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Late Work
Usually, if you can do the work after the deadline you could
have done it--more easily--before the deadline. That said, there are always
students who 'overlook' assignments until they see their grades and then
panic, asking if they can still do the work. To help you learn self
discipline, I am willing to accomodate this request and allow you to do the
work (which you must now do on top of everything else). In this way, too, I am
able to give you grades that more meaningfully measure your learning than
would the zeroes you'd get for non-participation. Late work will be evaluated
on its merits, but you will lose credit in the 'class participation' category.
No credit will be lost if you ask for and receive an extension of the deadline
BEFORE THE DEADLINE. It is better to do work and hand it
in late than to lose credit. It's best to do your work with thought and care
when you have the time and to hand it in ON TIME.
Note to Parents: Be PROACTIVE.
If your child is not doing well, and you wait until grades come
out to see how your child is doing, it is too late to repair the damage.
Assignments are posted on this website every week. To see how
your child is doing, ask to see some of his/her work. If your child doesn't
have an assignment that's due or if you think your child has not given his/her
best effort on an assignment, say what you think and ask him/her to put some
more effort in on it. I'm happy to grant deadline extensions in such
circumstances. If your child doesn't understand how to do an assignment, ask
him/her to see me. If you have questions or comments for me, the best way to
reach me is by e-mail (jbaldwin@milforded.org).
Make-Up Work
When you are absent, you are responsible for the classwork and
homework you miss. The plan for the week that's posted on this web site shows
both classwork and homework for each day. Consult with a friend who was in
class to get a more detailed picture of what you've missed. (If you ask
someone "What happened in English today?" and they say "Nothing." you can be
pretty sure they don't know what they're talking about.) Ask a friend to get
you a copy of anything that was handed out in class or make sure to ask me for
copies when you return.
Work missed must be made up as soon as possible--ordinarily
within a week.
Assignments given well before the date(s) of your absence must
be handed in upon your return to class.
Independent Projects (English I only)
If your average in class is over 70%, in addition to the
reading and writing you do for class, you may earn credit for reading and
writing projects of your own design and choice. See the handout explaining
this in more detail.
Credit for independent reading and/or writing projects is
awarded based on the size and difficulty of the project. No more than sixty
points of independent project credit can accrue in any one marking period.
There are no due dates. You may apply for credit for an
independent reading or writing project anytime you complete one by filling out
the credit application form, attaching it to your project, and handing in the
form and project.
Credit for projects submitted in the last two weeks of a
marking period will be awarded in the next marking period.
Grades
Grades are computed on an Excel spreadsheet. The credit
possible for an assignment is a function of how much time the assignment
requires and how difficult it is to do. In this way, assignments are weighted,
being worth usually 10, 20, or 40 points (and scores are easily translated
into A, B, C, etc. or percentages), but you may earn more than the assigned
credit on some assignments (journal writing and independent projects, for
instance) in which case your average is computed using a higher 'points
possible' as well as a higher 'points earned.' This positive impact is
aumented by the corresponding increase in your 'class participation' score.
Grades are posted periodically in the classroom, and you are
expected to check your average as well as make sure that all of the
information is recorded correctly. The best way to advise me that's there's an
inaccuracy is to write a note explaining what's wrong and put it in the 'In'
box.
People who hand their work in late always seem to think that
it's the first thing I will read and grade, but this is not the case. It
sometimes happens that a new grade sheet showing work that people have handed
in on time is posted and an assignment you've handed in (late) is still
recorded as 'M,' or missing. If this happens to you, write me a note, put it
in the 'In' box, and I'll make sure to catch up.
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