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Class Expectations 2007-08 (printable version)
Course Rules
The class rules will reflect what is stated in the Edison
High School Handbook and Academic Code of Honor. It is of the utmost
importance that we treat one another with dignity and respect. Anyone
who cannot do this after being warned will be sent outside and a call
will be made to the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s). Further action
consistent with the Honor Code will be taken if problems persist. The
teacher will attempt to treat students with dignity and respect at all
times as well.
Please see the student Handbook for information
regarding the following:
Attendance Procedures
Dress Code
Rules of Student Conduct
Academic Code of Honor
Attendance
Students who are consistently absent, truant, or tardy are typically the ones most likely to actually fail a class. Most students can manage at least a “C” if they attend and put in effort. Frequent absences, whether excused or not, cause students to fall behind and often cost the teacher and other students additional time. For this reason, students who are absent are responsible for finding out what handouts were dispersed, what assignments were given, and what is due. Long vacations during the school year are detrimental, especially if a student is struggling in a class. Scheduling doctor and dentist appointments during class time should be avoided if at all possible. Participation and citizenship grades are both negatively affected by poor attendance, so students should do their best to show up regularly. Finally, remember that it is the student’s responsibility to make up missing assignments after an absence or tardy.
Late Work
Excused Late Work
With the exception of essays and large projects, work that is late because of an excused absence will
not be considered
late; however, the student will have only an amount of time equal to the
number of days the student has been absent to turn in the work. The
student is responsible for finding out what work was missed either by
asking other students, checking the teacher’s web site or meeting with
the teacher during the tutorial period.
Work that is late because a student has received an extension ahead of time will not be considered late. The student must meet with the teacher during tutorial to provide reasons as to why the extension is needed. Both the validity of the reason for the extension and length of the extension will be determined by the teacher.
Unexcused Late Work
Work that is late, regardless of computer-related problems and most last
minute complications, may only be turned in with a late pass. Two late
passes will be allowed each semester. Late passes will allow the student
to turn in work seven days from the original due date, unless the
teacher specifies that late passes will not be accepted for a given
assignment. No work will be accepted for the quarter/semester after the
last official day of the quarter/semester, even with a late pass. Late
work should be handed in during tutorial period or before school so that
class time is not interrupted.
Classroom Procedures
Info for Absent Students
On the teacher’s web page at www.cibacs.org/teacherpages/jbronkar
students will find a list of assignments and handouts for every day of class. If a student is absent, he/she should ask two people and/or consult the web page before asking the teacher what work needs to be made up. Students may also email the teacher or come in during tutorial for further assistance.
Tutorial
During every block schedule day the teacher will be available to discuss assignments and to give make-up tests. Because several students attend tutorial, little time usually remains for one-on-one discussions of essays or personal issues. Students may schedule an appointment after school if they would like to have time to talk about class or other issues with fewer interruptions.
Homework
Students should expect an average of 1/2 hour to an hour of homework each night on non-deadline nights. Before major deadlines, students can make the time spent on major projects more manageable by getting started early. Essays and projects will be assigned several days ahead of time.
Hall Passes
A hall pass with the teacher’s name on it will be located near the door. Students must use the hall pass whenever leaving the room during class time. As long as the students are not disruptive and the teacher is aware that a student is leaving the room, students may use the hall pass at their convenience..
Other Procedures
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Students should be in their seats and ready to begin work when the tardy bell rings
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Students will be excused by the teacher, not the bell.
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Students are not to gather at the door when they finish early.
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When the teacher asks for the attention of the students, the students should stop talking, look up at the teacher, and prepare to follow directions.
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Students should be aware of appropriate times to sharpen pencils, use the restroom, etc.
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When students are speaking to the class or presenting projects, other students will be attentive and respectful to the speaker(s).
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Cell phones should be turned off upon entering class. Cell phones will be taken away from anyone who is talking or text messaging on a cell phone without teacher permission.
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MP3 players, digital cameras, and other electronic devices are not to be used in class without teacher permission.
Grades
All assignments will be given points that correspond to a letter grade. A percentage of points will determine the overall grade for each section. Grades are rounded to the nearest tenth (.1) and the cutoff percentages will be as follows:
A+ 97 C+ 77 F 0
A 94 C 74
A- 90 C- 70
B+ 87 D+ 67
B 84 D 64
B- 80 D- 60
Grade Reports
Periodically, the students will see computerized grade reports posted in the room which show the assignments they have completed and the scores they received. Parents or students may request a student printout at any time.
Extra Credit
Extra credit may be earned in several ways:
*Do more than is asked on assignments. Superior work
merits extra points.
*Create a song, diorama, drawing, ceramics project, video,
etc. related to a novel we are studying. We can negotiate
the point values of these.
*Find a video, song, or news article related to a novel we
are studying and analyze how it is related.
*Earn participation points by sharing your homework
and being actively involved in discussions and projects.
