AP World History Policies and Procedures

Teacher: Angela Tzortzis

Course: AP World History

Contact phone: (847) 626-2858

Contact e-mail: angtzo@d219.org

Web address: https://sites.google.com/a/d219.org/angtzo/

Course Description: Advanced Placement World History

College Board web address: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/4484.html

The focus of this rigorous freshmen course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the habits of mind that serve as the base for success in social studies advanced placement courses. This is achieved through a blending of college readiness skills and study of history. The course requires students to engage with the dynamics of continuity and change across historical periods. Students are taught to analyze the processes and causes involved in these continuities and change. Students focus on overarching themes which serve throughout the course as unifying threads, helping them put what is particular about each period or society into a larger framework.

Classroom Rules and Procedures

The following information describes the classroom procedures and course expectations for students enrolled in this course. Students are expected to review this information with their parents and return the top sheet to the instructor.

1. ATTENDANCE: Since good attendance is important for success in this class, it is expected that students will be present for all class sessions except during illness and unavoidable emergencies. Students must be seated and ready to begin class work when the bell rings. Tardiness is defined as NOT being seated and prepared for class when the bell rings. Tardy detentions will be assigned as designated in the student handbook. Students may be dropped from the course after 4 unexcused absences. All material that is missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up and will result in a failing grade for the student.
2. CLASS MATERIALS: Each student should have received a textbook entitled Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past from the bookstore. Textbooks, paper, pencils, and any other necessary materials must be brought to class every day.
3. HOMEWORK / READING ASSIGNMENTS: It is extremely important that students prepare the assigned homework on time. Study outside the classroom each day should be expected. Students are expected to read the text before class. No late homework will be accepted.
4. TESTS / QUIZZES / PROJECTS / PAPERS: Full period tests and projects will always be announced in advance. Quizzes may not be announced in advance. The late policy for long-term projects and papers is as follows:
   • 1 day late = 10% off
   • 2 days late = no credit

MAKE-UP PROCEDURES: The following is the district's operating statement regarding test / project make-up:

Details of each teacher’s test/project make-up policy shall be printed in each teacher’s course handout. Students and teachers may make alternative arrangements with the best interests of the students in mind, if both are in agreement. Make-up work deadlines for lab class set-ups may require some modification. Teachers shall incorporate the following as part of their individual course/test project make-up policy:

1. In accordance with the Niles Township Academic Honesty Policy, any student falsely claiming illness to avoid taking an examination or turning in a paper, project, report or take-home test is subject to penalty as stated in the Academic Honesty Policy.
2. If a test is missed due to an unanticipated absence on the day of the test only, the student should take the test by the end of the day upon which she/he returns.
3. If a test will be missed due to an extended unanticipated absence (two or more days), the student should be given the same number of days to make up the test as days missed.

If a student is absent for three consecutive days including the day of the test, the student must take the test within three days of returning; if a student is absent from Monday through Wednesday, and the test is on Thursday the day the student returns to school, the student must take the test by the end of the day on Tuesday (following three days of grace) of the following week.

If a test will be missed due to routine doctor/dentist appointment or school-related activities (anticipated absences), the student should inform the teacher of the anticipated absence as far in advance as possible to facilitate the make-up on the missed test.

A test missed due to a partial-day absence should be made up the same day of the absence, after school, if possible; a test missed due to a full-day absence should be made-up by the end of the first day upon returning to school.

For example, if a student is absent on Wednesday, the test should be taken on Thursday.

If a student is absent (unanticipated) the due date of a long term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed project is due on the day of return to school. If a student is absent (anticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed project is still due that day. Students should make arrangements for delivery with the teacher.

These additional notes pertain to this class:

If a student is absent from class, it is that student’s responsibility to determine what material was missed and to make up that material. Tests and quizzes failed to be made-up within the allotted time will be awarded a grade of zero. Truant students lost their right to make up any work missed while absent. This includes homework, tests, quizzes, essays, class work, projects, etc.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS: The final exam will cover the entire semester of work and will count for 20% of the semester grade.

