Your grade in this course is made up of four different averages.Each of these averages is worth 25% of your final grade. Homework (25%) Homework is assigned every night.You will be given a list of assignments at the beginning of each chapter.If you are absent when the list is handed out, you must check the class website or call a classmate.The assignment will almost always be to read and take notes on a section of the textbook before we discuss it in class.For this reason, late homework is not accepted. Your actual homework score is calculated as follows: I will check your notes at the start of class.You will earn 2 points if they clearly indicate that you read all parts of the assignment (not just the bold words).You will earn 1 point if your notes indicate that you just skimmed the assigned pages. You will then take a one-question quiz, using your notes.A correct answer is worth 2 points.An answer that is on the right track (maybe you were a little bit confused about what you read) will earn 1 point. These points are then translated into a grade.Four points is an A, 3 is a B, 2 is a C, and 1 is a D.If you do not have any notes, you will get a zero for the assignment, and will not be eligible to take the quiz.As you can see, this is a wonderful way to boost your overall average.If you take good notes, the worst homework grade you can possibly get is a C. Classwork (25%) Anything that we do during class is part of your classwork grade.This includes things like a workbook page done as a "quiz" at the end of a lesson, a mini-lab, or a group activity.If you need extra time on one of these assignments, make sure you check with me.If you are absent, you need to check the missed work folder for these assignments.Remember to turn them in within 2 days.No credit will be given for work that has already been handed back to the rest of the class. Labs (25%) We will do a lab every week.For most of these, you will complete a lab packet instead of writing a formal lab report.Although you will usually work on the lab in groups, each student must turn in a completed lab packet.Please note: all drawings and diagrams must be done in pencil.Points will be deducted for drawings in pen.Lab packets are usually due at the next class session. Approximately twice each term, we will do a lab that requires a formal lab report.You will be given very specific directions about the format, and they must be typed.You will usually have a week to complete these reports.Deadline extensions cannot normally be given because we will usually discuss our results on the day I collect them.If you have a special circumstance, you must let me know at least one day ahead of time, because I may need to change the lesson plans for the class.Formal lab reports count twice as much as a regular lab packet. Tests (25%) We will typically spend about a week on each chapter.At the end of the chapter, you will take a short exam.These usually take about 20 minutes, and you will be allowed to use a single notesheet that you make specifically for the test.The purpose of this notesheet is to encourage you to review the course material before each test, so you may not use photocopies, worksheets, handouts, or any page that you have previously used for homework credit.If you make good notesheets, they will also be a wonderful resource when you begin studying for the final exam. You will always know the test date when I hand out the homework assignment list at the start of the chapter.If you already have two other tests assigned for that date, please see me immediately.Our policy allows you to reschedule the third test assigned, not the third test of the day, so please do not ask me to make changes on the day of the test.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course is made up of four different averages. Each of these averages is worth 25% of your final grade.
Homework (25%)
Homework is assigned every night. You will be given a list of assignments at the beginning of each chapter. If you are absent when the list is handed out, you must check the class website or call a classmate. The assignment will almost always be to read and take notes on a section of the textbook before we discuss it in class. For this reason, late homework is not accepted.
Your actual homework score is calculated as follows:
I will check your notes at the start of class. You will earn 2 points if they clearly indicate that you read all parts of the assignment (not just the bold words). You will earn 1 point if your notes indicate that you just skimmed the assigned pages. You will then take a one-question quiz, using your notes. A correct answer is worth 2 points. An answer that is on the right track (maybe you were a little bit confused about what you read) will earn 1 point. These points are then translated into a grade. Four points is an A, 3 is a B, 2 is a C, and 1 is a D. If you do not have any notes, you will get a zero for the assignment, and will not be eligible to take the quiz. As you can see, this is a wonderful way to boost your overall average. If you take good notes, the worst homework grade you can possibly get is a C.
Classwork (25%)
Anything that we do during class is part of your classwork grade. This includes things like a workbook page done as a "quiz" at the end of a lesson, a mini-lab, or a group activity. If you need extra time on one of these assignments, make sure you check with me. If you are absent, you need to check the missed work folder for these assignments. Remember to turn them in within 2 days. No credit will be given for work that has already been handed back to the rest of the class.
Labs (25%)
We will do a lab every week. For most of these, you will complete a lab packet instead of writing a formal lab report. Although you will usually work on the lab in groups, each student must turn in a completed lab packet. Please note: all drawings and diagrams must be done in pencil. Points will be deducted for drawings in pen. Lab packets are usually due at the next class session.
Approximately twice each term, we will do a lab that requires a formal lab report. You will be given very specific directions about the format, and they must be typed. You will usually have a week to complete these reports. Deadline extensions cannot normally be given because we will usually discuss our results on the day I collect them. If you have a special circumstance, you must let me know at least one day ahead of time, because I may need to change the lesson plans for the class. Formal lab reports count twice as much as a regular lab packet.
Tests (25%)
We will typically spend about a week on each chapter. At the end of the chapter, you will take a short exam. These usually take about 20 minutes, and you will be allowed to use a single notesheet that you make specifically for the test. The purpose of this notesheet is to encourage you to review the course material before each test, so you may not use photocopies, worksheets, handouts, or any page that you have previously used for homework credit. If you make good notesheets, they will also be a wonderful resource when you begin studying for the final exam.
You will always know the test date when I hand out the homework assignment list at the start of the chapter. If you already have two other tests assigned for that date, please see me immediately. Our policy allows you to reschedule the third test assigned, not the third test of the day, so please do not ask me to make changes on the day of the test.