Introduction to Submission Rules

When you create an assignment, you need to tell Web-CAT how it should accept submissions.

For example, can students turn in assignments early? Do they get bonus points if they submit it early? What about turning it in late? Should points be deducted for late assignments?

You can set all of these parameters by creating a submission rules profile. A submission rules profile is a set of these types of rules that has been given a name, such as "Homework Submission Rules" or "Project 3 Submission Rules". By using a profile, you can use the same set of rules for multiple assignments. For example, if you have three homework assignments during the semester, you can create one "Homework Submission Rules" profile for all three assignments.

To create or edit a set of submission rules

• To edit an existing set of submission rules, click on the circle next to the submission rules profile that you wish to edit.

• To create a new set of submission rules, click on the circle next to Create a new submission rule profile.

You will then see the following screen. If you're editing an existing set of submission rules, some of the values will already be filled in.

The Submssion Rules Profiles dialog. On this screen, you set basic rules for how the project is graded and submitted.

1. Enter or edit a Name for this submission rules profile. By giving this submission rules profile a name, you can reuse this same set of rules for another assignment.

2. Enter the highest score a submission may receive in the Points available box. This should be an integer greater than zero.

3. Out of the number of points you entered in Points available, enter the number of points that are awarded by a teaching assistant in the Points from TA box.

   • Example: You have an assignment that will be graded on a scale of 100 points. You want your TAs to manually inspect each student's source code and deduct points for poorly formatted code. If you enter 25 in the Points from TA box, then a TA will be responsible for awarding 25 of the 100 points.

   • Note: A TA may award more than this number if he or she deems it necessary. TAs may also assign negative values. For example, the TA may wish to make an exception for a student or adjust for deficiencies in the accuracy of a grading script.

4. Out of the number of points you entered in Points available, enter the number of points that are awarded by static analysis tools in thePoints from tools box. These tools usually look at the form and layout of the code, how the code is commented, and the like.

• Summary of points distribution

  Points available is the total number of points for this assignment, distributed as follows:

  • Points assigned by the TA in manual grading is indicated by Points from TA

  • Points assigned by the static analysis tools is indicated by Points from tools

  • Points assigned by executing the student code using student- or instructor-supplied tests is the value of (Points available - Points from TA - Points from tools)

5. If you want to limit the number of times that a student may submit an assignment for regrading, enter the maxmimum number of submissions that you'll allow in the Max submissions box. If you don't want to set a limit on submissions, leave the box blank.

6. If you want to set the maximum size file a student may submit, enter (what units?) that value in the Max upload size box. If not, leave the box blank.

   • If a student attempts to submit a file larger than this size, his submission will be rejected.

7. Enter the number of days before the assignment's due date that students can submit projects early in the Start accepting box. To start accepting submissions as soon as the assignment is posted, leave the box blank.

8. Enter the number of days after the assignment's due date that students can submit projects late in the Stop accepting box. This box cannot be left blank.

9. Decide whether or not you want to award bonus points to students who submit assignments early or deduct points from students who submit assignments late.

   • To award bonus points for early submissions, click the check box next to Award bonus points for early submissions. Then enter the maximum number of bonus points that can be awarded.

     • Example: If you enter values so that the statement reads "Award at most 15 pts in increments of 5 for every 1 day(s) early," then Web-CAT will award bonus points as follows:

       • Number of days before the due date	Number of points awarded
         3 or more days early	15 bonus points
         2 days early	10 bonus points
         1 day early	5 bonus points
         On the due date	No bonus points

   • To deduct penalty points for late submissions, click the check box next to Deduct penalty for late submissions. Then enter the maximum number of penalty points that can be deducted.

     • Example: If you enter values so that the statement reads "Deduct at most 60 pts in increments of 20 for every 2 day(s) late" then Web-CAT will deduct penalty points as follows:

       • Number of days after the due date	Number of points deducted
         On the due date	No penalty points
         1 day late	No penalty points
         2 days late	20 penalty points
         3 days late	20 penalty points
         4 days late	40 penalty points
         5 days late	40 penalty points
         6 or more days late	60 penalty points

10. Click the Next > button. Then click Next > again to use the submission rule profile you just edited or created in your new assignment. You're now ready for step 10 of Creating and Editing Assignments.

Go back to Creating and Editing Assignments.

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