Classroom Information
Mrs. Paugh - Room 219 - 2004-2005
Film Composition and Literature
A. General Expectations
1. An atmosphere of mutual respect for one another, the teacher and guests
will prevail in the classroom at all times.
2. All students are expected to maintain behavior which contributes
to the positive learning atmosphere in the classroom. Respect for and
interest in each student's opinions and questions is a major facet of
this behavior. Courtesy will be expressed by all students for the teacher
and one another.
3. Each student should be in his/her desk when the bell rings prepared
to begin class with all the appropriate materials for the day. If there
is persistent tardiness, I will call home and discuss the problem with
a parent or guardian.
4. Respect for and maintenance of school property is required. There
is NO EATING (this includes GUM as well!) OR DRINKING in the classroom
without my approval. There will be NO WRITING ON THE DESKS. (If you write
on them, then you will clean them!)
5. I consider it a personal insult to do homework for another class
or sleep in class. I will call home if this becomes an issue.
6. This is my home during the day. Please be responsible for all your
materials and "garbage." I expect you to be as neat in "my
home" as you would want me to be in your home. (ie. Don't litter!)
7. I expect all students to be enthusiastic and motivated about the
class activities and work. I assume that all students will do all the
reading, writing, discussion, oral and group work. Enthusiastic participation
in the course is key. I will give my best efforts to the class, and I
expect you to do the same.
B. Absence/Tardy Policy and Honesty Policy
1. I will follow the absence policy as outlined in your "Palo Alto
High School Handbook" on pp. 19-20. Please note that you will be
dropped from the course after five cuts. You can also be dropped from
the class after eight tardies. Teachers don't like cuts and tardies, therefore:
Be on time and don't cut class.
2. When you return from an excused absence, you must determine what
work you missed and submit it within 2 days. It would be wise to have
a friend's telephone number so you can call him/her about the work missed.
3. Please refer to calendars, assignment books and the white board for
long term or ongoing assignments and have the work ready on time. Being
prepared, even after an excused absence, is one of the keys to academic
success.
4. If you know you will be absent for a sports event or school presentation,
you must submit the work in advance and have your assignments done on
the day you return. If work is due the day after your event you must submit
it on that day or lose credit. Just because your name appears on an excused
list does not automatically guarantee you an excused absence. You must
ask for my "ok" before the scheduled event. Being on an excused
list does not grant you extra days for homework, quizzes or tests. If
you know you will be absent, you should arrange to take all scheduled
tests and quizzes with me in advance of the day of your event.
5. Make an appointment with me for make-up tests or quizzes for health
related absences or take them in the ARC. Generally these will be given
at lunch within a day or two of the absence. In most instances I will
require you to take the test/quiz in the ARC within two days of the excused
absence. Please talk to me at brunch or lunch about these personal needs
so as not to detract from our general class time. Class will start on
time, so be sensitive to others needs.
6. You lose when you are not in class. Make every effort to attend class.
7. Honesty Policy: Read, discuss & KNOW the expectations & consequences
described in Paly's Academic Honesty Policy (see pp. 31-32 in the Paly
Handbook).
C. Materials Needed
1. Each day you should come to class with assigned reading selections
(if applicable), paper, pencils, pens and any calendars or assignment
sheets that I have given you. Please purchase a spiral notebook (70-100
pages) with holes and bring it everyday for in-class journal prompts,
etc. Do not expect to :borrow" paper or pens from me, your neighbor,
or friends. You need to have these materials with you in every class every
day. It is also wise to carry pocket size tissue with you as the school's
supplies are limited.
2. You also need to purchase a separate binder (1 -1 1/2 inch) for this
class. This binder may be kept at home until the announced due dates and
when submitted will contain your class journal notebook, film responses
and media articles in three separate sections.
3. Book(s) will be issued to you. Flashback, A Brief History of
Film and The Critical Eye are the primary texts (these texts
should be covered) in addition to the novels we will study. I fully expect
that you will return them on the date requested and in the same condition
as you received them. Find a safe place for your books at school and at
home. Do NOT lose books; film texts are VERY expensive.
