Course: English I
Instructor: Mr. Jones
Phone: 862-3104 (school)
862-5923 (home--by 9 p.m.)
Email: jpjones@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Credit: 1 Carnegie Unit (required for graduation)
Texts: Elements of Literature
Heath Grammar and Composition
Selected novels
Class: Room 205
Conference: 4th period daily
Most every assignment will be assessed either formally or informally. Formal assessments include rubrics, quizzes, and tests, whereas informal assessments include teacher observation and checklists. All grades will fall into one of the following categories:
Major Tests
You are likely to have anywhere from 2 to 5 major tests per each nine weeks grading period. These are given every three to four weeks depending on units. Any major projects and essays will count as a major test grade.
Quizzes
Quizzes are given weekly, usually on Fridays, to cover items discussed during the week. These quizzes will usually cover any grammar/mechanics or short stories discussed during a week's time. Some minor projects and small writing assignments will count as a quiz grade. All quiz grades will be averaged and counted as a major test grade.
Vocabulary Quizzes
Vocabulary quizzes on the week's words will be given every Friday. These quizzes require knowledge of the meaning of the word by using it correctly in a sentence as well as the spelling. A list of words will be given no later than Tuesday of each week. All vocabulary quizzes will be averaged and counted as a major test grade.
Daily Grades
Anything done on a daily basis for which you receive a grade will count as a daily grade. Pop quizzes and random assignments will be given periodically and will count as daily grades. Bellringer activities and journal entries will be assessed on a weekly basis and will count as a daily grade. All daily grades will be averaged and counted as a major test grade.
Homework
I do not load students down with lots of homework, so when I assign it, I expect it to be completed. Since there is not enough time during school time to complete everything we need to, we must complete certain things outside of class. At the beginning of the year, students will start with a 100 homework grade. Each time a homework assignment is not fully completed, five points will be deducted from this grade. Homework assignments are only graded for completion on most occasions; it is not graded for correctness (unless otherwise specified by me). The final homework grade for the nine weeks will be counted as a major test grade.
FINAL AVERAGE
All major test grades will be averaged to determine the student’s average for the nine weeks grading period. Each nine weeks counts 40% of the semester grade, leaving 20% to consist of the semester exam. In the event of exam exemption, each grading period average will count 50% of the semester grade.
Once all grades are averaged, the following scale adopted by the Itawamba County School Board will apply.
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
65-69=D
Below 65=F
If a student is absent when any grade is taken, here are the options for make-up work: Excused Absences (as evidenced by a blue slip from the office) Students who miss will have three days maximum from the date they return to school to make up any test or quiz. All tests and quizzes must be completed in after school detention. Failure to complete any assignment in ASD within the grace period will result in a zero for the particular assignment. Students with an A average and no more than five excused absences, a B average and no more than three excused absences, or a C average and no absences may be exempt from taking the semester exam. Unexcused Absences Any unexcused absence will extinguish the possibility of being exempt from taking the semester exam. NOTES: +If a student is absent the day before a major test, he or she will be required to take the test on test day if it was assigned ahead of time (which it always will be). If one is absent during a major test, he or she must take a make-up test measuring the same content but may be a different format than the regular test. Therefore, students should not miss class unnecessarily. +It is the student’s responsibility to ask for make-up work. I will not hunt a student down; the student must come to me to ask what is needed to turn in. My suggestion is having a buddy in class who will inform the student of what we discussed during the time of absence. Students should see reliable students to get the notes or activities from the day(s) of absence.
