HUMANITIES 10: CLASS EXPECTATIONS
Adina Meyer’s section 2015-16
GENERAL
I expect you to approach this class with academic interest, energy, and respect. We
will put a lot of thought and effort into preparing and presenting a quality educational
experience for you, and we look forward to a similar attitude and contribution from you.
Show up with an open and engaged mind, and you will find this course an enriching
experience. What do you bring to this class?
ATTENDANCE
You must be in class, as there is no substitute for your presence. If for any reason you
are absent, or late, or dismissed from class, it is your responsibility to:
a) get the assignment(s) from a classmate or your teacher’s page online
b) get all appropriate notes and handouts from classmate or teacher,
c) be accountable for missed information and assignment(s) when you return to class.
If you know ahead of time that you will not be in class, you must notify your teacher in
advance. We will expect a respectful explanation for any unanticipated absence or late arrival.
Entering class late, while not ideal, is preferable to missing an entire period or lesson. Each
absence leaves a hole in your participation and grasp of the material and will negatively
impact your grade, as will chronic lateness.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
--Be respectful and supportive of others.
--Be in class and ready to begin work BEFORE the period begins.
--Sharpen pencils before class begins, and keep a spare handy.
--Take care of bathroom and other needs before class begins.
--Food, phones, personal listening devices (iPods) and other distractions
not allowed. If you are using an electronic device to take notes or
record homework, let me know so I don’t confiscate it unduly.
--Water is allowed. Stay hydrated.
--At the end of class, please retrieve all of your belongings and put all trash,
in the appropriate recycling bin or waste basket.
--In general, you are expected to exercise both courtesy and common sense at
all times.
PARTICIPATION
You are expected to be a respectful, focused and active participant in class discussions
and other activities. You will often be asked to read your work aloud. Be prepared! A
significant percentage of your grade in Humanities is based on the quality of your
participation.
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LECTURES and PRESENTATIONS
You are expected to take thorough, legible notes on all material presented in class.
You (and your teacher) must be able to read them clearly. You will be compiling your own set
of course notebooks as you progress through the year (see below). Therefore, it is essential to
bring your notebook to every presentation. Careful attention is essential, so choose your seat
wisely and do not distract others! If necessary, the teachers will assign you to a different seat
as a warning that you need to improve your level of focus.
DISCUSSION SECTIONS
You will be involved in various group and individual activities during this time:
research, in-class writing, map study, projects, quizzes, vocabulary study, peer review of
writing, test review, and especially class discussion of literary texts and historical readings.
You are expected to participate actively in each and every activity.
CONFERENCE PERIODS
You will have the opportunity to meet with me once a week in conference to work on
your writing and/or to address any questions or concerns you might have relating to the
course. These sessions are a required part of your academic schedule, so show up prepared
with your notebooks, texts, and other materials.
HOMEWORK and ASSIGNMENTS
You will have reading, writing, and other homework almost every day. While you will
receive unit/quint assignment calendars from us, it is your responsibility to keep track of what
is due and when. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late work is unacceptable
without prior arrangement. However, your obligation to complete the assignment will still
stand. Expect to revise, edit and resubmit most of your major writing assignments. Plagiarism
is a serious transgression in academic research and writing; we will discuss its various forms
as well as ways to avoid it. It is your responsibility to make sure that all of your written work
is original and that any sources are fully and properly credited.
NOTEBOOKS/PORTFOLIO
You will keep your three-ring binder for Humanities orderly and neat. Include in it
notes from each class session (easily legible, labeled, dated, and in chronological order),
handouts (maps, charts, readings, etc.) related to each topic of study, and all returned
homework. Your notebook will be reviewed and graded periodically - possibly when you
least expect it! At the end of each quint you will turn in a complete portfolio of your work
(essentially your notebook neatly and properly arranged). This will include one to two pages
of writing (in the form of a cover letter) that reflect on what you learned that term, and your
reactions to it. Keep these notebooks! The course units are interconnected and cumulative, so
you will need to have access to your materials from each quint.
LAST WORD: “COMMUNICATION”
Please be assertive about asking for clarification if you need help. Remember to send
me an email at adina.meyer@northwestschool.org or click the link on my teacher page, by
9PM the night before an assignment is due, for an extension. You can call my cell or send
me a text (be sure to tell me who you are) at 206-271-7560 as well. I do not give ex post
facto extensions. Without an extension, late work is 20% the first day and 50% the second
day.