PRODUCTION DECREASES AS ABSENCE INCREASES

 

LANGUAGE ARTS 401 K. MILLIGAN

 

 

This class is designed to prepare you with the grammar, writing, and English Literature skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college- level classes or the work-a-day world.

 

Materials needed (occasionally, bonus points will be given for simply having one particulay item).

1. Pencils and pens (use blue or black ink or lose 10 points of the work done in the wrong color.)

2. Three ring binder with loose leaf paper. Used only for this class, it must be large enough to hold notes and handouts like this one (hint).

3. 3x5 index cards of any color.

 

TRADE PHONE NUMBERS WITH THREE PEOPLE IN CLASS NOW. IF YOU ARE GONE, YOU CAN LEARN OF THE WORK MISSED. DO NOT GET BEHIND.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION You receive 22 points each class period of you have the appropriate materials and if you work. Since they make up a large portion of your grade, keep track of your daily points.

 

USE THIS CLASS TIME FOR LA 401. Do work from another class in here and you lose 11 points, more if you persist. If you finish all LA work, the teacher may tell you to do " non-LA 401" work. Ask first.

 

FORBIDDEN ITEMS WILL BE CONFISCATED. Do not bring such things as pitchforks, laser pointers, comics, electronic devices, photo albums, yaks, canoes, magic markers, or drums, to name a few, to class.

 

TARDINESS Look: a teacher has roughly two minutes of time per student per period. A late student causes delays and extra paperwork and, in effect, steals time from other students. If tardy, lose 11 points and any extra credit items missed. Three tardies equal one unexcused absence. More than ten minutes tardy equals an absence.

 

CORRIDOR PASSES When you request a pass to the restroom or anywhere else on campus you use up your own and others' instructional time. This will cost you 11 points. If you have a physiological problem requiring frequent trips to the restroom, humor me and verify it with a medical excuse.

 

WORDS Since both computer fonts and student handwriting vary widely, assignments are always given in number or words. You will soon learn just how many works you write on the average page. As words are carefully counted during grading, count them carefully during writing.

 

TYPING Unless instructed otherwise, TYPE ALL ASSIGNMENTS. DOUBLE-SPACE (skip lines between lines of print). You get an extra 5% of the assignment's value for error-free typing.

 

WORK Pencils and loose-leaf paper may be used for seatwork and most rough drafts. Type final drafts on standard typing paper or, at the instructor's discretion, write neatly in blue or black ink on one sede only of standard-sized, loose leaf paper. Double-space your work- typed or handwritten. Pages torn from spiral notebooks, written in other than blue or black ink, or too messy to read, will receive 60% (D) or less, depending on the quality of the work. Subtract 5% of grade for pages computer-printed but not torn apart and stapled. Put this information in this order at top right corner of the first page: your name, type of assignment (narrative essay, etc.), class period, date due.

 

TURN IN ON TIME, within two minutes of the tardy bell. If you play “catch up,” you do not concentrate on the job at hand. I do not give full credit for late work. You lose 5 points or 5% of the grade if you turn it in later that day; you lose 10 points or 10% each day I wait for the assignment, unless you have an excused absence. Most late papers will not receive an “A.” This is still better than “0” for a grade. You are mere months away from a college campus or a job, so if you do not do so already, deliver assignments on time, every time.

 

I ACCEPT LATE WORK OR MAKE-UP  WORK ONLY FOR AN EXCUSED ABSENCE. If “absent-excused” (including visits to the Counseling or Nurse’s Offices, time in Opportunity Room), you are liable for work assigned before the absence. Also, you are liable for work assigned during your absence. (See why you need three phone numbers from this class?) If you do not call a student to get the assignment, see me immediately upon your return and get instructions for work missed or lose the opportunity. I WILL NOT SEARCH YOU OUT TO GIVE YOU AN ASSIGNMENT. YOU HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

 

PROLONGED, EXCUSED ABSENCE If you must leave island, have a baby, are sick for a long period, you should arrange for a LONG-TERM ABSENCE CONTRACT. ASK ME FOR ONE.

 

EXTRA CREDIT WORK will go to hard-working students with good attendance who deserves a break. Extra credit will not go to students who have been lazy, forgetful, negligent, or indifferent.

 

MAKE-UP OF DAILY CLASS PARTICIPATION POINTS. TAKE NOTE! THIS PROVISION CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR GRADE. READ AND UNDERSTAND IT! Each day in class is worth 22 points. If absent with an excuse, if you want the points, select one of the three following options and turn it in the day you come back to class.

