I. 30% Daybook Grading--Generally composition books are taken up without notice two times each nine weeks for a grade based upon the following criteria:
1. Organization, Table of Contents, and Page Numbering, Neatness--10 pts.
2. Completion of activities from readings/films and other in-class activities--25 pts.
3. Notes, mappings, vocabulary--25 pts.
4. Journals--40 pts.
II. 30% Participation and quizzes--Participation grade comes from class interaction during class discussions and literature review question sessions; part of this grade comes from daily exit sheets to be turned in every two weeks.
III. 40% Tests and major essays--These include major unit tests, projects and major essays throughout the semesters.
Additional Notes:
1. Each day an assignment or daybook is late (not counting absences) there is letter grade deduction.
2. Any assignment, other than a quiz or a test, if failed, may be revised to a passing grade of 70%.
3. After any benchmark test is returned, students have one week to come in before school, after school, or at lunch to use notes and their book to make test corrections. 30% of each benchmark test are study questions completed during that unit---students also have one week to turn in all of these questions completed.
4. Progress reports: I conference with each student during progress reports to let them know where they stand in the class. These must be signed with a note from parents within three days after conference. If they are signed, with a note reflecting a conversation about how to improve, the student will receive a 100 for a quiz grade.
5. The lowest quiz or participation grade from a nine weeks will be dropped.
6. Each student is allowed up to 10 pts. of extra credit that will be assigned to the end of a nine weeks grade.
7. Each Friday, your daybook will be due (to grade 2 journals, vocabulary, notes and any other assignments) and seniors will have one section due in their Senior Project.
Newton’s Laws:
***To be successful in this class, there are several rules that you must in this class. If you follow these simple rules—in addition to all school-wide rules—and show me true effort this semester, then everything will be fine.
1. Show respect for yourself and others and behave honorably. This includes no copying, cheating, lying, stealing, plagiarism, et cetera.
2. Be on time. This means being inside the door when the bell rings, unless you have a note from another faculty member. There is no food or drink allowed. Chew gum if you want as long as I don’t find it under desks or wrappers on the floor.
3. Be ready to go. This means have materials with you and any work assigned. Do not ask to go to your locker after the bell rings---you simply will not be allowed to go. This is part of being responsible and growing up.
4. Listen and be responsible for your own work. When either I or another student is speaking, you do not speak or make noise. This is difficult for many students to understand. In my class, if you are talking while I am talking it is a distraction to me and the rest of the class. If you are distracting my class in any way, you will receive a warning; if there is any back-talk or any further distractions, I will simple write you a note to ISS. If there is any other comment or back-talk to the note, then you receive a discipline referral. If you receive more than 5 warnings, then I reserve the right to simply send you to time out without a warning.
5. Read, write, and expand your mind. English may be your favorite or least favorite subject in school, but I want this to be a great experience in either case. But this requires you coming to class with an open mind---ready to work and respectfully speak your mind as well as listen to the ideas of others.