GRADING: Grades will be based on demonstrated ability to do the work of the course as measured by tests and quizzes, as well as by homework, class work, participation and projects. A point value will be assigned to each assignment.

The grading scale is as follows:

100% - 90% = A

89.9% - 80% = B

79.9% - 70% = C

69.9% - 60% = D

below 60% = F

The semester percentage breakdown is as follows:

SemesterGrade= 80%

Final exam = 20%

* Extra credit will be offered at the teacher’s discretion.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Student is expected to review and conform to the attached policy on academic dishonesty. (A copy also appears in the Student Handbook.) Academic dishonesty violations normally result in a grade of zero for the test or assignment and in some cases a mandatory conference with the parent(s) or guardian(s). A copy of the academic dishonesty report will be placed in the student’s temporary school files, which may result in loss of eligibility for the National Honor Society or other prestigious memberships, awards and scholarships.

R-RATED FILMS:

R-rated film clips may be shown during the class period.

Movies provide another vehicle for learning about family dynamics, and will be especially helpful to those students who learn best visually. However, a few movies are rated "R" due to adult situations, violence, and/or language. The movies will always be chosen carefully to reflect the objectives of the unit. Note: no movies with nudity will be shown in class.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: Students are expected to be polite, courteous, and respectful to all people in the classroom and to treat the room itself with care. All school rules will be strictly enforced. Please, NO eating or drinking in the classroom.

EXTRA HELP: Keep in mind that it is much easier to keep up now, than to catch up later. Therefore, if a student is having difficulty in class, it is in his / her best interest to meet with the teacher outside of class to arrange a help session. My office is located in room 2140, and students are welcome to come and receive extra help.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty occurs when students obtain or assist others in obtaining credit for work which is not their own.

Common examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following.

1. Using hidden notes, copying from another student or helping another student during an examination.
2. Giving test questions or answers to a member of a later class or receiving test questions or answers from a member of an earlier class.
3. Submitting another student’s work as one’s own.
4. Stealing or accepting stolen copies of tests or answer keys.
5. Stealing or copying another student’s written assignment, paper, project, or take-home test.
6. Permitting another student to copy one’s homework assignment, paper, project, report or take-home test.
7. Falsely claiming illness to avoid taking an examination or turning in a paper, project, report or take-home test.
8. Plagiarizing: Presenting material taken from another source without adequate documentation.
9. Failing to cite with quotation marks the written words or symbols of another author.
10. Failing to footnote the author and source of materials used in a composition.
11. Failing to cite research materials in a bibliography.
12. Failing to name a person quoted in an oral report.
13. Failing to cite an author whose works are paraphrased or summarized in oral or written work.
14. Presenting another person’s creative work or ideas as one’s own in essays, poems, music, art, computer programs or other projects.
15. Copying or paraphrasing ideas from literary criticism or study aids without acknowledgment.
16. Impersonating another student in taking an examination.
17. Changing answers and seeking credit on an examination after the examination has been graded and returned.
18. Changing grades in a teacher’s grade book.
19. Changing the results on performance examinations, e.g. Physical Education Fitness test.
20. Falsifying information for applications, i.e. college scholarships, National Honor Society, etc.
21. Utilizing computers and programmable calculators in violation of guidelines established by the teacher.
22. Utilizing professional help such as an author, expert or purchased service, in violation of guidelines established by the teacher.

Note: Studying with other students to prepare for class assignments or examinations is not academic dishonesty unless such actions are prohibited or limited by procedures established by the teacher.

Penalty: Penalties are assigned for the semester in which the violations are committed. The penalties may include the following: a grade of zero for the assignment and parent notification; a failure for the marking period and parent notification; exclusion from courses with the Principal’s approval and a parent conference; or suspension from school. The seriousness of the infraction will determine the severity of the penalty.