        

            1: type a 200-word, three- paragraph review of a television program or video you watched or of a book you read.

            2: type a 200-word, three- paragraph paper giving the reason for your absence and describing the events of your day away form LA 401.

            3: type a 200-word story or poem on any topic that interests you.

 

ON ISLAND FIELD TRIPS When you miss class to go on a field trip and want to regain the 22 points, write a 200-word, three paragraph essay about the field trip and turn it in the next class day. The first paragraph describes the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of the field trip. The second tells what happened, what you did, what you saw, who talked. The third tells what you learned by taking part in this field trip. Put the proper information in the upper right corner.

 

CLASS DISRUPTION ASSIGNMENTS become effective anytime the class hour is disrupted for twenty minutes or more by such unscheduled events as fire drills, fires, fights, bomb threats, typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, papal or presidential visits. These assignments, automatic and applicable to just about every contingency, offer one of three choices which you, if present prior to the disruption, will turn in the following day or, for those absent with an excuse, the day following. If we miss more than one day, do this assignment for each day missed.

            Choice 1: Discuss a current local, national, or international event, logically and directly, using 200 words and three paragraphs.

            Choice 2: Choose a letter to the editor from that day’s newspaper and, in 200 words and three of your own direct, concise arguments. Concentrate on a smooth, logical flow of words, sentences, and paragraphs.

            Choice 3: Choose a letter to the editor from that day’s newspaper and , in 200 words and three paragraphs, disagree with it. Point out the fallacies. Display and opposite point of view. Present your ideas in a step-by-step logical flow.

 

SCORE SHEET/ PROGRESS REPORT Students receive a quarterly score sheet to record grades. Keep it in your three-ring binder. Keep track of your days present, absences, tardies and corridor passes. An ITEM is any assignment, test, quiz, essay, anything assigned to you. You must log in points for an item as soon as you are given the grade, or you will not know you current score. If I spot check your score sheet and find it complete and up-to-date, 10 points extra credit for you.

            How do you use it? Add the total points earned so far on all items. Add this sum to total class participation points earned so far. Now, add these two sums.This combined sum is now divided by the total sum possible if you were to have perfect attendance and were to get a perfect score on each item. This gives you your current grade. Stay alert, stay aware.

 

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR PARENTS ARE BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICIES 330 AND 411. POLICY 330 SAYS THAT, IF 16 OR OLDER, FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT ACADEMIC YEAR. A STUDENT 16 OR OLDER, WITH 25 ABSENCES (EXCUSED OR NOT), YOU CAN BE DROPPED FROM SCHOOL FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT ACADEMIC YEAR. A STUDENT 16 OR OLDER WHO FAILS ALL COURSE MAY BE DROPPED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEMESTER. POLICY 411 SAYS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE NO CREDIT (N/C) IN A SEMESTER. Even if you get an N/C for the semester, attend class and earn a passing grade since it will be averaged with the grade earned when you repeat the class.

 

SCHOOL ALLOWS YOU ONLY SIX PARENT-EXCUSED ABSENCES PER QUARTER.

 

TEXTS, WORKBOOKS. Various adopted texts will be used. Students are responsible for those they use. Today’s workbooks cost from $8.00 to $10.00 each. The first copy is free. If you lose it, you pay to replace it. Textbooks average $35.00 each and students pay for damaged or lost texts. A book defaced with writing obscenities, drawings, or tags, is considered damaged and a student pays to replace it. NO PAYMENT, NO REPORT CARD OR TRANSCRIPT. THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT THROW TAXPAYERS’ MONEY AWAY. ACT RESPONSIBLY AND MATURELY.

 

GRADING  Percentages of total points available yield grades. Seatwork, homework, tests, quizzes, papers, daily class participation points, and extra credit points contribute to a student’s grade.

A- 90-100%    B-  80-89%     C-  70-79%     D-  60-69%     F-  0-59%

 

The second and fourth quarters may have a higher value than the first and third. Do not, therefore, slack off in either the second or fourth quarter.

 

All school rules in the Student Handbook apply in this class.

 

Last, but not least, use the suggestion box in this class. If certain classroom practices bother you, if you think of something which will improve class and enhance your learnin so that you enjoy class more, put a suggestion in the box. Do not sign it. I pay attention to what students say.