AP Euro - Homework and Grading Policy

This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement European History test in May.  To accomplish that end, the focus of this course will be on content, analysis, and writing.   Typically, sophomores entering this class are bright, hard working students who will have a relatively easy time remembering content, who have done some analysis in the past and can be taught to do much better, and who have a long way to go in the area of writing.  The seniors in this class have typically taken and passed Advanced Placement United States History and are looking to add to the list of Advanced Placement Coursework mastered for college credit. I will be doing some analysis of the students during the first week or two to figure out exactly where we are, and I will make some curriculum decisions based on that analysis.

 

The general plan is to have two homework assignments due each week.  Students will be given the assignments on Fridays and they will be due the following week at the beginning of the assigned period.   Students with an excused absence (illness, doctor’s visit) may turn the assignment in the day they return.

 

All essays will be graded according to the AP rubric provided in this packet.  It is my goal that every student be able to get a grade of a “five” or above on an essay in a test during the year.  To get an “A” on a homework assignment, students must be able to write essays averaging five or above.

 

Not turning in an assignment can be disastrous for a grade.  Also, any student who is caught copying from a source without citing the source, or who is caught copying another student’s work (or allowing his/her work to be copied), will be given a zero and possible further consequences.

 

We will have timed writing experiences regularly.  This is the major portion of the AP exam, and students must become excellent at the process.  Therefore we will often be writing, discussing the process of writing, or grading writing. 

 

All examinations will be cumulative in nature.  We will have one practice examination in May that will not count as a final exam.  Classroom participation is expected and can alter a grade by as much as eight percent.  Classroom participation includes: timed writing assignments, brainstorming exercises, group activities, class activities and discussion.

 

Any missed assignment has the potential to destroy a grade.

Do not miss an assignment.

 

It is not uncommon for students to struggle at the beginning of this course.  In fact, many students used to receiving “A’s” all the time are often quite shocked at first.  As time goes on, students understand what is expected of them in a college level class, and perform accordingly.  I often meet with students after school early in the semester to discuss their writing.  At this time, I do not know what my office hours will be; typically, two days a week after school early in the first semester.  It is up to the student to make an appointment with me, and not just show up.

 

The grading policy is as follows:

 

A                     93% - 100% of all possible points

A-                    90% - 92%

B+                   88% - 89%

B                      83% - 87%

B-                    80% - 82%

C+                   78% - 79%

C                     73% - 77%

C-                    70% - 72%

D+                   68% - 69%

D                     63% - 67%

D-                    60% - 62%

F                        0% - 59%

 

I round up or down to the nearest percentage.  Finally, as the intent of this course is to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam, students are expected to take the exam.  Students must take the exam or they cannot earn higher than a C in the course.  There will be no exceptions.