Ha... so I just checked the syllabus this is what is says.
Grades in this class arise from a mix of many different ways to judge your work, NOT solely
from your performance on exams. Be sure you understand the components!
The result is a grade that is a more accurate representation of your performance in the class. It
also means that you might be able to blow one midterm exam and still get an A if your work in
other categories is first rate! It also means if you do very poorly on any one category -- say you
don't hand in any homework -- it can be difficult to get a decent grade!
These divisions are not guaranteed. We may adjust due to unforseen circumstances that
cancel classes or HW - snow, tornadoes, etc.
@cdoconn what do you think?