Course Information 2007-2008

Required Daily Supplies

Text

Blue or black ink pens and #2 pencils

Notebook

Calculator

Course Requirements
Homework: Students are expected to study their class notes daily and maintain a course portfolio.  Written assignments are given regularly and must be completed by the due date.  (Note:  All homework assignments are announced and posted in the classroom; they are also listed on the course web site.)  Homework is checked daily and some assignments are collected and graded.  Graded assignments will be announced.

Current Events:  Occasionally, students are required to read an article, view a particular

 television program or web site.
 

Quizzes and Tests:  Students should expect a quiz each day.  Each quiz question counts as 5 points toward a grade of 100.  A one point deduction will be taken for each spelling error.  Homework and preparation quiz questions pertain to memorized facts and current events.  Concept quiz questions require cognitive understanding and problem solving, and thus are more difficult.  Large written tests can be expected every other week.  The test format emphasizes application and synthesis skills and requires students to analyze and interpret data, graphs, and diagrams.  There are no exemptions from midterm and final exams.

Projects/Case Studies:  Each project will be worth 100 points; 20 points per day will be deducted for late reports.   In addition to writing reports, students may be expected to read a novel, attend museums, perform research projects and analyze 

case studies.  Details and grading criteria for all these projects will be distributed at the time of the assignment. 

Calculator Policy:  Students must bring the calculator to every class; calculators cannot  

be shared or borrowed.   

Writing Across the Curriculum:  In addition to pretest and post test reflections, students should expect writing exercises that include analysis, interpretations, and impressions of numerous projects and other class activities. 

Grading Policy

The weighting for each marking period grade is as follows:

         Quizzes                                                    25%

          Tests                                                       45%

          Projects/Graded Homework                    20%

          Class Participation/Homework                 10%     

                                                                        100%

 

Class participation/homework grading criteria:

Class participation includes the following:

     1.  Being prepared for classes (Have text, planner, pens/pencils, notebook, 
          and calculator)

     2.  Listening attentively

     3.  Asking pertinent questions

     4.  Contributing to discussions

     5.  Following rules of conduct

     6.  Maintaining a neat and organized portfolio

     7.  Completing written homework assignments     

Every student begins each “marking period” with a grade of 100. Failure to follow the class participation criteria results in a 10-point deduction for each occurrence. The grade can become a negative number.  Since class participation accounts for 10% of the quarterly grade, each 10 point deduction results in a one point deduction on the report card average. 

 

Absences and Lateness 

The student is responsible for obtaining any missed notes and assignments.  If a student is absent on a test day, he must take the test on the day he returns to school.  If a student is late and misses class on the day of the test, he must take the test that same day or receive a grade of 0%.

 

Individual Tutoring

Students seeking extra help may see the teacher every day at dismissal in Room 4C6.  If this is inconvenient, appointments can also be scheduled. 

 

Suggestions

     Take good class notes; they will not always be in print. 

     Write notes from the text reading assignments.

     Never hesitate to see the teacher for help.

 

 

Teacher Contact Information

E-mail address:  neuffermccanns@xavierhs.org

Telephone:  (212) 924-7900  Ext. 1338