Pre Calculus 2008-2009

Kingsford High School

Your grade will be based upon written exams, quizzes, writing assignments, homework, class participation, and creativity.

Exams and Quizzes:
Everyone will take the midterm and final.  No senior exemptions.
You can expect a variety of types of questions on your exams and quizzes.  Most questions will ask you to provide an explanation for your answer.  In this explanation you may include diagrams and computation.  I will be looking for the correct use of the mathematical terminology.
Exams and quizzes will be graded with little partial credit.  However you will be allowed to earn 1/3 of the points you lost back if you do the following.
1)  Rewrite the question you got wrong.
2)  Provide a complete correct answer.  You must convince me that you now understand your mistakes.
3)  If the question was a true/false variety or a definition, you must write out the definition, theorem, or postulate that will justify your answer.
4)  Next to each question write down the amount of the points you lost.
5)  Attach this to your exam and turn in on the day it is due.  It will not be accepted late.
6)  The corrections must be neat and easy to read.
7)  You may use your notes, text, me or get help from a friend.  Just make sure you learn from your mistakes.

Example:  solve the following.  3X - 4 = 5
3X = 1
X = 1/3 incorrect

Correction:
Solve the following:  3X - 4 = 5
3X - 4 = 5
      +4    +4 Note:  I subtracted 4 from 5 in my original solution.
3X = 9
X = 3

3(3) - 4 = 5
9 - 4 = 5
5 = 5  Check

Homework:
Homework is an extremely important part of any mathematics course.  As practice in sports or music sharpens your skills so does homework sharpen your mathematical skills.  I will choose specific problems that will sharpen your skills.
Homework will be graded in three ways (completely done, ½ done, and not done).  This is how I will grade homework for a nine-week period.  I will calculate all incomplete assignments.
0 to 1 incomplete assignments result in a 10 out of 10 for a homework grade.
1&1/2 incomplete assignments result in a 9 out of 10 for a homework grade.
2 incomplete assignments result in an 8 out of 10 for a homework grade.
2&1/2 incomplete assignments result in a 7 out of 10 for a homework grade.
3 incomplete assignments result in a 6 out of 10 for a homework grade.
3&1/2 incomplete assignments result in a 5 out of 10 for a homework grade.
4 incomplete assignments result in a 4 out of 10 for a homework grade.
This pattern continues until a 0 out of 10 for a homework grade.

Everyone should end up with 10% of his or her grade being an A.
* The homework policy may change during the semester.

EXTRA CREDIT will rarely occur.  When it does it will be directly related to the work we are doing.  You will not be able to pass this class with extra credit.

Grading (nine weeks):                                                     Semester:
Exams – 40%                                                                 first nine weeks- 40%
Quizzes and writing assignments - 45%                           second nine weeks- 40%
Homework- 10%                                                           Semester exam- 20%
Class participation and creativity - 5%

94-100%           A                                             73-76%             C

90-93%             A-                                            70-72%             C-

87-89%             B+                                            67-69%             D+

83-86%             B                                              63-66%             D

80-82%             B-                                            60-62%             D-

77-79%             C+                                            0-59%              F

Cheating:
If you are caught cheating you will FAIL that test, quiz, etc.  In order to pass the semester you must work very hard for the remainder of the semester to pass.  Please do not put yourself in this situation.  I would rather have you fail than cheat.  If you fail, redemption is always possible.

Supplies:
3-ring binder folder
paper for homework (some may choose to use graphing paper)
graphing calculator

If you have any concerns, questions etc., please feel free to talk with me about them.  There is always something we can work out.  It is never too late to improve.
 

 

 

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