Grade Proportions:
Bellwork & Classwork
One-sixth of each student's grade is determined by bellwork, and one-sixth of the grade is determined by classwork. If a student is absent for any class for any reason, they should do the make-up work from each unit’s schedule for each missing day. It is due the day following their return-to-class. (If it is turned in on the day-of-return, they will receive extra credit.) Bellwork is not required from students on days when they have an authorized absence; it will be pro-rated.
Tests
One-third of each student’s grade is determined by tests. If a student is absent for a quiz or test, they are responsible for arranging a mutually convenient appointment with Mr. Petto to take it during one of the following periods: {2, 4, 6} or after school. Students must take all tests to receive a passing grade, regardless of the reason missing the test. Students may qualify and retake tests, with a 5% reduction in attainable points each time the test is reattempted. Typically qualification to retake a test is achieved by completely correcting the original test. In certain cases (i.e. on certain tests) an opportunity to recover a portion of the points missed on a test will be available, by completely correcting the incorrect portion of the test on or before an assigned deadline.
Projects
One third of each student's grade is determined by project work, and homework. These will be penalized 10% for each day that they are late. No late work will be accepted during the last six days of any quarter.
Additional Work
Students may request and receive assignments for additional work assignments. These are not available to students who disregard normal assignments. This additional work may be used to replace low scores in the bellwork or classwork categories. No amount of additional work can be used to change a poor test score, or a poor project grade. The only way to improve a poor test score is to qualify and retake the test.
Other Grading Matters
Bellwork scoring
Problem #1 copied completely, along with correct & complete solution: +60%
Solution has been seriously attempted (#2) with supporting work shown: +20%
Solution (#2) is correct and supporting work is shown: +20%
Homework & classwork scoring
Work turned in (on-time, with name, date due, period): +30%
Work is substantially complete: +30%
Sample score on random problems: up to +40%
If any student turns in late work (that is any work submitted after its scheduled due-date for any reason) they should note the reason at the top of the first page, alongside their name, the scheduled due-date, and class period. For example, “I'm turning this in two days late because of my excused absence on those days.”
(If any student believes that my statistical scoring has underestimated their performance, they can return their graded work, and it will be scored completely.)
Work should be completed using a pencil
All bellwork, classwork, homework, quizwork, and testwork, must be completed using a pencil. Any work that is submitted in pen will be penalized 10%.
Projects and Problems-of-the-Week
A rubric is used for scoring problems of the week. Scoring rubrics for projects generally accompany the assignment.
Extra credit scoring
Extra-credit opportunities are announced in class from time-to-time. In many cases you will also find these posted on our weblog, posted on our classroom walls, or noted in the slides from that day's class. Every successful extra-credit submission will replace your lowest homework, classwork, or bellwork score with a perfect score; and will be applied at quarter's close. Extra-credit work has no effect on projects, quizzes, or test scores. Up to 100 points of extra-credit scoring may be earned in any quarter. No extra-credit will be counted for any student who has an unserved detention at the end of the quarter.
Demerit scoring
If a student is disruptive to the class, and distracts other students, they will be given one or more demerit points, which are in effect the opposite of extra credit points. They can be thought of as negative extra-credit. These can result in a reduced grade for the quarter.
Submitting Work Electronically
A 10% scoring bonus will be received for all electronically-submitted assignments. Here are more details. Electronic submissions are due at midnight on the due-date. (Otherwise assignments must be given to me in-person on the due-date, before I leave campus.)
