group” of six people. This group’s meaning and function is yours to define. You and your group may:
* brainstorm projects
* discuss or explain difficult concepts in readings
* ask each other quick syllabus questions
* attend optional field trips and events together
* share notes on days you may have missed class
* just meet for coffee!
60+ points offered for:
📠 SHARED GOOGLE DOC = 30 total = You, as an individual, must contribute something to the group Google Doc shared amongst the four of you. This can be a place to share notes, share links, ask each other questions, report on meetups, etc. You are not obligated to use this Google Doc more than once; if you prefer to be in touch over Discord, WhatsApp, Text, etc., you can organize that amongst yourselves! If you do that, you can post a screenshot of the group chat–or, even better, post a screenshot of a Zoom meeting, or a photo of your group meeting in person. Think of this as a place to post some kind of evidence that you have communicated. Graded on the following:
√ = 20 points = You posted something–anything–in your group’s Google Doc!
√+ = 30 points = You have posted some evidence of having real group interaction: you have posted a screenshot of a group chat, a photo of a meeting, etc.
🗣️ INDIVIDUAL REPORT = 20 total = Twice during the quarter we will ask you, as an individual, to briefly report on your experience of the Learning Groups: what you did. Graded on completion.
🫱🏼🫲🏽 MEET-UPS = 10-15 points per meeting, per person = Meet on Zoom (10 points) or in person (20 points) with your whole group. To earn these points add to the Google Doc: a group selfie (one per group), and have a designated reported type a few sentences about what you did. Graded on completion. Partial credit for getting part of the group together.
🚞 FIELD TRIP MEET-UPS! = an extra 5 points if your meet-up is also a field trip!
When is it due? You can obtain these points any time before the end of Week 10.
How do I turn it in? Attestations on Canvas; participation in Google Doc.
Make-ups offered? Not really possible, but you can recompose your group (see below).
The Rules: Try to take at least one moment to get six people together. But if some people are not interested in participating, you can forge ahead with the number of folks that you have. Three is a quorum; four is better.
Invite everyone in your group to everything. If someone isn’t responding to group communications, that’s fine, but don’t stop inviting them. If someone wants to come to a meeting but can’t make it, take a minute to send them a message (or even Zoom or FaceTime hello) to help them feel included. If you face collective challenges to the task of building togetherness and inclusion, let us know in your reports. (If your challenge feels more individual, see below.)
What if I want a different group? What if my group is ghosting me? Send me an email with the subject line, “CMS297 LEARNING GROUP CHANGE REQUEST” at [email protected]. We will try to get you into another group.
What if I hate this? What if I don’t have time? Try it anyway! Or: just put something in your Google Doc; you’ll still get 20 points.
🔭 Field Trips for extra credit
Several optional, self-guided field trips are available for extra credit. The list will be updated through the quarter. Field trips emphasize experiential learning and exposure to objects. All are related in some way to our course discussions, though the relationships may not be obvious at first. You can paint a picture, observe the stars, or read in silence, amongst other things. See the current list here.
You can earn 15-25 points per field trip by:
* Visiting the place or attending the event
* Following directions in the prompt
* Sharing an image that offers proof of your attendance (typically this takes the form of a selfie at the field trip location)
* Writing a report that reflects on your attendance in light of something you’ve learned in the course.
* 🚨 Not using AI/LLMs (see policy) to complete any part of the report. 🚨
…and posting to Canvas.
When is it due? Field trip reports completed by December 10th can earn full credit.
How do I turn it in? Upload your selfie and report to Canvas.
Location and effort range from close and easy to difficult and far afield. Most events are free, but some charge admission up to $25.
What if I want to go on a field trip, but public transit is onerous and I don’t have a ride? Try your Learning Group! You may also post a discussion thread to Canvas.
What if I really want to go on a field trip, but it’s a ticketed event and costs too much for me to go? We have a small scholarship fund to buy tickets for students who ask for help. You don’t need to offer any explanation or justification for your need. Just ask! Email both me and your TA as soon as you can with the event and the date you want to attend. It is best to try one or two weeks in advance of the event if you want to ask for a scholarship ticket. Make sure to verify that there are still tickets available before contacting us. And be certain that you are going to attend: some of these events have limited availability and we don’t want seats unfilled.
At the beginning and end of this class we will ask you to take two surveys of roughly 20 questions each. These are unrelated to regular teaching evaluations. They are meant to get a sense not only of how the class is going, but of your broader concerns as students.
