Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- Can I do extra credit?
- What should I do if I am absent?
- What novels do we read in 7th grade?
- Do you have any tips for how I can improve my grades?
- May I type my work?
- What is plagiarism and why is it such a big deal?
- Is there a way to Email you?
- How do I use the blog page?
- What if I don't have Internet access at home?
Can I do extra credit?
Extra credit opportunities are given each marking period.
Students should
take advantage of the opportunity when it is given, whether or
not he/she
feels it is necessary at that time. Don't wait until you feel you
need it!
It may be too late. Assignments are not given 'on demand.'
Extra credit is not applied until the second 5 weeks of a marking
period.
This ensures that parents are aware of what their child's true
grade range
is, yet still gives opportunity to raise that grade.
*As we included a study skills unit in September, I have promised
my
students that I would give English extra credit if they could
show me an
attempt to apply the strategies we learned in class to any other
subject.
This includes creating outlines, charts, highlighting notes, etc.
My
intention is to provide incentive for trying out the techniques,
while also
helping to raise grades in all classes by using good study habits.
***Students are also given credit for participating in the PTA
Reflections
program literature or filmmaking categories. Show completed
entries to me for
credit.
What should I do if I am absent?
Students should follow the homework assignment sheets as given in
class each
Monday. Homework also appears on the HW page of this website.
Absences of
more than one day should be reported to the guidance office and a
request
for
work should be made. Students are expected to make up any missed
work, get
any missed notes, and turn in assignments.
What novels do we read in 7th grade?
Seventh graders will read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. We will
also read Gary Paulsen's Nightjohn, a novel about slaves learning
to read. We will likely read another historical fiction piece, My
Brother Sam is Dead, in conjunction with a Social Studies unit on
the Revolution. Other independent reading may be assigned
throughout the
year.
Do you have any tips for how I can improve my grades?
Take care with answering multiple choice questions on tests. Read
each
choice carefully, and be sure that the choice you make is not
only true (it
happened in the reading) but that it ANSWERS THE QUESTION being
asked.
Highlight or mark up the test questions to show your thinking
processes.
Look for key words and familiar phrases that may have been
mentioned in
class or in notes, be sure that the thought in the question flows
into the
choice you choose as an answer. Be sure that every word in the
answer you
choose is appropriate. Beware of words such as NEVER, ALWAYS,
OFTEN or
EXCEPT and make sure that they apply to the story or characters
before you
choose them in an answer. Finally, if making a choice is
difficult, narrow
down your number of choices. There are often two answers that
seem right.
Look carefully and see if you can choose a few key words in each
choice and
focus on the choice that seems closer to what you know to be true
about the
concept you are being questioned on. Is one of the key words a
synonym for a
word used in class discussions or notes? That may be a good
choice.
Answer extended response comprehension questions in complete
answers.
Rephrase the question into the answer. Give thought before
responding. The
questions require a higher level of response, and your answer
should reflect
careful thought and analysis. Try to dig below the surface for
deeper
meaning, and look for opportunities to show what you know! Don't
leave
details in your head, take the time to put them on the paper.
These answers
can often earn at least partial credit, give your teacher the
chance to find
points for you.
Writing can be improved by editing carefully. Write in complete
sentences,
use advanced vocabulary whenever possible, and EDIT your work.
Make
corrections to spelling, sentence structure, and be sure that
your answers
stay on topic. Remember, writing improves with the addition of
detail--
include more information, examples, or reasons why. Try it, it
will help!
Sometimes recording yourself giving an answer orally and then
playing it
back can help you get your more detailed thoughts down on paper.
Finally, turn work in on time! Plan for longer assignments, check
ink in
printers, and meet your deadlines. Losing points for lateness can
really hurt
your grades.
May I type my work?
Typed work is fine, unless specifically told to hand-write the
assignment.
Many people (including myself) simply think and edit better at a
keyboard.
You may always type journal responses, but they should then be
put into your
loose leaf notebook (a 3-hole punch does the trick). Essays,
reports, etc.
usually have being typed as an option. HOWEVER, typed work is
subject to the
same expectations regarding spelling, spacing, neatness,
formatting, etc. as
written work. A typed essay should have a TYPED heading, not one
scribbled
in above the work. It is also important to note that typing your
work is
your choice, you are not excused from deadlines because of lack
of ink,
paper, or a computer malfunction. When technology fails, do it
the old
fashioned way--write it!
What is plagiarism and why is it such a big deal?
Plagiarism is passing someone else's words off as your own. It is
like
copying off someone's paper, except that paper belongs to a
professional
writer! Plagiarism is cheating, and it is a very big deal in
academic and
professional environments. Unfortunately, the Internet has made
copying the
work of others very easy and this has led to serious problems for
students
at every level. In my class you will be taught the proper way to
use sources
and write in your own words. Covering up plagiarized work often
takes more
effort that just doing the work yourself anyway, so please give
your writing
your best shot--on your own. As a professional writer and
educator I take
this topic seriously and want you to do the same. I assure you I
check
sources and come to know your writing style well. Identifying
plagiarized
work is actually fairly easy. To encourage honest writing, I may
have
students write only on school computers, ask that website content
be
approved, or limit the kinds of sources that can be used. It is
for your own
good!
Is there a way to Email you?
Yes, contact me at:
lbryant@acsdny.org
How do I use the blog page?
I'm excited about sharing a new way of communicating with you
about our
English content. Clicking on the blog for your class period will
bring you to
the current question in discussion. If you click on 'Add Comment'
you will be
asked for an email address and name. Please use ONLY your first
name and last
initial!! I recommend you use an email address that is accessible
to parents
as they will receive a copy of the entry once it is posted. This
is to ensure
that students are responsible with content and do not misuse the
blog in any
way. Be careful with answers, just as you would on answering test
questions,
as your responses will earn credit based on the quality of the
content of the
answer and the quality of the writing itself. Remember that your
response and
your email address are visible to me and I see EVERY response
prior to it
being publicly posted.
What if I don't have Internet access at home?
The blog responses are quite short; a few sentences at most. You
can use the
computer lab or library during the day or after school to
respond, or you may
stop in to see me if you are having a problem accessing the
information.