Last updated August 23, 2013

ASEN 3112 Structures – Fall 2013

Coursework Information

Coursework consists of reading assignments, in-class reading quizzes, homeworks, recitations, experimen-

tal/computer labs, midterm exams and final exam. Attendance to recitation and labs is expected and may

affect your score. Exams cover all material including lectures, recitations, laboratory work and homework.

GRADING

 Individual Work: 60%

Midterm exams 4: 7.5% each for total of 30%. Final exam: 15%

In-class reading quizzes (at least 8, top 8 scores kept): 10% at 1.25% each.

Individual participation: up to 5%. This is assigned by TAs on the basis of (1) participation in recitations

and office hours, (2) bonus for serving as lab group leader. For the latter see  Lab Bonus Points  below.

Group Work: 40% (Note: only counted if individual work score is C or better )

Experimental lab reports: 5% for Lab 1, 10% for Lab 2, 5% for Lab 3, total: 20%. Reports are graded by

both technical content and presentation. Itemized grading weights specified in Lab handouts.  Note: Lab 4

(previously Lab 3) eliminated in Fall 2010 as formal Lab; due report converted to a problem in last HW.

Homework (10 or 11, lowest score dropped): 20% divided by # of HWs kept. Group HW is encouraged:

see below for details. Homeworks are graded by both technical content and presentation.

 Lab Bonus Points

Individual participation bonus for serving as Group Leader in a lab: 1% for Lab 1, 2% for Lab 2, 1% for

Lab 3. For this to be assigned, the lab report should clearly identify the GL, or TAs informed to that effect.

 Lab Score Deductions

Deductions may be taken from lab report scores on account of unjustified lack of attendance at lab demos

and/or group tests. See  Laboratory Work  below.

RECITATIONS

Recitations will be offered on Fridays at the Active Learning Center of ITLL 1B50, in two sections of 1 hr

50 min each. See Basic Information  for times. Main objective is to review material covered during the

week, especially that helpful for the currently assigned homework. Recitations may also include additional

exercise material, not covered in class, useful for midterm exam preparation. Recitations are replaced by lab

demos (conducted at the same time, but in the ITLL Plaza area nearby) when laboratory and/or computer

work is scheduled for the following week.

HOMEWORK

Homework assignments are given most weeks on Thursdays and are due either at the start of the following

class on Tuesday or on the following Thursday, as specified in the assignment. No homework assignments

are posted the week of midterm exams. Assignments generally cover 3 or 4 problems and are designed to

become proficient in a subject. Before doing any homework you should read the posted lectures and try

to follow worked-out examples. This should give you an idea of the principles involved and the solution

method. Homework problems may be also discussed in the recitation prior to the due date.

All homework should be done on Engineering paper (the green-on-white ruled paper available at the book-

store).  Begin each Exercise on a new page to facilitate grading; this also simplifies group work . Write

your initials (or names) on each page to speed up identification should pages get lose. Staple multiple pages

in the upper left corner but do not fold.  Staple the assignment sheet with your names on it but omit student

ID numbers.  HWs submitted without covers will not be accepted .

Group work is  encouraged. To do group homework you form teams of up to three students.   Groups

submit only one HW, with  everybody’s name on the cover sheet . For exam preparation, it is  strongly

recommemded that each group member do all problems.   Groups may change during the semester.

Because group homework is encouraged,  no late HW submissions will be accepted . If you will miss

attending class at the due date, please make appropriate arrangements with your group.

 

 Last updated August 23, 2013

Written work should be neat and readable with adequate space and margins.  Always show work. Clearly

indicate  final answers with an arrow, underline or box. Multiple answers when one is required will be

counted as incorrect. You are responsible if grading is low because of poor readability. Very messy work 

will be returned ungraded and a zero recorded.

Homeworks will be graded on factors that include technical content and presentation. The actual weight

given to these factors will be announced in a separate webposted documenton HW grading criteria. Solutions

will be posted on the web site after the due date. For pointers on presentation, see  “Exposition for HW and

Lab Reports” on web site.

READING QUIZZES

Reading assignments for next-week Reading Quiz are normally given each week on Thursday along with

homework assignments. They cover material that will be presented the following week. Reading quizzes

gage your comprehension of assigned reading. They are closed-book, closed-notes, multiple-choice quizzes

of 5-10 min given on the Tuesday that follows the assignment. Answers will be discussed in the lecture that

follows the quiz.

LABORATORY WORK

Safety is the first priority  for lab work invoving experiments or use of computers. If you have not done so,

you are required to attend an  orientation and safety course  presented by the ITLL staff in the  first week of 

the semester. Anyone violating rules of safe conduct may be restricted from accessing the ITLL facilities.

The three experimental labs are carried out in groups of five or six students. The groups are created randomly

by a program that takes into account the recitation session signup. Each lab is preceded by a demo session

offered during recitation hours. Groups sign up for one-hour slots to conduct the test during the week that

follows the demo. The computer lab is governed by rules stated in posted lab description documents.

Attendance to experimental demos and group tests is mandatory . If you miss the demo without cause

or notification, 50% of your report score is deducted. If you miss  your group test  without cause, 50% is

deducted. If you miss both, 100% is deducted. The group leader may recommend adjustments based on

individual contributions to report preparation. If you know you will miss the demo or group test because of 

unavoidable circumstances, please contact instructor or TAs in advance to make appropriate arrangements.

COMPUTER USE

Several assignments and labs may require computer access and basic programming skills in languages

such as  Matlab  and  Excel. As part of the introduction to  finite element methods we will teach use of the

commercial FEM package ANSYS for the computer component of Lab 2. You will have access to the ITLL

Plaza computers to do computer work. In addition we will use the AES Visions Lab at ECAE 1B73 for the

ANSYS work.

EXAMS

There are four 75’   individual midterm exams during the semester, given on Thursdays at regular lecture

hours. Exams cover Parts I through V, respectively, of the course. Material in Part VI is covered in the

final exam, along with the others. Before each midterm there will be review sessions. These are usually

scheduled at 6pm or 7pm on the Monday before the midterm.

Midterm exams are closed-book. One 2-sided cribsheet is permitted. Additional handouts may be provided

by instructor. Midterms provide a gauge to determine what you have learned as an individual. Collectively

they count for 30% of your grade, at 7.5% each. Collaboration on midterm exams is not permitted. No make

up exams will be given unless student justi fies reason for absence in advance  of the exam.

The final exam is scheduled for Wed December 19 at 4:30PM. This exam spans the entire course but with

additional emphasis on material covered since the last midterm. It counts for 15% of the grade. There will

be a review session after the last lecture but before the  final exam. This is usually held during last-week-

Friday recitation hours. If you have 3 or more exams scheduled for the same day or you cannot take the

exam that day for a valid reason, such as a religious observance, please see the instructor to make alternate

arrangements at least one month in advance.