Honors World Geography
Mr. Brian Ade - Room 704
bade@d230.org 708-974-7753
CLASS RULES AND SYLLABUS 2015-2016
CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE All school rules will be strictly enforced: Tardies, dress code, no food and drink.
 ALL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF AND AWAY.
 Listen and pay attention=life is good. MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN US IS A MUST.
ABSENCES Chronic absences will hinder your ability to be successful!
 Upon return from an absence, check the make-up work box.
 Assignments you received before the absence will be expected to be turned in on the day you return.
For any assignments during the absence, you will be given the same amount of time as the other
students to complete.
 Unexcused absences will result in a grade of zero for any classwork/homework/assessments per Dean’s
Handbook.
TIME MANAGEMENT Two weeks of assignments, are posted on HTTP://chargergeography.weebly.com each Monday, and
reviewed in class.
 Stay organized so deadlines don’t sneak up on you!
ASSESSMENT MAKE-UP No student will be allowed to make up assessments during class time.
 Students who miss an assessment will make arrangements to make up upon their return.
 Students are encouraged to use Intervention time for make-ups. The Testing Center may also be
utilized. Make ups before school COULD be arranged, after school is not a possibility due to coaching
duties.
CLASS ASSIGMENTS Homework will be assigned 2-3 times per week, including most weekends.
 Due dates will vary according to the length of the assignment.
 Homework is practice which help you self-assess your progress on Learning Targets.
 All assignments are due on the date specified, by the end of that school day. NO CREDIT will be given
to late work.
 Students will be allowed to re-take ONE quiz/test per semester. They must indicate this within ONE
WEEK of receiving their quiz/test score
CLASS MATERIALS All students will be required to have a 3 ring binder in class each day, so assignments can be saved.
 Our textbook, Geography Alive, is available in class and online at www.learntci.com. All students will
be signed up for the online version in class.
PASSES Per the Stagg Dean’s Office, no student will be allowed to leave the classroom once class has begun,
except for emergency reasons or Dean’s/Guidance pass.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY No other homework is allowed to be done in Geography class.
 Any student caught cheating will receive a grade of “zero” on that assignment, whether they are caught
in Geography class or in another class.
 Any use of cell phones during assessments will be punished harshly.
HG Syllabus 1
GRADING Grades will be posted and updated on the SKYWARD system.
 Weighed categories will be used: Assessments 80%. Homework 10%. Class Participation 10%.
 Grading scale: 99=A+, 92=A, 82=B, 72=C, 62=D, 59=FRound up ex. 91.5=A
EXTRA CREDIT There will be many opportunities for extra credit throughout the year, and you are encouraged to take
advantage of these. These points may give you the “bump” you need to secure a higher grade and
eliminate some amount of academic stress.
MISCILLEANEOUS Backpacks must be secured under desk, not in the aisles

Keep classroom neat at all times (throw trash away, push chairs in, etc)
 Learn how to communicate with adults.
 Work hard and have fun!
Course Syllabus
DESCRIPTION AND PHILOSOPHY- Honors World Geography is a full year ELECTIVE course designed not
only to teach students about the world they live in, but also to introduce those basic skills which will be utilized in
upper level Social Studies courses (including Advanced Placement) here at Stagg HS. Those skills include, but are
not limited to: data interpretation and display, essay/research paper preparation, library/internet research, Social
Studies terminology, utilizing technology, and reading/writing comprehension.
Geography is the ONLY course which combines geography, government, history, economics, and culture. Emphasis
is placed on understanding each region’s geographic uniqueness and the role it has played in the development of
each region.
HONORS EXPECTATIONS: This course is offered to students who have shown an ability to perform at a high
level, and who have shown an exceptional interest in Social Studies. It is designed for a MOTIVATED LEARNER,
and comes with the understanding that honors course demand more involvement, both at school and at home.
Honors students should consistently demonstrate superior reading/writing comprehension skills, note-taking skills,
and time management skills. The issues, theories, and ideas of Geography will be explored in greater detail in
Honors rather than World Geography, and it is expected that students will take an active part in those learning
experiences.
UNITS OF STUDY: It is our goal to progress through all the units of our textbook, however there is no guarantee
that this will happen. Below is a tentative breakdown of our studies. A test will be given at the conclusion of each
unit, with quizzes at various intervals during the unit.
Semester One
Geography Foundations
USA/Canada
Latin America
Europe/Russia
Semester Two
Africa
Western Asia
Eastern Asia
“Without Geography You’re Nowhere”
HG Syllabus 2
Student/Parent-Guardian
Acknowledgement Form
Honors World Geography
We have read the Course Rules and Syllabus and understand the requirements
and expectations of a student enrolled in this course.
________________________
Parent-Guardian signature
____________________
Student signature
This sheet must be returned by________________________ or you will receive a
grade of zero on your first participation points grade.
HG Syllabus 3