Question: How is ESRM100 graded? Is a curve applied?
 
Answer: Grading is as follows:

75% for Exams
    There are 3 exams.
    The lowest grade will be dropped.
    The two highest will count for 37.5% each (for a total of 75%).

25% for the two Epost discussion list entries.

extra credit can be earned by completion of the optional project

Instructions for most of this is given below, as well as on the syllabus.  A "curve" may or may not be applied depending on class performance.  In previous years, a curve has always been applied to bring the class average up to the UW average for a 100-level course.  For such a large class as this, I use the University of Washington average for 100-level classes, which is presently 3.2.  If the class average is higher than 3.2, I give those grades without a curve.  If the class average is less than 3.2, I scale the average up to 3.2.  The normal scale is as follors 90+ = 4.0, 89-89.9 = 3.9, 88-88.9 = 3.8, etc.  The curve will be applied at the end of the quarter on the entire class grade, not on individual requirements (exams, projects, etc.). 

Rob

Below is the normal scale I use for calculating final grades.  THIS SCALE WILL BE APPLIED TO YOUR RAW (UNCURVED) GRADE AT THE END OF THE QUARTER.

90+ = 4.0
89 - 89.99 = 3.9
88 - 88.99 = 3.8
87 - 87.99 = 3.7
86 - 86.99 = 3.6
85 - 85.99 = 3.5
84 - 84.99 = 3.4
83 - 83.99 = 3.3
82 - 82.99 = 3.2
81 - 81.99 = 3.1
80 - 80.99 = 3.0
79 - 79.99 = 2.9
78 - 78.99 = 2.8
77 - 77.99 = 2.7
76 - 76.99 = 2.6
75 - 75.99 = 2.5
74 - 74.99 = 2.4
73 - 73.99 = 2.3
72 - 72.99 = 2.2
71 - 71.99 = 2.1
70 - 70.99 = 2.0
69 - 69.99 = 1.9
68 - 68.99 = 1.8
67 - 67.99 = 1.7
66 - 66.99 = 1.6
65 - 65.99 = 1.5
64 - 64.99 = 1.4
63 - 63.99 = 1.3
62 - 62.99 = 1.2
61 - 61.99 = 1.1
60 - 60.99 = 1.0
59 - 59.99 = 0.9
58 - 58.99 = 0.8
57 - 57.99 = 0.7
<57 = 0.0