Introduction
This is the lab webpage for ASTR 110G taught by Jason Jackiewicz. There are two lab sections held on Thursdays:
| M07 | Thursday | 1:30 - 3:30pm |
| M08 | Thursday | 3:30 - 5:30pm |
Policies
Attendance is mandatory. Arrive on time and expect to use the full 2 hours for lab. Repeated late arrivals will result in a loss of points.
Campus observatory is also mandatory. You are required to go to the Tombaugh Observatory. The semester is split into halves, and you must go once each half. Bring four observatory sheets each time you go. You will be shown four objects by the observatory TAs. You will have to sketch and record information about them. On your own you will look up a science-related fact about them.
The Tombaugh Observatory on Williams Street by the track and the intermural fields. The telescopes are in the domed white buildings. The observatory will not open if it's cloudy. Before you go check the observatory hotline (646-6278) or the observatory website to make sure it is open that night.
Bring a copy of the lab and read it before you come to lab. Check the schedule to make sure you bring the correct lab, for we will not go through the labs in the same order as the Lab Manual.
There will be no make-up labs; the only exception to this is for medical emergencies. If you know in advance you will miss a lab (for a sports game or a conference, for example), or if you missed one due to medical emergencies, come talk to me. However, if you email me or Jason about a delay due to some sort of emergency we can work with you to get the lab made up. We may even have some make up lab sessions and/or let you work with another group, so if you know in advance please let either one of us know.
You should work together in groups of 3 or 4. Each group will submit a sheet with your names and your answers to each question (and please label each question).
Labs are due 1 week from when they are assigned. Each group turns in a copy of the lab, and every student turns in a summary. Late work is not accepted.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Do not copy from the Lab Manual, Wikipedia, your classmates, or any other source without citation. Plagiarism will result in a zero for the lab; repeated instances of plagiarism will result in a zero for the class and a letter to the Dean. Be aware of the Student Code of Conduct.
For a better lab experience, remember these suggestions:
Answer every question and show your work: you can't get partial credit for not having an answer.
Always write units with your answers.
Make sure you use your calculator properly: 2.6/2*PI is not the same thing as 2.6/(2*PI).
If you're confused, ask another group for help or ask me for help.
Structure
Before lab hand in the previous week's group lab and individual summaries.
At the start of lab I will give a quiz with a question related to the lab material. After you take the quiz, I will take no more than 5 minutes to introduce the lab.
During lab each of you should write the answers in your own copy of the lab, so you have a reference for answering the summary questions.
After lab copy your answers to the lab on a separate sheet of paper for handing in and write your summaries individually. Summaries should be typed rather than hand-written.
Twice a semester you should visit the Tombaugh Observatory on campus and bring 4 campus observatory sheets each time you go.
Grading
Your grades will be posted within a week of your turning in the lab. Every lab is worth 100 points divided between the group work and the individual summary.
The group lab is worth 65 points. Each question on the lab has a point value listed. Don't lose points by forgetting to answer questions, especially for multi-part question. Much like the in-class questions, please discuss the answer with the group, reach a consensus, and then write your answer using complete sentences. Please copy these answers to a separate sheet of paper and turn that in as your group lab.
Summaries are worth 35 points. At the end of each lab you turn in a summary, the summary for the previous lab will be turned in at the beginning of the day's lab.Suppose you have had a lab on week 6, you will turn in the lab summary for week 6 lab at the beginning of the lab on week 7. Your summary need not be typed but use correct grammar and spelling. The questions at the back of the assignment of the day are to be used as a guide for the summary.The summary will be graded on the basis of 3 items
- 1. Description of the science: what was the basic science you learnt
- 2. Description of the lab: What did you do in the lab briefly
- 3. How did you tie the science to the lab
Tutoring
The University offers free tutoring for all students.
Zuhl Library Student Success Center
Located on the 2nd floor of Zuhl Library
Phone: (575) 646-6050
This is a drop-in tutoring service offered by the library. No appointment is necessary and at least 30 minutes of face-to-face tutoring is guaranteed
The Crimson Scholar Residential Mentors
Located in the La Vista Learning Lounge in Garcia Hall
Phone: (505) 646-5590
Offers free tutoring services to all NMSU students in a variety of classes and subjects (including Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematics, and many more). Students may walk-in or schedule a tutoring appointment.
Academic Support Center
Located in the ASC Building (just north of the Science Center)
Phone: (575) 439-3853
Offers drop-in or by-appointment tutoring, one-on-one and group tutoring. Tutoring in a variety of classes and subjects (including Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting and many more)
Student Success Center-Hardman
Located in Hardman Hall Room 210
Phone: (575) 646-3136
Provides mid-semester courses, daily workshops, and walk-in sessions for study skills, time management, note-taking, and test-taking.