Astronomy 105 Lab Syllabus: M02

***LINK TO LAB MANUAL***

Everyone should print this week's answer sheet (linked below) and bring it to lab.

Important Information

The lab portion of the course constitutes 25% of your overall grade, so your attendance and participation is crucial! I'm passionate about helping you succeed in the lab and the course as a whole, so below is my personal contact information should you have any questions (you are welcome to contact me at any time).

Fall 2018 Lab Schedule

Lab #1: What to expect

• This week you will form your own lab groups, and next week I will organize the lab groups in which you will remain for the rest of the semester (if you have any legitimate concerns regarding your assigned group, please bring this to my attention immediately so we can talk about coming to a quick resolution).
• At the beginning of lab I will hand each person a math pre-test, the results of which will allow me to form balanced lab groups of 3 - 4 people with a roughly equal mixture of mathematical backgrounds. Note that you don't have to actually solve the problems; just rate your familiarity with the mathematics from 0 - 2. Hand in your pre-tests immediately once you have finished so I can start assigning your lab groups before we get started.
• After going over syllabus items you will be given your first "Take-Home Exercise", which is due on paper by the end of the first lab. It is meant for me to get to know you and to test your understanding of what constitutes plagiarism. Subsequent take-home exercises will follow a different format, as outlined below.

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Lab Layout & Grading

• Each lab is worth 100 points, which is divided into a lab group section (65 points) and an individual take-home section (35 points).
• There are 3 different components to lab, which can be a bit confusing at first. Each has its own specific purpose for existing, so please try to learn the difference!
  • The lab manual - this contains both (1) instructions for the lab and (2) questions you must address on your answer sheet and in the take-home exercise. Each person should have a copy of each week's lab manual; you must use these to follow along with the trajectory of the lab. You will not turn these in.
  • The answer sheets (linked above) - these contain only the questions you need to answer with the rest of the lab manual omitted. Answer sheets usually will contain a breakdown of possible points for the components of each question, adding up to 65 total points. You will turn these in (one per group).
  • Take-Home Sections (submitted via Canvas) - these should be individually-completed, bullet-point responses to questions at the end of each lab in the lab manual. Possible points for take-home exercises include 30 for answering the questions correctly, as well as 5 for general readability (including complete sentences, sensical spelling/grammar, etc.). I won't nitpick your writing skills; answers just need to be understandable.

  Keep in mind that the lab manual and the answer sheets (linked above) are not the same!

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  Lab Policies & Procedures

  • At the beginning of each time we meet I will give a pre-lab lecture. This is meant to familiarize you with the important concepts and skills you will need to complete the lab quickly and efficiently, and hopefully you will learn something along the way.
  • You should turn in only one answer sheet per lab group by the conclusion of the lab (3:30pm). When your group is finished working just let me know; I will then draw a random number, and whomever is assigned to that number will turn in the answer sheet for everyone with the name of each group member written on the top (this is to make sure every member is contributing). Lab manuals/late labs will not be accepted.
  • Take-home exercises are due by the beginning of the next lab (typically one week). I will accept them after the initial due date, but you will lose 5 points for each day your take-home is late. After a full week late take-home exercises won't be accepted, which will be automatically enforced by Canvas deadlines.
  • You should submit your own individual take-home exercises to Canvas typed and in PDF, DOC, or DOCX formats only (so I can efficiently make comments via Canvas). If you are having technical difficulties submitting your assignment please let me know before the deadline!
  • If you are very unhappy with a grade you received on an assignment, I will allow you the opportunity to read my comments and/or come talk to me about where you went wrong, then resubmit the assignment for half credit back on the portions that have been corrected. If you choose to do this you must do it individually, and it will be due 1 week after you get your original assignment grade.

  Other expectations

  • Bring your own lab manual each week for reference, either in electronic or printed form. Everyone should print an answer sheet each week from the links above as well, and you should complete the lab thoroughly and carefully as if I will always draw your number when your group is finished. The exception is the introductory lab, where each group will hand in one completed lab manual instead (there is no answer sheet for this lab).
  • You are expected to read the lab manual before coming to lab. You will need to do this by the Sunday night beforehand, when you submit your lab quizzes!
  • Everyone should be contributing to their lab group equally. Your in-lab grades will depend critically on equal participation; I am very aware of who is participating and who is not. I reserve the right to adjust grades as I see fit for individuals who are not participating.
  • On a similar note, you must show up to lab on time and not leave before your group is finished. Even if you have a valid reason for missing a portion of lab, you cannot receive credit for work that was completed while you were absent (do not write the names of absent group members on your answer sheet).
  • Take-home exercises must be completed individually. I need to know that each individual student is learning as we progress.
  • Unless there are extenuating circumstances or you provide an official note, there are no make-up labs or exercises. However, if you know in advance that you will miss lab you may attend another section's lab if there is another available. Please let me know in advance so I can inform the other TA if applicable.

  How to do well in lab: tried and tested methods

  • Read the manual BEFORE lab each week. Everyone should bring his/her own copy to the lab for reference every week; whether that copy is electronic or printed is entirely up to you. Everything goes more quickly and smoothly when you know what you will be doing beforehand!
  • ALWAYS show your work, even if you need to attach a separate sheet of paper. I can't give you partial credit for incorrect answers if you don't show your work.
  • ALWAYS write units where applicable! Telling me that the distance is 200 is not very informative. Is it 200 millimeters, 200 megaparsecs, or maybe something in between? Too many points are lost unnecessarily by forgetting to write units.
  • Ask questions in lab and come to office hours when you're confused! I cannot stress this enough. Struggling in silence is not an efficient way to learn! I'm more than willing to go out of my way to help you understand the material if you actively seek my help.
  • Pay attention to the pre-lab lectures. I try my best to address common sources of confusion to help every student succeed. You will have a very difficult time with the labs if I see you falling asleep while I'm explaining the nuances of how to do them...
  • Take the weekly take-home exercises seriously; answer in complete sentences, cite your sources, check your spelling/grammar, etc. As a rule of thumb, they should be roughly a page long, but this will vary based on the number of questions. There are no set-in-stone rules about this, but I can't read 50 novels each week (as much as I love your work). Here are examples of a good take-home exercise and a bad take-home exercise.

