James,
I try to use the course objective and daily lesson goals and determine what is most important - that is, what I want (and insist) my students must walk away from my class with. Then I use the routine (tests, quizzes, homework) and other activities (discussion, projects, written assignments, worksheets, class participation) and try to find the appropriate weighted amount each type of assessment is worth. You're right, it's not an easy chore.
Barry Westling
