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. *continued on other side* 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.