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  **Plagiarism**: read carefully!

  I understand that what constitutes plagiarism can be confusing, which is why we make it part of your first take-home exercise. If you have any questions about the following information please ask me right away. I am more than willing to take all the time you need to help you avoid plagiarism in all its forms.

  • Collaboration of ideas is encouraged in lab, but plagiarism is unacceptable. Even if unintentional, NMSU's Student Code of Conduct punishes plagiarism by a zero on the assignment, failure of the course, or even dismissal from the University. It's your responsibility to understand and comply with this rule.
  • A good rule of thumb is that if you think something may be plagiarism, it is. A non-exhaustive list of examples can be found here.
  • You should also be aware of examples I see quite often so that you can avoid making these mistakes yourself. All of the following are considered plagiarism:
  • Copying answers from another lab group, or letting another group copy your answers. I typically grade all of the labs in one sitting, so it's not difficult for me to notice when two groups write the exact same work and same wrong answer.
  • Copying answers from the internet, the textbook, the lab manual, or any other text without citing your source AND putting the answer in your own words (changing a few words so they don't match exactly is still plagiarism). This is very easy to spot as well.
  • Submitting someone else's work as your own, or resubmitting your own past work. For instance, if you failed the class last semester and submit what you wrote previously for the same assignment, that is plagiarism.

  College assignments can often be intimidating, especially if you're an underclassman; learning new information or skills is a difficult task, and as a person who graduated from college myself I completely understand becoming overwhelmed. If you are running out of time on an assignment and cannot figure it out, I would much rather receive an original assignment with informal language written in your own words than a plagiarized assignment using someone else's words. I understand the temptation to make your assignments "sound smart", but this is not an efficient way to learn, and can get you into a lot of trouble! No one wants to deal with the potentially serious consequences students can face, but understand that I am obligated to report cases of plagiarism that I discover.

  Lastly, I take my obligation to report plagiarism very seriously, and I have zero tolerance when I receive egregious examples of it. A first offense will result in a zero for that assignment and notification of your professor, and a second offense will be reported directly to the Dean.

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  FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

  Q: I'm taking this class with my friend(s). Can you put us in the same lab group?
  A: It depends. I will evaluate your math pre-tests and determine if doing so would be appropriate and fair to others.

  Q: Does each person need to turn in a lab, or do we turn in one per group?
  A: You will turn in one answer sheet per group with all attending group members' names written at the top.

  Q: Where is the answer sheet for Lab #1? All I see is the lab manual.
  A: There is no answer sheet for Lab #1. This is the only lab where you will turn in the lab manual instead of an answer sheet.

  Q: (**whispers**) What did Trevor say about this topic again? I can't remember...
  A: Refer to the lecture slides that are linked at the top of the page! Everything you need to know can be found there. However, please don't be afraid to yell "hey Trevor!" if you still can't find what you're looking for.

  Q: What information is this question referring to? I don't understand the context of this problem.
  A: You might not be following along in the lab manual. All of the context you need can be found there. The answer sheet is not a standalone assignment; it's only meant to make sure you don't miss any questions.

  Q: What am I supposed to write for the weekly take-home exercises (starting with Lab #2)?
  A: You should answer the questions found at the end of that week's lab manual under the "Take Home Exercise" heading (you don't need to answer the extra credit questions).

  Q: Am I allowed to work with a friend on the lab take-home exercises?
  A: No, this is considered plagiarism. Take-home exercises are to be worked on individually only.

  Q: Why did I get this grade on my take-home exercise?
  A: Refer to my comments on your Canvas submission to see where you lost points. You can see my comments by clicking the "View Feedback" button on your assignment, or you can come talk to me during office hours.

  Q: Do I need to attend the Campus Observatory?
  A: No. Only ASTR 110 students are required to visit Campus Obs (you may still attend if you feel so inclined).

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  Campus Observatory: Extra Credit!

  At the beginning of the semester I mistakenly announced that you were required to go to the Campus Observatory, which is false. However, if you'd like to earn some extra credit, you may visit the Observatory and turn in **4** observatory sheets completely filled out and stamped. If you choose to take this opportunity you may only do so once, and your observing sheets are due by Friday, November 30th at 5:00pm.

  Observing is run by TAs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 - 9:50pm, weather permitting. You can check whether the observatory is open or closed for a particular night either on the ASTR 110 website, or by calling (575) 646 - 6278. The status should be updated by 8:00pm on the night observing is scheduled, so make sure you check beforehand, especially if you live in El Paso.

  Before each visit you should print **4** observing sheets and bring them along to be filled out on site. There will be 4 stations that you must visit, each viewing a different object or constellation and requiring its own sheet. These include 2 telescopes inside domes, a portable Dobsonian telescope, and naked eye viewing of a constellation. Here is an example for you to get an idea of what we expect. After you fill out each sheet, the TA you're working with will stamp it (you MUST have each sheet stamped in order to receive extra credit).