CLASS INFORMATION

YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BRING YOUR MATERIALS TO CLASS EVERY DAY. THEY WILL NOT BE SUPPLIED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE CLASS TO GET FORGOTTEN MATERIALS AFTER THE SECOND BELL HAS RUNG. YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR ANY WORK YOU CANNOT COMPLETE BECAUSE OF LACK OF NECESSARY MATERIALS.

2. ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are expected to be completed and are due by the beginning of the class period the next day of class, unless otherwise stated by the instructor. When an assignment is made in class, all students are expected to work on that assignment until it is completed or until the end of the class, whichever comes first. Make sure you follow all directions for the assignment carefully to receive full credit for the assignment. It is your responsibility to check the assignment board each day!

Late assignments will be penalized as follows: one late assignment per chapter will be graded with a 10% reduction in points per day late. It must be completed by the time of the test for that chapter. Any other late assignment for that chapter will receive a zero. This significantly lowers your grade average.

3. GRADING: Grades will be indicated by the number of points earned out of the total points possible per assignment. The total accumulation of points divided by the total points possible per quarter will determine the quarter grade. Daily assignments and quizzes will usually be worth 5-20 points, tests will usually be 100 points, and reports, research papers, or projects will be 25-100 points. Participation grades for class discussions or activities may be taken periodically. These have a value of 5 points possible each time. Test review sheets will also be collected the day of the chapter test and graded. Bonus points may be given for extra work done and for review contest results. Bonus credits are limited to that which would increase your grade average by 5%. The semester grade is determined by the average of the two corresponding quarter percentages. Quarter and semester grades cannot exceed 99% unless warranted by actual grades with no bonus points added. Lists will be posted, starting after the second week of each quarter, indicating those students doing outstanding work (receiving an A on a test or project) and those showing improvement in their grade averages compared to a previous grading period. Honorable mention indicates an average equal to the highest grade for the previous weeks or grading period.

4. TESTS: All chapter tests will be preceded with a chapter review in class. If you miss class only on the day before the test, you will be expected to take the test on the scheduled day unless arrangements are made with the instructor. If you miss only the day of the test, you will be expected to take the test the next school day that you attend. For absences of more than one day, you must make arrangements with the instructor on the day you return to school.

5. CHEATING: Anyone caught cheating on a test, quiz, or daily assignment will receive a zero for the assignment. Copying daily work is considered cheating. If identical errors appear, you may receive no credit. It is the responsibility of each student to leave no doubt in the instructor's mind that he/she is not copying work or letting anyone else copy his/her work either in or out of the classroom.

6. LAB SAFETY: Safety in the laboratory is of utmost importance! Any action which indicates improper lab procedure or a potentially dangerous situation will not be tolerated because of possible serious injury to yourself or others! A student not adhering to proper safety precautions will be asked to sit down and discontinue his/her participation in the activity for the remainder of the day and will receive a zero for that exercise. Any injury or damage to equipment must be reported to the instructor immediately!

7. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE: All students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and respectful manner at all times. Your instructor defines the following items to be examples of what is considered appropriate:

In general, anything that is disruptive to the learning environment of the classroom is not acceptable and will result in disciplinary action. For relatively minor infractions, a first offense per each semester will result in the student being required to stay with the instructor after school for 10 minutes. A second offense would be for 20 minutes after school. A third offense would be for 30 minutes. Any offenses thereafter, if the student does not report for earlier offenses, or if a more "serious" behavior is exhibited, the student will receive a discipline referral and be required to report to the detention period as indicated in the handbook. Each person has RIGHTS, but also the RESPONSIBILITY not to infringe upon the rights of others to learn. Any disciplinary action is the result of actions that could have been controlled in the first place. Try to treat other students as you would wish to be treated.

8. SCHOOL PROPERTY: Do not write on or in any way damage the tables or chairs or other school property. Students will be held responsible (pay) for any damage.

9. TEXTBOOKS: Check your textbook for any writing or other damage on the first day you receive it. Erase any pencil marks and report any ink marks or other damage to your instructor before the end of the first week of school. Any damage not initialized by the instructor by this time will be considered YOUR responsibility. You will be charged for any damage beyond normal wear at the time the book is checked in. You are strongly encouraged to cover your textbook. If you do so within the first week of school, you will receive 5 bonus points.

10. CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: Every effort will be made to make the classroom environment as comfortable as possible. If it seems too cool or too warm for you, please request an adjustment to be made by me. If agreeable, the instructor will make the change if possible. Expect it to be cool at any time of the year and prepare accordingly.

11. GUM, etc.: I will tolerate gum so long as no wrappers or gum land anywhere but in the wastebasket. No blowing bubbles or "popping" gum. If the use of gum in any way disturbs the class or instructor, it will be disposed of and no further gum will be allowed for the offender for the rest of the class period. No candy or other food items are allowed unless approved by the instructor. The instructor will confiscate any substance not allowed or being used improperly.

12. DISMISSAL: The instructor dismisses class, not the bell! Do not stand at the door waiting for the bell at the end of class.

13. The above guidelines are subject to change upon notification by the instructor. It is not intended to be a complete list and the student is advised to use sound judgment concerning his/her classroom behavior and work. If in doubt, ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR!

NOTE: Each student will be given a copy of this information which is to be read, signed, and returned to the instructor and will be kept on file.