Supplies
Bring these items every day:
Notebook
Pen and Pencil
Paper
Calendar/Planner
Class Novel
Spanish Classes:
Workbook
Spanish Text
Plagiarism
Overview
Plagiarism is a troubling problem to several teachers. Cases are often obvious and intentional. Some students copy papers from the Internet, encyclopedias, and from friends who have taken the classes before. Even short stories are copied from other students and turned in as original work. The basic attitude of the offenders seems to be that everyone does this and that it is acceptable behavior. This is not true. In college, anyone caught committing plagiarism can be expelled and the information may be sent to other universities, which can mean that a person may never achieve his/her career goals. This is a potentially life-changing mistake. The English department has agreed to enforce a strict policy in order to send a message that the practice of plagiarism is wrong and is a serious offense. See page two of this document for the specific policy in relation to plagiarism and cheating.
Obvious Plagiarism
Copying an entire work such as a short story, an essay, or a research paper from another individual and trying to pass the work off as original is the most obvious type of plagiarism. Even if a friend gives permission, it is still illegal and unethical. This type of plagiarism, which requires very little thought or effort, is the most common. It is also quite easy to detect.
Less Obvious Cases
Taking a section of a story, essay, etc. without citing the source with a parenthetical reference is illegal. If one gives credit to the original author, (typically using MLA or APA formats) it is not plagiarism.
Using someone else’s original idea, which is not common knowledge, without giving credit to the original author is plagiarism. Even if the person’s idea is not an exact quote, the original source must be cited. However, if the idea is typically known and widely documented, (e.g. Columbus sailed to the West in 1492) a source need not be cited.
Many people think that changing the words of an encyclopedia means that it is no longer plagiarism. Some may also think that copying from several sources makes the paper original. Neither of these assumptions is true. Looking at an encyclopedia, essay, short story, etc. and changing the words while keeping the same general structure to the ideas is still plagiarism. This is an imitation of the style and thoughts of an author and, therefore, closely resembles his/her original creation; therefore, this is considered plagiarism. Also, if several sources are used by a student in creating an assignment, credit must be given to each source with parenthetical references and a works cited page.
Course Description - English
This course is designed to prepare students to function as informed, productive citizens in our society and to realize personal fulfillment by reading the language of great literature and exploring the images, techniques and ideas of great writers. As the student reads the literature, he/she will attempt to discover its relevance to life and express thoughts about it both verbally and through various types of writing. The student will improve proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking in relation to literature. Attention will be given to improving student grammar and vocabulary. Participation in class discussions and presentations is also an essential activity for each student who wishes to understand the literature and improve his/her communication skills.
Course Description - Spanish 1
This course is designed to prepare students to function more effectively in the world by improving their ability to communicate more effectively with people who speak Spanish. Students study vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation of the Spanish language in order to gain a foundation for learning to read, write, speak, and understand the language. A rudimentary study of the culture, geography, and history of several Spanish speaking countries is studied to establish an appreciation for other cultures and to facilitate interaction with people from those cultures. This improved understanding of the Spanish language and culture can assist students in the future by preparing them for college course requirements, travel to Spanish speaking countries, and/or work with Spanish speakers.
Course Activities - English (90%)
Essays/Written Reports
Students will write several types of essays at home and in class,
usually based on the novels read in class. Each essay will have at least
one prompt, often more. The prompts will include rubrics which show the
students the criteria for the final grade of the essay. Students who do
not complete major essays or who need improvement in their writing
skills will have difficulty in receiving a high grade in the class.
Approximately half of the grade of each essay will be based on grammar
and spelling. Students may rewrite major essays if they first make an
appointment and meet with the teacher to discuss what changes should be
made to the writing.
Other Writing tasks
quick write activities, creative stories and poems, and imitations of
style
Oral presentation activities
discussions, role-playing skits, speeches, and debates
Group activities
posters, brainstorming tasks, and answering questions
Large projects
web pages, videos, and artistic representations of literature
Grammar
Assignments
small assignments designed to improve grammatical accuracy
Class
Participation
answering questions, finding related news stories, handing back papers
Silent
Reading
reading time will be allotted at the start of every block period
All other classroom and homework assignments will be included in this
category
Tests and Quizzes - Spanish (50%)
The majority of the student’s grade will be based on student performance
on tests and quizzes. These will be given every 1-2 weeks, generally
after completing an “etapa” (chapter) of a “unidad” (unit). Vocabulary
is a large part of the test content, but several phrases and grammar
rules will also be included. In addition, a listening section will be
included on every chapter test.
Assignments - Spanish (40%)
This category includes the following types of assignments:
Workbook Activities
Most workbook activities will be completed for homework, but the teacher
may assign some workbook activities during class. Students will turn in
completed chapters of the workbook at designated check points.
Activities completed accurately will be given full credit while
incomplete or inaccurate work will have points deducted.
Spanish Oral Presentation Activities
role-playing skits, speeches, videos, reports, etc.
Group Activities
posters, answering questions, discussions for verbal practice
Large Projects
web pages, group videos, chapter presentations
Class Participation
answering questions, finding related news stories, handing back papers,
out of class Spanish activities
Vocabulary Study and Verbal Practice
participation points awarded for focused practice time in small groups
Preparedness Grade (10 %)
Students who arrive on time with all materials will receive ten points for each day of class. Students who are late or do not have materials will lose that day’s ten points. Those who are truant will lose thirty points. Students can make up points from absences, tardies, missing materials, and/or truancies by attending tutorial. One full working tutorial (1/2 hour) will be worth ten points. At the end of the quarter, this percentage of points will be 10% of each student’s overall grade.