Grading and Policies

• Follow directions
• Keep hands to yourself
• No swearing, teasing, or put-downs
• Be in your seat, prepared for class, when the bell rings
• No eating in class unless authorized
• Follow all school rules

George Mason Honor Code

Integrity is an essential component of a just and civilized society and, therefore, of a successful learning environment. Students are expected to demonstrate high standards of academic, personal, and social integrity as members of the George Mason High School community. Students should be aware of the consequences of behaviors and take responsibility for their actions.

Students will follow the GMHS honor code and write the honor pledge on all work submitted for grading, "I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment". Collaboration is encouraged (and authorized) when investigating solutions to homework, group labs and worksheets. This does not mean verbatim copying of information. Please see lab section for honor code as it relates to lab work.

Weighting

• Daily Work and Participation 15%
• Labs 30%
• Tests and Projects 55%

The percentages may change slightly depending on the number of labs and tests accomplished in a quarter. Participation points are something that can be lost for coming to class unprepared (no calculator, pencil, notebook, etc.) or for inappropriate behavior.

Late Work

• Late homework is not accepted if we go over answers in class.
• 10% is taken off each day for assignments turned in late.

Grading Scale

Semester Grade

• Quarter 1 grade: 40%
• Quarter 2 grade: 40%
• Final Exam 20%

Collection

• On all assignments to be turned in make sure the following info can be found easily:
  
  • Name
    
  • Date
    
  • Class Period
    
  • Assignment Name
    
  • Honor Code
    
• On all homework (whether it is collected or not)the following format should be followed:
  • The problem statement should be written out. This does not have to be word for word but shoud have the important information from the problem in it
  • Write your answer in a different color pen/pencil than the problem statement
  • Work MUST be shown on every problem. If you aren't sure what work to show, write what you thought about in solving the problem.
  • Box, circle or double underline answers. If I can't find the answer, I will not count it as complete.

The lab notebook should be kept in a 3-ring binder. You can keep it in the same notebook as your notes - but make it a separate, identifiable section. Please do not use a spiral notebook. I recommend getting some grid paper which makes it easier to make graphs and tables but I can supply it, if needed.

• How should I organize my lab book?
• What to include for Lab Write-ups
• Layout for Lab write-up. You should follow this layout for all lab reports that are to be turned in for a grade regardless of what sections of the lab report will actually be graded.

Ethics/Honor Code

The work in your lab notebook must be your own work. When working in a group, as you will often, it is possible that you will share hypotheses, procedures, and data in which case, if the group completed them together in class, they can be copied from each other's notebooks (provided you actually did the lab & worked with the person from whom you are copying). Results and conclusion, however, are pieces that you should work on individually and then compare with others in your group. It is important that you practice interpreting the data and forming a conclusion on your own rather than copying what another person has written. Once you have thought about the lab on your own and written some of the analysis, it is appropriate to talk it over with your group and collaborate with each other on the analysis. There should be no verbatim copying of analysis and conclusions. Exams, quizzes, and lab reports (as describe above) are to be your own independent work. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a zero for the associated work.

Clean-Up

You must obtain a sticker from me at the end of your lab indicating that your lab station has been cleaned up properly. Without a stamp, your lab grade will be reduced by 10%.

Contract

A contract will be handed out that clearly outlines the expected behavior in the lab. It must be signed by both you and your parent and returned to me before you can begin working in the lab.

Contract in Word format

Test corrections can be done for all exams except semester finals. See the guidelines for requirements and grading.

• Required
  • Graphing calculator
  • 1 3-ring binder with dividers
  • Lined paper for notes and graph paper for labs
  • 2 writing utensils of different colors in class + access to a set of colored pencils or markers at home
  • Access to a 4-function calculator at home
• Suggestions (I will have some of these available in class but I encourage you to have your own)
  • Lab kit: Close toed shoes, long pants, t-shirt, hair ties, case for jewelry, contact case and solution. Keep in your locker and change before class.
  • Colored pencils, markers (for organizing notes)
  • Ruler /Straight edge
  • Post-its (for marking important tables/handouts in textbook and notebooks and for recording questions to be asked in the next class)
  • 3x5 notecards (flashcards, vocab cards, and when allowed: cheat sheets)

Missed Class

For planned absences: See me before you leave to get homework, etc. You are responsible for turning in all assignments on your return.

For unplanned absences: Students who are absent are responsible for

• finding out what they missed and completing homework before the next class meeting.
• turning in old homework the day they return to class.

Missed Labs/Test/Quiz

Please don't miss a lab or test day! But if you must, you have one week from the date of the lab/test/quiz to make it up. Some missed labs may be made up with alternative assignments. Please make an appointment with me as soon as your return to school.

Calculators

In class the use of scientific or graphing calculators will not be permitted. We will be using 4-function calculators only.

Bathroom Pass

Ask permission to go (in case of emergency, I will know where you are). Only one person out at a time.

Eating and Drinking

For safety reasons: No eating in class unless authorized by me.

You may have drinks during class on non-lab days

Brainteasers

I really enjoy brainteasers, so at the beginning of a unit I will introduce a new brainteaser. Those able to solve it get a little prize!