1. Know the policies that are in the Compass.
2.
Show respect, take responsibility, try hard, have integrity, be engaged
·
This is a college-level class. If you act like a young adult I will treat you
that way, at least as much as I am able to do within the confines of a high
school. Show respect
for yourself, each other, me, other teachers, administrators, staff
members, the room (including desks, floors, walls, etc.), and the equipment
(books, etc.)
·
Take responsibility for
your own education and behavior. In an AP class this means using all the
resources at your disposal to demonstrate a mastery of skills and information.
Off task behavior is simply unacceptable.
·
Put forth a good faith effort
especially when tasks are particularly difficult.
·
Don't copy other people's
work. Don't plagiarize. In other words don't cheat. And don't make up
fictional excuses. In other words don't lie.
·
I promise to work hard to
make sure lessons are purposeful and relevant to your life. If you can read
well, write well, and think critically you will have more control over your own
life. I can help you with that. I also promise to work hard to make sure we
read, write, and think about big questions that human beings have long been
concerned with, especially this one: How do people respond to trauma,
injustice, and wrongdoing? In return I ask that you engage with the work
we do in class and the work I ask you to do outside of class.
3. Staying organized
·
A large three-ring master binder in
which you will keep unit binders/folders from completed units and graded
processed papers, projects, tests, quizzes, and homework from completed units.
(Keep processed papers and projects for the entire year. Keep graded tests and
quizzes for the semester. Keep returned homework assignments for the term.)
· (Optional but recommended.) Smaller
three-ring binder, pocket folder, or manila folder for each unit. I
recommend using smaller binders for units so you can bring that binder to class
every day but leave the heavy master binder at home.
·
The folder or binder you bring to class
daily should contain a source of paper.
·
You will also be responsible for
bringing whatever book(s)/text(s) we are reading to class each day.
· Use your
school handbook to record homework assignments. Homework assignments are
written on the right side of the whiteboard at the front of the class.
4. Grading
30% UNIT-WORK GRADES
(Formative Assessments)
These assignments
assess your learning along the way.
· This category
consists of reading check quizzes (Did you read and understand?), vocabulary
homework (Are you learning the words?), Collins writing types 1 & 2,
blog/forum comments, steps in the writing process (pre-writing, drafts,
reflections), open response writing, some student-led discussions, some
teacher-led discussions, group activities, practice AP questions, etc.
· Individual
assignments (of the type cited above) will be graded using the following
system:
The
work is considered advanced (90-100,
A-range, check-plus) if the work is complete and shows exceptionally thorough
and thoughtful understanding of concepts and mastery of skills; the work is
considered proficient (80-89, B-range,
check) if the work is complete and
meets expectations by showing sufficient understanding of concepts and mastery
of skills; the work needs improvement (65-79, C/D-range, check minus, 2 on 4-point
unit) if the work is nearly complete
and/or shows partial understanding of concepts/skills; the work triggers a warning (<65, F) if the work is
incomplete and/or shows little to no understanding of concepts/skills.
70% END-OF-UNIT
ASSESSMENT GRADES (Summative Assessments)
These assignments assess
your learning after a process of learning, practice and feedback.
· Grades on unit tests,
unit projects, and papers for which you are expected to write more than one
draft will be worth 200 points.
· Grades on content
quizzes, single-draft take-home essays, in-class timed essays, some graded
discussions, etc. will be worth 100 points.
· Grades on independent
reading products (notes, passage responses, papers) will vary in weight
over the course of the year.
· These assignments
will be graded using rubrics, including nine-point the AP English Language
rubric, six-point SAT essay rubric, four-point MCAS-style response rubric,
discussion rubrics, and others that students will become familiar with
throughout the year.
Note: Keep all graded or checked work
in your binder or folder. Formal papers and major projects should be kept for
the entire year. Graded tests and quizzes should be kept for the semester.
Checked homework assignments should be kept for at least the term.
5. Late work
Unit Work (especially
homework)
·
Unless you are informed otherwise, homework that is completed late but before
the end of the unit will be accepted but for reduced credit. (The grade will be
reduced from advanced to proficient, proficient to needs improvement, or needs
improvement to warning.)
· Unless you are
informed otherwise, homework that is completed after the end of the unit will
not be accepted.
End-of-Unit Work (especially papers and projects)
· If you
are between one and five school days late with an end-of-unit assessment your
grade on that paper or project will be reduced by ten points.
· If you
are more than five school days late with an end-of-unit assessment you may
receive a passing grade (65) on that paper or project if you discuss the
lateness with me , you turn the assignment in a week or more before the
end of the term, and the work meets requirements.
· Not
doing an end-of-unit assessment is not an option.
6. Tardiness and Truancy from Class
· If you
are late to class (meaning you arrive at your desk after the bell and after I
have begun the day's lesson) you may be asked to stay after school.
· If you
are late by more than seven minutes you will be marked absent from class. This
is school policy as set forth in the student handbook.
· If you
are discovered to have skipped class a zero will be added to your unit-work
grade. (This consequence is in addition to the consequences outlined in the
student handbook.)
7. Absences and make-up work
· Work missed due to
absences is your responsibility. The absence policy for GHS is outlined
in the Compass.
· On the day you return
to class, you will be expected to take tests, quizzes, participate, and turn in
any assignments that are due on the day of return or had been due during your
absence, so long as the due date was announced or posted before your absence.
Note:
These policies are subject to change.
All changes will be announced in class.
Students will cross out the changed language and write in the new.
8. Class Blogs & Emails
**********************
After reading the policies,
use the comment box below to write your first name and last initial followed by
the sentence "I understand Mr. James Cook's AP English Language
policies."
Ask me questions if you
have questions.
