Merge pull request #4903 from edx/ahodges/doc/DOC263

Clarify the effect of changing problems

docs/en_us/course_authors/source/building_course/establish_grading_policy.rst

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Establishing a grading policy takes several steps. You must:
 #. :ref:`Graded Subsections`
 #. :ref:`The Student View of Grades`
 
+.. important:: Any changes to the course grading policy, to graded 
+ subsections, or to graded components after a course begins will affect the
+ student experience in the course and analysis of its data. 
 
 .. _Set the Grade Range:
 
@@ -40,27 +43,27 @@ You use the grade range control to change these settings:
 
 * To add a grade in the range, click the **+** icon.
 
-  A new grade is added to the range between the existing grades. For example, if
-  you add a grade in the default setting, the grade range changes to **F** (0 to
-  50), **B** (50 to 75), and **A** (75 to 100):
+  A new grade is added to the range between the existing grades. For example,
+  if you add a grade in the default setting, the grade range changes to **F**
+  (0 to 50), **B** (50 to 75), and **A** (75 to 100):
 
   .. image:: ../Images/grade_range_b.png
     :alt: Image of an altered Grade Range control
 
-* To change the score range, hover the mouse over the line dividing two grades,
-  click and drag the line left or right.
+* To change the score range, move the cursor over the line dividing two grades
+  and then click and drag the line left or right.
 
   You can see the range numbers of the two grades adjacent to the line change.
   Release the mouse button when the line is where you want it.
   
-* To change the name of the grade, double-click the current name of the grade to
-  select it, and then start typing the name of the new grade. For example, if
-  the original name of the grade is "Pass", you can double-click "Pass" and then
-  type "Excellent" to replace the name.
+* To change the name of the grade, double-click the current name of the grade
+  to select it, and then start typing the name of the new grade. For example,
+  if the original name of the grade is "Pass", you can double-click "Pass" and
+  then type "Excellent" to replace the name.
 
   You cannot change **F** or **Fail**. 
 
-* To remove a grade, hover the mouse over the grade. 
+* To remove a grade, move the cursor so that it is over the grade. 
 
   A **remove** link appears above the grade. Click the link.
   
@@ -99,8 +102,8 @@ In the Grading page, under **Grading Rules & Policies**, enter a value in the
 Configure the Assignment Types
 ******************************
 
-You must create assignment types for your course and determine the weight of the
-student's total grade for each assignment type.
+You must create assignment types for your course and determine the weight of
+the student's total grade for each assignment type.
 
 For example, you may have:
 
@@ -128,19 +131,18 @@ You configure the following fields for each assignment type:
     
 * **Assignment Type Name:** 
   
-  The general category of the assignment. This name will be visible to students.
+  The general category of the assignment. This name will be visible to
+  students.
  
   .. note:: All assignments of a particular type count the same toward the
    weight of that category. As a result, a homework assignment that contains
    10 problems is worth the same percentage of a student's grade as a homework
    assignment that contains 20 problems.
   
-  
 * **Abbreviation:** 
   
   This is the short name that appears next to an assignment on a student's
-  **Progress** tab.
-      
+  **Progress** tab.  
 
 * **Weight of Total Grade:** 
   
@@ -151,21 +153,16 @@ You configure the following fields for each assignment type:
   
   .. note:: Do not include the percent sign (%) in this field.
   
-  
-  
 * **Total Number:** 
   
   The number of assignments of this type that you plan to include in your
   course.
   
-  
-  
 * **Number of Droppable**
   
   The number of assignments of this type that the grader will drop. The grader
   will drop the lowest-scored assignments first.
 
-
 .. _Graded Subsections:
 
 **********************************************
@@ -207,28 +204,27 @@ contain other content as well as the actual homework or lab problems.
 See :ref:`Working with Problem Components` for instructions on creating
 problems.
 
-
-
 .. _The Student View of Grades:
 
 **************************
 The Student View of Grades
 **************************
-Once a grading policy is in place, students can view both their problem scores
+
+After a grading policy is in place, students can view both their problem scores
 and the percent completed and current grade in the **Progress** tab for the
 course.
   
   .. image:: ../Images/Progress_tab.png
     :alt: Image of the student Progress tab
 
-Each item in the X axis of the chart is for a graded subsection. Graded problems
-in units are not broken out in the chart; the score from each problem in the
-subsection is added to that vertical bar.
+Each item in the X axis of the chart is for a graded subsection. Graded
+problems in units are not broken out in the chart; the score from each problem
+in the subsection is added to that vertical bar.
 
 Graded subsections are grouped in the chart by assignment type rather than
 listed in chronological order. For example, all homework exercises are grouped
 together, followed by labs, then exams.
 
-.. note:: The **x** for an assignment in the Progress tab indicates that the
- assignment grade is currently dropped. You configure how many assignments are
- dropped when you :ref:`Configure the Assignment Types`.
\ No newline at end of file
+.. note:: The **x** for an assignment in the Progress tab indicates that the 
+ grade for that assignment is currently dropped. You configure how many
+ assignments are dropped when you :ref:`Configure the Assignment Types`.
\ No newline at end of file

docs/en_us/course_authors/source/change_log.rst

@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ August, 2014
 
    * - Date
      - Change
+   * - 08/22/14
+     - Added warnings about the effects of changing the course grading policy,
+       graded subsections, or graded components after the course begins.
    * - 08/20/14
-     - Added :ref:`Browsers` to the :ref:`Getting Started Index` section
+     - Added :ref:`Browsers` to the :ref:`Getting Started Index` section.
    * - 08/18/14
      - Expanded the :ref:`Example Messages to Students` in the :ref:`Launch`
        chapter.