RESPECT, RESPONSE, RESPONSIBILITY are the three rules that set the tone for our community of learners. We will respect ourselves, each other, and the facility. We will respond thoughtfully (not react without thinking) to each other, and we will accept full responsibility for our own actions. As a group, we will tolerate no disrespect to each other. As your teacher, I will treat you as adults and expect mature behavior in return. I will expect your attention to class matters at all times. This means you should refrain from doing other school work during class or attempting to sleep. In a class of this caliber, I expect few, if any, problems of this kind. Remember that any positive feelings between you and your instructor can only benefit you. PROMPTNESS: Please be in your seat when the bell rings, and be ready to begin class with notebook/planner open and pen ready to take notes. I often write assignments and announcements on the chalkboard, and you should begin by writing these down. I will return the favor by promptly dismissing you when the bell rings, provided you stay seated until then. ATTITUDE VS. APTITUDE: This class is designed to prepare you for success and so will require your diligence in preparing for each class session. I will expect you to read the assignments, complete any written work, and be prepared to take notes in class and contribute to class discussions. Your success in this class will be directly related to the effort you expend, both before and during class. As your teacher, I am much more concerned with ATTITUDE than APTITUDE. Being "brilliant" alone is not enough; I expect you to get the most out of yourself this year, and I want you to succeed. If you are working hard, you will succeed; if you aren't working very hard, your talent can only partly rescue you. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Plagiarism is cheating that consists of using the work of others without adequate acknowledgment. Any idea, fact, or language borrowed from a source must be documented formally or informally. Plagiarism takes a number of forms, including, but not limited to the following: 1. copying any assignment, quiz, test (or part thereof) from another student or enabling someone to do so from you; 2. copying or paraphrasing passages, sentences, phrases, words, data, statistics, and visual aids without proper acknowledgment; 3. using someone else's ideas without giving credit to that person; 4. obtaining and submitting an assignment or paper prepared by someone other than you; 5. submitting assignments which are the products of collaboration done without authorization. STAYING HOME TO WRITE YOUR PAPER??? Occasionally students attempt to give themselves extensions on written assignments such as essays or research papers by staying home the day the assignment is due. In an effort to eliminate this practice, absences on the day of a significant assignment of this type must be documented, or I will consider your paper late. If you know you will be absent for a court date or whatever, work should be turned in before the absence. In addition, if you are on campus for any part of the school day, your work will be late unless you turn it in. ATTENDANCE: Students with the best attendance tend to get the best grades, so you should make every effort to attend school each day. Normal school attendance policy will be followed. An aspect of attendance is promptness, and I expect you to be on time for class in your seat ready to go. SPECIAL EMPHASIS: All students should behave according to the rules of Lincoln-Way High School with special emphasis on the following: Cell phones should be turned off and out of sight! There is to be no eating, drinking, or chewing gum in class. Water bottles must be out of sight. Be in your seat when the bell rings and remain there until the end of class. Always use appropriate language in class. This includes appropriate language in all written work and booknoting. I expect your attention to class matters at all times. You should refrain from doing work for other classes or attempting to sleep. If you finish a test or assignment before the rest of the class, use the time to begin reading the next assignment, working on your vocabulary cards, or reading a book for pleasure.