Below is a chart showing the distribution of scores on the midterm exam.  Also shown is a curve for the exam from which I determined a letter grade corresponding to the scores.  Note that the letter grade is for informational purposes only.  For your final grade I do not average letter grades, but use the total number of points scored in the class to determine a curve for the final grade.  Note also that I consider any grade below 50% to be a failing grade.  I am available most of the time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to discuss the exam and I encourage you to send me an email to make an appoinment to come in for a discussion, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DID POORLY ON THE EXAM.

 

 

 

Some General Comments about the Exam

When a professor says something is definitely going to be on the exam - BELIEVE THE PROFESSOR!!!!!  Some of the most missed questions were ones that I said in class would definitely be on the exam. 

Four of you (13.3% of the class, still think that magmas come from the Earth's core.   They do not

 

What is the difference between Hazard Assessment and Risk Assesment?  Hopefully you will know before the final exam.  

4 of you (13.3%) still think that New Orleans' levees breached the day after Katrina made landfall - WRONG, WRONG, WRONG

Too many of you think that the most abundant element in the Earth's crust is Carbon, water (not an element), or CO2 (not an element).  In fact the most abundant element in the crust is Oxygen. 

For any earthquake the amount of damages do not depend on whether or or not the earthquake occurs during the day or the night (the number of casualties, however does depend on the time of day.

I am very pleased that all of you survived the tsunami by climbing up the hill.