Besides scheduled examinations you will be given several unscheduled* quizzes.  These serve the purpose of providing incentive to (1) be aware of current weather conditions, (2) attend class regularly and (3) on time, and (4) stay current on reading assignments. Quizzes will usually (but not always) be given at the beginning of a class period, will typically consist of one to six questions, and will require about five minutes of time.  The quiz questions will be of two types.  First will be simple questions on the current day's reading assignment.  Second, there will be questions on current weather conditions, e.g., cloud types, wind direction and velocity, precipitation within the last 24 hours, approximate temperature, etc.  These questions will not be difficult, but they will require general awareness of current weather conditions.  Their purpose is to train you to observe the weather.  Look at the sky, notice your environment as you walk to class!

    Your quiz scores will be added to your cumulative homework score before your grade is determined.  (Thus it will be possible to earn more than 100 per cent of the "maximum" possible homework score and more than 100 per cent total score for the term.)

    It is not possible to make up for missed quizzes.  If you are late or absent on the date of a quiz you get a zero for that quiz (except that students adding the class late will be given the opportunity of taking quiz #1)!  However, since quizzes count as extra credit and since they account for relatively few points, missing a single quiz will very likely have no impact on one's grade.  Missing several quizzes will probably have a negative impact on one's grade, although the extra credit nature of the quizzes means that one could conceivably receive a "perfect" 100% of the points for the course and earn an A grade without ever taking a quiz.

*There will be one scheduled quiz during the semester.  On the date of the second class meeting (Friday, September 5) there will be a
  relatively long quiz focused upon the syllabus and the course webpage.