Classroom Performance

During class time, students must demonstrate satisfactory involvement with class activities. The conversations about reading and writing that occur in class cannot be reproduced through a classmate’s notes or a teacher’s recollections of “what happened yesterday.” The interaction of a group at work cannot be recreated. Therefore, each student is expected to be present in class and to participate actively in the learning. Participation means that the student will be engaged with the material, speak thoughtfully when appropriate, listen to classmates and the teacher, and be productive in all activities, including group work. Class participation will be a significant factor.

Expectations for Class Participation                                

Participation is graded on a scale from 0 (lowest) through 4 (highest), using the criteria below. The criteria focus on what you demonstrate and do not presume to guess at what you know but do not demonstrate. This is because what you offer to the class is what you and others learn from.

Expectation:  the average level of participation to satisfy the criteria for a “3”.

Grade	Criteria
0	Present, head down for ANY PART of the period. Present, on cellphone for ANY PART of the period. Present, involved in social discussion during instruction or work period. Working on assignments from another class or personal pursuits for ANY PART of the period. Demonstrates very infrequent involvement in discussion. Unexcused absence
1	Present, not disruptive. Tries to respond when called on but does not offer much. Demonstrates very infrequent involvement in discussion.
2	Demonstrates adequate preparation: knows basic case or reading facts, but does not show evidence of trying to interpret or analyze them. Offers straightforward information (e.g., straight from the case or reading), without elaboration or very infrequently (perhaps once a class). Contributes to a moderate degree when called on. Demonstrates sporadic involvement.
3	Demonstrates good preparation: knows case or reading facts well, has thought through implications of them. Offers interpretations and analysis of case material (more than just facts) to class. Contributes well to discussion in an ongoing way: responds to other students’ points, thinks through own points, questions others in a constructive way, offers and supports suggestions that may be counter to the majority opinion. Demonstrates consistent ongoing involvement.
4	Demonstrates excellent preparation: has analyzed case exceptionally well, relating it to readings and other material (e.g., readings, course material, discussions, experiences, etc.). Offers analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of case material, e.g., puts together pieces of the discussion to develop new approaches that take the class further. Contributes in a very significant way to ongoing discussion: keeps analysis focused, responds very thoughtfully to other students’ comments, contributes to the cooperative argument-building, suggests alternative ways of approaching material and helps class analyze which approaches are appropriate, etc. Demonstrates ongoing very active involvement.

 

Class Attendance and Makeup Work

Following an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to ask for and secure any makeup work. Please see the District Code of Conduct to become familiar with those absences that are considered excused.

According to this policy, “It is the responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian to arrange family vacations/trips when school is not in session so that the student does not miss school.”  Thus, vacations are NOT excused absences, unless the Building Principal determines that exceptional circumstances exist.

A student must request missed work either after school or during an open period, at a time convenient for the teacher. Work missed due to an excused absence must be made up within two school days.  If the student has an unexcused absence on the day of a test or a graded classroom discussion, a zero grade will be entered.

Work missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up.  A student who misses class due to an unexcused absence on the day an essay, paper, or project is due may only submit that work for credit if it arrives on time to the teacher, electronically or otherwise.

 

Preparation of Assignments

Longhand papers (in blue or black ink) are acceptable for in-class assignments, but typing or word-processing may be required for out-of-class pieces according to teacher directives. Students should turn in prewriting and drafts with their finished pieces when directed to do so by their teacher.  Written work must reflect adequate time and care on the part of the student. It is the student’s responsibility to prepare written work that demonstrates having been proof-read.

Assignments Heading

Assignments handed in for class credit must have the following header:

Student Name

Teacher Name

Class Name

Date

Papers will be subject to a point deduction if the correct header is not used.

Paper Format

All papers submitted to the English Department are required to be formatted in MLA style.

Follow the guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style that may be found at this location:

https://tinyurl.com/pkgwkje

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA style is covered online at the OWL at Purdue.

 

9-12 Progressive Writing Portfolio

 

Every NFA student will compile a representative collection of at least five polished pieces of writing to be included in a writing portfolio that follows the student throughout his/her high school career.  This writing represents the culmination of a student’s development in various types of writing over the course of each school year.  The student contributes graded final drafts to the portfolio and, at the end of the year, chooses one informational, one narrative and one argumentative piece to be included, as well as two additional pieces according to student preference.  Teachers collect these portfolios at the end of the school year and may use them for assessment purposes.

 

Rubrics

 

The writing done by students both inside and out of the classroom will be evaluated and sometimes graded by the teacher.  This grading may be done using rubrics which are provided with and correspond to the assignment.  For full length pieces of writing that have gone through the drafting and revising process, CCLS rubrics will be used.

 

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism and/or cheating on any assignment is automatically assigned a failing grade of “0.” In addition, the matter will be brought to the attention of appropriate school authorities, as discussed in the District Code of Conduct.

A student who willfully supplies material to another student for copying will be subject to the same penalties.  Plagiarism is “to present someone else’s language, ideas, or creations as your own.”  Students should refer to the document on MLA Citations for detailed information on how to avoid plagiarism.

 

Electronic Devices Policy

We have a new policy in the district – finally.  We are really happy to be able to use cell phones and tablets in the classroom for education purposes.  We are even happy that you get to use your phones when you are not involved in instructional time.  But this means we expect you to be cooperative with your teacher’s preferences for cell phone use in the classroom.  Here is ours.  It is pretty simple.

 

When you come into the room, put your cell phone on the cell block, face down, silenced (no vibration).  

 

You may not look at your phone or use it during the period unless the teacher tells you to.

 

Violation of this policy will result in immediate disciplinary action.  It will be COMPLETELY no tolerance.  

 

ACCOUNTABLE INDEPENDENT READING

 

The CCLS that guide school curriculum place great emphasis on academic vocabulary. However, most of the words students need to know to be college and career ready are learned through wide and extensive reading. Students, therefore, need to read independently—the more the better. In this way, students will gain the stamina and vocabulary required for success.Students will read independently and regularly for homework; Accountable Independent Reading will happen most nights, and students will quickly develop habits of mind around this practice. Independently, therefore, students will be consuming a volume of text that they can navigate on their own.

Materials

For all English classes, the following materials are required: A pen (blue or black ink)

A notebook or binder

A two-pocket folder

Loose-leaf paper  

The following materials are optional but encouraged: A highlighter

Sticky notes (Post-Its)

White out

Teachers may add additional required materials.  Students should not arrive unprepared for class.

 

Please sign your attestation here .