Course Procedures: Mrs. Filak

   I.   Materials: (bring every day)
        A.  Notebook: 3 ring binder to contain weekly syllabus, all notes, homeworks etc.
        B.  Pen (black or blue ink)
        C.  Highlighter
        D.  Correct text DAILY  

 II.    Homework:
        A. Nightly reading, possible surprise quizzes immediately upon entering class next day.
        B. Written work:
             1.  Completely finished before entering class.
             2.  Homeworks are added together at the end of each term as a test grade.
             3.  Late homework can be turned in for full credit after excused absence from school.

                 Homework which is not on time because it was not done, lost or left in
                 a locker or at home receives an “L” showing some but not satisfactory effort was
                 made.  This can only be done twice each marking period, after which no late

                 homework is accepted.

                  
III.    Absences:
        A.  Excused: see student handbook.  Makeup of tests will be at a time convenient for me.
        B.  Unexcused: Cutting will not be tolerated.  Each cut will result in a zero for the

            day’s work with no makeup allowed. This includes tests and quizzes.
        C.  Athletic dismissals or field trips:  Please give the work to me before leaving

            the building and be sure to get the next night’s assignment as well.
        
IV.     Essays:
        A.  Use a cover sheet (format to be given later)
        B.  Late essays are reduced 10 points for each day of lateness.  (A day begins at the

            beginning of the period in which we meet.)
        C.  Requirements for grading:
              1.  Typed: such manuscripts always look more professional and are easier to read.
              2.  Best grammar, spelling and punctuation. Others must be able to understand you,

                  and you want to make a good impression. 
              3.  Papers not meeting the above requirements will be returned without a grade to

                  be done over and handed in the next day minus 10 points.
        D.   Always turn in a paper!  If no paper is turned in, a test zero will be given, possibly

             resulting in failure for the marking period.
        E.   During process writing, all stages of the paper must be checked off and peer edited

             before the final paper is accepted for a grade.

  V.    Plagiarism (Theft of another’s thoughts or words. See page 19 of your handbook)
        A. Use quotation marks (“) and a footnote for words taken directly from another source
           and a footnote if just ideas, but not words, are borrowed.
        B. Copying of any amount of information from another source including a fellow student

           is dishonest and will result in a zero for the assignment, whether homework, quiz, test

           or essay.
        C. If in doubt, ask me for help.  You can never be wrong in asking!

 VI.    Grading Policy:
        A. Written homework, including writing in journals, checked daily, randomly collected

           for quiz grades throughout the year.
        B. Essays, projects,  unless otherwise specified when assigned, are test grades like

           literature tests.                 
        C. The lowest quiz grade each term is dropped and the rest averaged together to count as

           one test grade.
        D. All the term’s written homeworks are counted together as one test grade,

           approximately 20-25% of a term’s grade.   
        E. Group projects, literature circle assessments and oral presentations are test grades
           unless otherwise specified when assigned.
        F. Class participation points are also given at the end of the term for the frequency and

           level of contribution to class activities and discussions.  This can raise your average
           by several points if you contribute positively.

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