Course Expectations

Course Expectations

Your grade will consist of four equal parts, the first three being primarily connected to your academic performance. It is the “HPA” portion of your grade, however, that tends to cause the greatest stress and confusion among students. Simply put, homework, participation, and attendance aren’t graded but they DO IMPACT YOUR GRADE!

For instance, I will not pore over your homework assignments and rigorously proofread every sentence, but I will check to see that you’ve done it. Likewise, I will not give you a reading quiz to hold you accountable for every night of assigned reading but I will expect that you keep up and may check on you in creative and unexpected ways.

1. Written homework assignments will typically be given as a preparatory exercise for what’s coming up, so it will often help you understand what will happen the following day.
2. Homework will only be turned in when I ask for it.
3. I will not always tell you in advance whether or not an assignment will be collected.
4. Most of your homework, however, will not be written. You will be given sizable reading and research assignments throughout the year so that we don’t need to spend class time on things we could perhaps do more effectively elsewhere.
5. FOR EACH INCOMPLETE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.

Moreover, I will not assign you a B+ of some other grade for each decent comment during class discussion, but I will keep track of how often and how appropriately you engage in classroom activities day to day and week to week.

6. FOR EACH DAY OF OFF TASK OR NON-PARTICIPATORY BEHAVIOR YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS FOR THE QUARTER.

Additionally, I will not pester you for excuses for each of your absences or for every time you are tardy to class, but I will be keeping track of your attendance habits and applying them to your grade. If you are not in class it is impossible for you to participate in class, regardless of the reason for your absence. While this is a pretty rigid guideline, there are occasionally situations (such as required academic or athletic activities) for which I will make exceptions. However, just because a parent or the office “excused” or “prearranged” an absence does not mean that I will. Vacations that keep you out of school, for example, might be “excused” by a parent but will not alleviate your responsibility to this class and will be treated accordingly. Therefore, plan them accordingly and choose wisely.

7. FOR EACH ABSENCE YOU WILL LOSE ONE OF YOUR 25 HPA POINTS.
8. FOR EACH TARDY YOU WILL LOSE ONE THIRD OF ONE HPA POINT.

Finally, there are some specific items I must mention here so that there will be no confusion later.

9. COME PREPARED TO CLASS. If you don’t, you will be sent out to prepare yourself and marked tardy upon your return.
10. DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD OR DRINK TO CLASS OTHER THAN H2O.
11. DO NOT BRING NUISANCE ITEMS. EACH STRIKE WILL COST ONE HPA POINT.
o 1st strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the next school day.
o 2nd strike: It’s mine until 3:00 PM the following Monday.
o 3rd strike: It’s mine for seven days, then a parent can retrieve it in person, by appointment.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of these expectations, please feel free to discuss them with me during class today, individually by appointment, or via email: heisquitemad@hotmail.com