2 offered / 30 points each / 60 points total
Graded on completion. Free points!
📒 In-Class Essays
There will be three in-class, hand-written essay “exams” that assess the development of your thinking on technology and human life over the course of this quarter.
The exams will be “open-book” in the sense that you will be allowed to bring your course reader with you. You will not be allowed to bring any additional materials with you. The essays will be hand-written and take place in person. Questions will be very general (“what is a human? what is technology?”) and your grades will reflect the development of your thought on these topics over the course of the quarter. Your first essay will be graded on completion and the others qualitatively.
3 offered / up to 40 points each / up to 120 points total
√++ = 40 points = You show original thinking, in addition to “√+” work.
√+ = 38 points = You grasp all the materials you cite and engage them in a nuanced way.
√ = 35 points = You understand the questions and use appropriate sources to discuss them. This is the baseline score that most of you will earn on In-Class Essay #1.
√- = 30 points = You made an effort and understood the assignment and sources.
√– = 25 points = You did it! But you may have misunderstood the questions or sources.
0 = 0 points = you didn’t do it
For more detail go to the full Guide to Grading Levels on In-Class Essays.
When is it due? In class on October 27 and November 17; in our course’s official Final Exam time of 10:30-12:20 on Thursday December 17
How do I turn it in? You complete it by hand, in person.
Are there make-ups? You may make up just one of the three exams by attending an in-person make-up session with one of the TAs. Email your TA ASAP if you believe you will miss an exam.
What if I don’t like my grade? What if I am upset about how well I’ve done on an In-Class Essay, or a Weekly Assignment?
If you find you’ve submitted work that falls short of what you’d hoped, first remember that the grade on the assignment is not a reflection of who you are as a person. It is not a measure of your intelligence, creativity, or value. We are not even evaluating what you think or what you know, exactly; we evaluate what your submitted work demonstrates about your knowledge and your thought process. Sometimes our own words fail to capture our thoughts and ideas fully; sometimes we know a great deal about a topic, but fail to communicate that in terms our readers can understand.
In-Class Essays can show you where you need learn more and deepen your thinking. They can also show you where you need to work harder on communicating what you know and what you think. It is practice in expressing your deeper thoughts to an audience who does not know you or how your mind works. Your performance on these exams can show both us and you where there is a need for more knowledge, understanding, or practice in communicating about a topic. Luckily, each In-Class Essay will build on the previous one, and you will have opportunities to show your improvement over time.
Moreover, your general grade is dependent on many other assignments. There are many ways of assessing a student’s strengths and their areas of potential growth, which is why you will encounter a wide variety of assignment types, both in this class, and across UW as a whole.
If you struggle with one particular type of assessment, remember that college is a time to try new things; instead of sticking to what you’re already good at, try to seek out more opportunities to work outside your comfort zone!
What can I do remotely? What needs to be completed in person?
In-person, classroom presence required: Daily Worksheets (up to 170 points) and In-Class Essays (up to 120 points)
Can turned in online: Weekly Projects (up to 220 points), Learning Groups (up to 60 points), Surveys (60 points)
Can be turned in online, but requires attending a Seattle-area event: Field Trips for Extra Credit
What can I make up?
Make-up test offered, dependent on circumstances: In-Class Essays
No make-ups offered: Daily Worksheets
Can I get an extension?
You can have one no-questions-asked, one-week extension on any Weekly Project.
List of deadlines
Check the Assignments Calendar for details
Points -> 4.0 conversion scale
500 + = 4.0
490-499 = 3.9
480-489 = 3.8
470-479 = 3.7
460-469 = 3.6
450-459 = 3.5
440-449 = 3.4
430-439 = 3.3
420-429 = 3.2
410-419 = 3.1
400-409 = 3.0
390-399 = 2.9
380-389 = 2.8
370-379 = 2.7
360-369 = 2.6
350-359 = 2.5
340-349 = 2.4
330-339 = 2.3
320-329 = 2.2
310-319 = 2.1
300-309 = 2.0
290-299 = 1.9
280-289 = 1.8
270-279 = 1.7
….
170-179 = 0.7
(0-57 = 0.0)
Special Commendations for Adventure and Valor
The student or students who achieve the most points through field trips shall receive CMS 297’s Special Commendation for Adventure, an award that recognizes this student’s outstanding achievement in the field of Getting Out More.
The student or students who achieve the highest point level total shall receive the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’CMS 297. This is highest honor that CMS 297 provides.
There is no material reward or GPA benefit associated with either of these commendations.