Sociology Course Intro

2nd Pd. AP Government - Ms. Scioli Spring 2018 Communication: Email: [email protected] Website: angelascioli.com I use the REMIND app to send text reminders of things I announce in class. To join, text this message: @2ndpdapgo to this #: 81010. Google classroom course code is: 1npxgcd

Materials: You will be provided a textbook for this class and you will keep it at home. We have just enough books for the class, so if you transfer out, I need you to bring it to me IMMEDIATELY or I will put a curse on you and your offspring. A three ring binder will be helpful; you might also like taking notes in spiral notebooks. The way you organize your materials is really up to you. I assess knowledge not organization, but organization helps tremedously with developing knowledge. So, just know where your notes and handouts are, and how they relate to each other, and date your stuff so you know the order we used it, and you should be fine. Also have notebook paper and a writing utensil each day.

Class Rules: The classroom should be a productive place for learning and listening. Therefore, the following guidelines for classroom behavior will be observed:

 Be in class and seated when the bell rings.  Inconspicuous food is OK, but ONLY WATER  Cell phones usage should strictly conform to I have carpet. I hate bugs. Anything but water teacher directives / BYOD policy. spills and attracts them.  Be attentive.   Use language and discuss topics that are school appropriate.  Dispose of trash properly.   I strictly adhere to school-wide policies regarding cell phones / electronic devices / nuisance items and tardiness. For other behavioral infractions, detention with me will be assigned.   Policy for Leaving Class:   You should rarely need to leave class. You’ll note that I never do, so it is possible to take care of your needs outside of class time. If you do need to leave class, you need to let me know when you go and take the appropriate hall pass. I will make mental note of the frequency and duration of time you are out of class. If it becomes excessive, I will discuss it with you and then contact your parent / guardian and determine an appropriate plan.   Absences:   I care if you miss class. If you are absent, I need you to show me a yellow note from attendance. You should initiate that interaction. If your absence remains unexcused, any work you submit related to that absence will receive 70% credit.   Daily text blasts will also be sent out (with a photo from the board) of what we did in class.   Homework:   Homework will typically be a reading selection from your textbook. You will read and take notes on the assigned reading. Typically, multiple exposures to the information insures mastery of it. The day after the reading is assigned, there will be a quiz on that information in class.   Grading:   Tests are worth 50%, major assignments (generally assignments graded for correctness) are 35% and minor assignments are 15%.   I will post grades on Powerschools. The grades will be posted on Powerschools before I hand them back in class.    Test Corrections:  This is a college course, and there are not test corrections in college. So, I would like to start in that vein. If, at a later date I change my mind, I predict test corrections will be for student who earned lower than a 60 and they can correct up to a 60.   Cheating:   The Honor Code policy depends upon students’ knowing what kind of aid is authorized for different assignments. Unless I state otherwise, all work in this class should be completed using the “independent thought” standard, which is explained below:   “Independent Thought” standard – Under the independent thought standard, students can collaborate, but each person’s answers must demonstrate individual effort and understanding. Under this standard, answers that are exactly the same, or answers that have ideas that are stated in the same order with the same phrasing or organization, are not allowed. Students who turn in assignments, or portions of assignments, which demonstrate that a student was not thinking independently, but merely copying another’s ideas and answers, are cheating under this standard.   Tests will be completed using the “authorized aid only” standard:   “Authorized Aid Only” standard – Under this standard, students may not collaborate or receive ANY assistance that is not explicitly approved by the teacher. Collaboration or the use of any unauthorized aid constitutes cheating. Simply talking with others about an assignment or test would be cheating under this standard.   Note that, according to school board policy, those who give and receive unauthorized aid are equally guilty of cheating, and both the giver and receiver will be punished equally and severely. Please also be aware that students who appear to be collaborating inappropriately on assignments for OTHER teachers will also have their work collected and given to the appropriate teacher for evaluation.   Current Events :   In a democracy, it is important to have an informed citizenry capable of thinking critically about current events. At age eighteen, most of you will be eligible to vote. In the spirit of getting you ready for full democratic participation, we will be regularly discussing current events.   I will be explaining the procedure for doing current events in class the first day. Students who can explain or describe a qualifying current event with sufficient detail will receive full credit (5 points), and if with less detail, half credit (2.5 points). Each nine weeks, students must earn at least 15 points to fulfill their current events requirement. I will require you to speak loudly and clearly, as you are speaking to the class in an effort to create a “realtime newscast”.   To be successful as a student and a citizen, you need to create a habit of accessing the news regularly each day. Note that habits at first require intention but in time become habits. Decide how (internet, paper, tv) you will access the news and when. Then, do it consistently until it becomes a habit. If you have questions about what you are hearing, bring them up in class and I will explain the “back-story” of the issue / event.   Students may do additional current events for extra credit (max 10 extra) , but students in need of credit will be given priority in determining who I call upon. Each day, one team will get to go first and I rotate to the next team each day. But students do current events as individuals, not teams. You can only do one current a day for credit. You cannot repeat a current event that has already been done. So, don’t procrastinate or it can become difficult to meet the requirement.   If you want to know how many credits you have, you can look it up on Class Dojo (I will give you a code) , or I can tell you before or after class (not during).   On test days, extra credit questions on the board will be about the current events we have discussed in class. So, that is a another reason you will want to listen and I insist that the speaker speak loudly and clearly.   SMART lunch availability: TBA, see the board. 