CLASS EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
MWHGAP HOME CLASS RULES CLASS
PROCEDURES ACADEMIC
HONESTY GRADING
EXTRA HELP
In addition to complying with the Pine Crest Student Handbook, the Honor Code, and the Acceptable Use Policy for the school’s computer equipment, the following rules apply in this class.
1. Every student will treat the other students with respect, will do their best, will do what is right, and will establish sound goals and work habits.
2. Come to class on time, dressed appropriately, with all necessary materials.
3. Listen attentively during lectures, projects, and discussions.
4. Complete assignments on time and be prepared to take tests on scheduled dates.
5. Participate in class discussions.
1. Students will act like ladies and gentlemen at all times.
2. Respect yourself and come to class abiding by the dress code, with shirts tucked in.
3. Respect others by avoiding derogatory statements; use appropriate language at all times.
4. Refrain from insulting other students. This will not be tolerated and may result in the issuance of a progress report, or a more severe deterrent.
5. Prevent interrupting the speaker by confining conversations to appropriate times and forms.
6. Turn off cell phones. They may be confiscated if heard.
7. Contribute your share of effort to group work.
1. Be on time and bring your tools (notebook, pen or pencil, laptop,...). Each student is allowed 5 tardies per trimester without consequence. The sixth tardy will result in a detention.
2. Enter quietly if you arrive late. Place your pass on the desk, go quietly to your seat and, if necessary, quietly ask someone sitting near you to point out what the class is doing.
3. Sit in your regular seat. You may choose your seat on the first day of class. Do so in light of any particular needs you may have (e.g., due to a learning or physical disability). Periodically throughout the year, the teacher may change the seating arrangement as appropriate to improve the learning environment.
4. You may submit a written request for a different seat any time during the year.
1. Unless instructed otherwise, you may use computers for in-class assignments,
but not for note taking.
2.
No student will be allowed to use another
student’s laptop unless specifically instructed to do so.
3. Resist the temptation to play games, read and write email, surf the web, or
engage in any activity other than the assigned task.
1. Ensure that
school furniture and facilities are not abused.
2. Use other students' materials and equipment only as expressly permitted.
3. Clear the area around your desk before you leave.
1. All assignments are due at the beginning of the class on assigned dates unless the teacher is notified prior to the due date. Work completed during class will not be accepted. If you leave school early for an appointment, sports or illness, please email your work, send it to class with a classmate, or have the Upper School Office place it in the teacher's mailbox. It is YOUR responsibility to ask the teacher for missed work.
2. Read the chapters under discussion. Unannounced quizzes are given at random to assure that you keep yourself up to date. Unannounced quizzes will generally address what is due for that particular day. Tests will cover any material addressed in class, the textbook, or additional information presented throughout a particular unit or course of study.
3. Every student must maintain a minimum of a 70 average to remain in good standing. Should a student score below a 70 on a test or major assignment, a progress report will be sent home. Any student failing by the six-weeks and especially by the end of the first trimester, may be asked to strongly consider dropping the course.
4. Students are expected to keep track of their own grades. Do not even ask for your average if you have not written them down on your own. In addition, do not ask for points or extra credit (or in other words “free points at the end of the marking period that you haven’t earned but want anyway because you are sure it will boost your GPA and your parents will finally buy you that pony you’ve been dying to have”). Extra credit, if any, will be given at the teacher’s discretion. There is enough “actual credit” to do well in the course itself.
5. Every student must have a 3-ring binder in addition to their laptop, which they must keep up to date and organized. This requirement is necessary to foster the student's organizational habits as well as their overall understanding of the course material.
6. Make-up tests will be in the designated testing area. Tests missed because of an illness will have a 2 day grace period in which a makeup test MUST be taken. If there are extenuating circumstances, these need to be discussed with the teacher immediately. An unexcused absence (e.g. skipping) will result in a zero.