D. Assignments
1. Unless I tell you otherwise, I expect all work to be typed or written
in pen. Wherever possible use a computer for your finished writing projects.
Please note that we have two computer labs on campus for your use. Neatness
does count! Remember that I can neither read, nor grade illegible work.
2. Please place the following heading in the upper right corner of all
your work: Your name, due date of the assignment, period #, class name
and my name.
3. All assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class unless otherwise
notified. Do NOT hurriedly attempt to complete assignments at the beginning
of class. I will collect incomplete assignments, but they will be marked
down. Staple all materials before class and note that I will not give
credit to "nameless papers." Please do not place papers in the
basket but submit them directly to me when I call for them.
E. Grading
1. You will be graded on all written work, oral work, group work, and
class participation. In addition to your regular homework, essays, oral
reports, quizzes and tests, a class participation grade will be added
to your other grades at the end of each quarter. This subjective grade
is based on participation, attitude and behavior.
2. Usually a letter grade will be given for each assignment. The letter
grade is then converted to points depending on the weight (importance)
of the assignment. Essays are generally worth 100-200 points. Your journal
(binder with all major work) will be graded each quarter and this is a
major grade (300 points). The points are then added at the end of the
semester and divided by the total possible points to obtain a percentage.
Grades will be determined on a percentage scale. 89.6-100% will be in
the "A-" to "A" range; 79.6%-89.5% in the "B"
range; 69.6%-79.5% in the "C" range and below 69.5% in the "D"
to "F" range. Because there is no curve, in theory, everyone
could receive an "A," IF all requirements for an A are met and
the work is of "A" quality. Remember that missed assignments
severely reduce your percentage. I EXPECT EVERYONE to turn in every assignment
ON TIME. Late work results in a lower grade. As a general rule I mark
a paper down one full grade (A to B; B to C, etc.) for every day it is
late. After three days I will not accept late work. Make it a goal to
turn in all assignments on time and avoid disappointments.
3. The first and second quarter grades are averaged together to determine
the semester grade. I give greater weight to the second quarter grade
if you are "on the border" between two grades. For example,
if you earned an "A-" second quarter and a "B+" first
quarter you then earn an " A-" for the semester. Conversely,
if you earn a "B+" second quarter and an "A-" first
quarter, you would earn a "B+" for the semester grade.
4. Remember that quarter grades are progress grades only and do not
appear on your transcript. The semester grade is the one "that counts."
Progress or quarter grades do give you an accurate reflection of your
grade up to that point in the semester however.
5. Remember never to ask, "What did you give me, Mrs. Paugh?"
Ask instead, "What grade did I earn?"
6. Occasionally I provide opportunities to earn extra credit.
These occasions are rare so do not depend on extra credit "to pull
you through." High school, college grades and job evaluations are
primarily based on the work assigned, not extra credit work.
F. General Information
1. There will be several major papers assigned in addition to your film
response journals, class work, quizzes and tests. There will also be a
major research/creative project due as part of the final exam requirement
for this course.
2. As appropriate, I will try to provide calendars or assignment sheets
for different units. I will also post the week's work on the "white
board." Refer to it daily for upcoming assignments and announcements.
Occasionally I may have to reschedule assignments to accommodate teaching
strategies. These changes will be made in advance and are rare, but please
be flexible and retain a sense of humor and perspective if changes need
to be made.
3. These are qualities that I encourage and value: Courtesy, honesty,
responsibility, participation, effort, creativity, motivation, diligence,
a positive attitude and enthusiasm. We WILL have a great semester!
(cut here to return)
******************************
Please sign the following indicating that you have thoroughly read and
understood the above information. Cut and return the signed section on
________________________
Student's name: ________________________ (please PRINT)
Student's signature: ________________________
Parent's name: ________________________ (please PRINT)
Parent's signature: ________________________
Home / Course
Expectations and Policies / Binder
Assign. and Projects / AFI List / Basic
Film Terms / Outside of Class Film Form
/ Book and Film Comparison Paper
/ "The Artists" Novels and Lost
Horizon Assign.
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