Geometry Course Syllabus
2000-2001
Fr. Chris Thiel, OFMCap
Homework
- You will not pass without turning in your homework.
Homework is usually assigned from
the textbook, though it may be a worksheet or a test "re-do."
The name "homework" may be misleading, since we will often do
certain assignments in class.
- Homework is due each week, the last class before the weekend.
Grading of homework
is based on the following:
Each
sheet must have:
- the student's name
- class period & date
- the assignment's page number,
- each question & diagram
- an honest attempt at an answer, showing appropriate work
- a legible appearance
No credit given for pages without your name.
- Homework is graded based on neatness, completeness, correctness
and timeliness. Neatness means legible handwriting or
printing and carefully drawn figures. Completeness means
all assigned exercises have the question and relevant diagrams
written out, showing all reasonable steps needed to justify the
answer. Correctness means that revisions to incorrectly
worked problems are shown, preferably in another color. Timeliness
means you keep up to date each week.
- 10 points per week for homework.
- 10 - Complete and neat
- 9 - Complete and not neat (or format not correct, like name not on every page)
- 8 - One or two missing diagrams or questions
- 7 - One or two missing problems
- 6 - Only 2/3 of the assignment attempted
- 5 - Only half the work done (eg., All the answers with none of the diagrams or questions)
- 1 point per week deducted for lateness.
- Homework assignments are usually posted on the internet at:
http://www.ktb.net/~cct/hw/geom.html
-
An easy way to link there is through mathorama.com or
http://go.to/geometryor
http://surf.to/frchris
-
See also the web sites at
www.sfhs.net or
www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/8972.
Weekly Quizzes
- Quizzes are administered every week that does not have a chapter test.
In general, quizzes are based directly on homework assignments
and examples done in class.
- Most on the time, notes and homework
may be used while taking a quiz , but not your textbook.
This is to encourage you to take careful, clear and complete notes in class.
Chapter Tests
Chapter tests are administered after covering a significant body of work, usually
after each chapter of the text. Sometimes however, a large chapter
is divided into two parts, with a Chapter Test after each. In general, a
chapter test is scheduled every other week. Since everyone can have
a "bad day" for whatever reason (stress, illness, difficulty with a particular topic, etc.),
the lowest test of the quarter does not count. Chapter Tests are 20 points.
Projects
Projects are assigned to encourage the communication of geometric insights
and to help deepen your understanding
of a particular topic. Projects take on a variety of forms including making web pages, videos, posters and presentations.
Projects are either 10 or 20 point assignments.
Final Exam
There is a special schedule during "Finals Week" to allow for a long, in depth
examination of what you learned each quarter. The final exam counts as two chapter
tests. To help your test taking skills, the test is
conducted in the "SAT" style. There are only thought provoking questions, and
an average student only answers half of them correctly. These exams are therefore
graded on a curve, based on the average and standard deviation of those taking
the exam this year. The top student will score all 40 points.
Classroom Discipline
- DO NOT DISRUPT CLASS
For the sake of the majority of the class, those who disrupt
a class lesson by talking, disturbing someone, or throwing any
object will not be tolerated. Disciplinary measures may include
written assignments or cleaning of the classroom. Chronic disruptions
warrant a phone call home and/or a "Saturday".
- DO NOT ABUSE SCHOOL PROPERTY
You are
responsible for your work place and will be held accountable to
keep your desk and its environs clean. Feet should remain on the floor,
never on the desk. All four feet of the desk must also remain on
the floor. Be gentle when using a school computer. If you are
banned from the use of the computer, all computer based
assignments are replaced with extensive written
assignments.
- DO NOT ABUSE YOUR TIME
Take advantage of the group work sessions. This is the time
to do your talking---so long as you get the work done. Abuse
of this privilege will result in individual loss of the privilege
as well as the disciplinary measured mentioned above.
Talking without permission during quizzes or tests can and
will be interpreted as cheating. Consult the student handbook
for the consequences of cheating. As per the student handbook,
students are responsible for work missed due to absence the day
they return. If you are present and a quiz or test is scheduled,
you must take it. It is a good idea to have the phone number
of several classmates to see what material
and assignments were covered during your absence. If you miss
a quiz you cannot gain any points for it. Unusually one test
score per quarter will be dropped. If you know you will be absent
for a test, you may schedule to take it before the actual test
date if prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.
In the case of an extended illness special arrangements should
be made with the Academic Vice Principal, Mr. Trujillo.
- LIVE UP TO YOUR GOOD NAME You are expected to exhibit the
attributes of a St. Francis
Golden Knight: courteous attention, gracious cooperation, and
dedicated study. Each can readily be seen in the thoroughness
and orderliness of your work.
Grading
- Homework=10 points each week, (roughly 25% of your grade)
- Quizzes=10 points each, (lowest quiz is not counted against you--about 20% of your total grade)
- Chapter Tests=20 points each (lowest test is not counted against you--about 20%)
- Math projects=10 or 20 points each (about 15%)
- Quarter Exams=40 points each. (about 20%)
Since the number of tests and quizzes and the number of weeks of homework
vary from quarter to quarter, the
percentages are approximate. The overall letter
grades are computed by using the standard percentage ratio:
.
Since the lowest Chapter Test each quarter is usually not counted, against
the overall score, the percentages are NEVER rounded up. That is, they
are converted to letter grades strictly as follows:
90% to 100% | A
|
80% to 89.9999% | B
|
70% to 79.9999% | C
|
60% to 69.9999% | D
|
0% to 59.9999% | not a D
|
Keep Track of your Grade
Here is an example:
Item | Date | Assignment | Points Earned | Points Possible | Total Points Earned | Total Points Possible | % (Divide the last 2 columns) |
1 | 9/4 | Homework 1 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | .90 |
2 | 9/4 | Quiz 1.1 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 20 | .85 |
3 | 9/11 | Homework 2 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 30 | .867 |
4 | 9/10 | Test Ch. 1 | 17 | 20 | 43 | 50 | .86 |
5 | 9/13 | Computer Project | 20 | 20 | 63 | 70 | .90 |
6 | 9/18 | Homework 3 | 10 | 10 | 73 | 80 | .9125 |
7 | 9/18 | Quiz 2.1 | 6 | 10 | 79 | 90 | .87 |
8 | 9/24 | Test Ch 2 | 16 | 20 | 95 | 110 | .8636 |
9 | | | | | | | |
10 | | | | | | | |
11 | | | | | | | |
12 | | | | | | | |
13 | | | | | | | |
14 | | | | | | | |
15 | | | | | | | |
Without dropping the low quiz and the low test scores, the average is 86.36%. To drop the low quiz score (Quiz 2.1 was the lowest--6 points)
and the low test score (In this case Chapter 2 Test was 16 points)
we subtract the low scores from the total earned (95-6-16=73), and 30 points from the total points possible (110-30=80)
Now we divide 73/80 to get an average of .9125 (an A-).
In reality, the low scores change throughout the quarter,
so it is best to keep track of your grade without dropping any score, knowing that the average will be better when it comes time
for the report card grade.
Here is a blank table:
Item | Date | Assignment | Points Earned | Points Possible | Total Points Earned | Total Points Possible | percent |
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Send e-mail to instructor: cct@ktb.net