7. If you have an excused absence (field trip, sports, family trip,…) assigned work is to be handed in the day before you leave or the day you return -- or it will be late. Tests missed for the same reason should be taken the day prior to leaving or, in the case of a sporting event, in any available class period (see the teacher).
8. Students are not permitted to work on assignments for other subjects during class time. The same goes for studying for tests, quizzes, and the like.
9. Any questions, concerns, or arguments for major point opportunities such as tests, projects, or papers can be submitted in writing for the teachers’ review. Class time will not be used to discuss points earned (or not earned).
10. It is strongly recommended that every student develop a new portfolio -- or add to an already existing one. The portfolio may include quality papers, projects, tests, pictures… Be sure to include materials from other classes, past and present.
For homework and in-class assignments, you are generally free to discuss your work with classmates, parents, tutors, etc. However, you need to exercise discretion in how you do so in order to ensure that everything you submit accurately reflects your work (or that of your group for cooperative assignments).
Please refer to the following sites that explain how to avoid plagiarism at Indiana University or Purdue Online Writing Labs.
1.
Make sure the use of information from other sources is appropriate for the
assignment in question.
2. Make sure that such information is used sparingly and only in support of
the main thesis.
3. Clearly designate the information used and accurately document its source.
4. Keep your eyes on your own paper during tests. Completely erase any answer
you wish to change on your scantron sheet. If you wish, you may ask for another
while the test is still being administered. Barring an obvious problem with
your scantron sheet (e.g. the machine marking a correct answer as incorrect with
no visible erasures), you will not receive extra points for errors.
5.
Demonstrate your commitment to behave honorably by including the Pine Crest
Pledge (completely written out) on all tests and quizzes. This action is
only meant to reiterate each student’s commitment to honesty and integrity. As
everyone must sign the pledge in the handbook at the beginning of the year, it
is not necessary to re-sign the pledge on take-home or in-class assignments.
Other teachers’ philosophies may differ in this regard, but it is understood
that no student may receive or give work on any assignment unless
expressly permitted by the teacher.
In addition to the Honor Code violation consequences described in the Student Handbook (e.g., a score of 0 on the compromised work, appearance before the Student Honor Court), it is recommended that any student who compromises his or her integrity - and is found guilty - NOT ask the teacher to write any letters of recommendation.
My Expectations:
While it is impossible to list all means of cheating, lying, plagiarism, etc., I expect all students to act with integrity, and to use common sense. To provide guidance in this regard, if you have done something that you do not want me to know the truth about, you have most likely used poor judgment. If you cannot be forthright with me about the source of your information, you have most likely taken credit for someone else's work. If you have not received specific approval from me for any additional resources for all assessments and lessons, you have most likely violated the honor code by using inappropriate materials.
You begin the year with a clean slate, for I have no reason not to trust you. However, if this trust is violated, it will be dealt with appropriately and immediately. The bottom line is this, do what is right.
Students' averages are determined by a point system. Each trimester will consist of a summation of a variety of individual grades. The Social Science/Humanities testing day for the 1st Trimester are Tuesdays and Thursdays. This does not apply to unannounced quizzes.
Late
assignments will be accepted at a lower point total. The point deduction is 20%
off for each day late (10% off for major assignments and projects). It is up to
the teacher if credit will be given past the fourth day.
Tests ~ 100 pts.
¤ May not reflect exactly what will be on the tests.
¤ Group Projects (graded on work presented, effort, creativity, teamwork, and other)
¤ Oral presentations
¤ Effort, Attitude, Class Participation, etc.
If you experience unusual difficulty in the assignments, either in general or consistently in a specific area, this is a signal to seek extra help. For best results, attend extra help sessions as needed, rather than only the day before a test or major assignment. Bring in homework to help locate troublesome areas.
I am available for extra help after school from 3:45-4:30 on Mondays and from 7:30-8:00 on Wednesdays in room 329 and available at other times only by appointment. Also, I check my email (daniel.snyder@pinecrest.edu) several times a day.