MS. D’S RULES &
REGS Cell: 347-343-1920 Email: Daynard@ gmail.com
THE GOOD NEWS
The good news is that is I am kindly and understanding by
nature. I care about your whole life, not just how you are as an English
student. This means that you may call me on my cell, or email me at home, if
you have a serious problem that prevents you from functioning in my class. I
will also meet with you any time I can to help you with work or to discuss
issues. I will help you do well in my class if you show you are willing to work
hard and be honest with me.
IEP AND ELL
All students with
IEPs, 504s, and ELL MUST schedule an interview with me to take place WITHIN THE
FIRST 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL.
HOMEWORK
No late homework will be accepted unless you have been out
sick. The homework is DUE THE DAY YOU RETURN. Since the syllabus is posted
online, there is no excuse not to do homework when you are out, unless you are
severely ill.
The expectation is that you will do your homework on your
own and not share work with other students. Anyone caught copying homework,
whether copyer or copyee, will get a zero on the work and a phone call home.
LATE PAPER POLICY
You may hand in papers late without penalty (!!!!!!) IF
you ask for an extension at least ONE
DAY ahead of time. If you have not asked for an extension, your paper will
be downgraded one half a grade OR MORE, at my discretion, depending on when you
get it in.
PROOFREADING EXTRA
CREDIT
If you turn in a paper on time along with a draft that has
been printed out and carefully hand-edited/proofread by you, you will receive 3
extra credit points.
TEST EXTENSION POLICY
You have a one-time-only “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” card per
term. This card allows you an extension on ONE test or quiz. You must ask for this extension at least
ONE DAY ahead of the test or quiz. Further, you must pledge that you will
not seek information about the test from anyone who has already taken it.
Evidence that you have broken the pledge will result in a zero on the test or
quiz for both cheater and cheatee.
TEST REDOS
If the entire class does poorly on a test, I will generally
redo the test. Students on IEPs will usually have the opportunity to do a
makeup test if they do poorly on the first one.
PAPER REVISION POLICY
You may revise a paper for a better grade at any point in
the term EXCEPT the last week of the term.
CHEATING
We will be completing an Honesty Curriculum in class with an
optional pledge. Anyone caught cheating OR helping someone else cheat will receive
a zero on the assignment and MAY fail the entire term. There will also be phone
calls to housemasters and parents.
SPARKNOTES
Steer clear of SparkNotes. For one, these notes are not
always correct. For another, reading SparkNotes instead of a text constitutes
cheating. Using ideas from SparkNotes for the basis of a paper constitutes
plagiarism.
INTERNET
While I don’t want ever to “forbid” you from researching and
acquiring knowledge, I do want you to avoid searching the Internet for paper
ideas. When I ask you to respond to a question about a text, I want you to
limit your response to your own ideas. Going online to find the “correct” or a
“good” idea will skirt perilously close to plagiarism.
LATE TO CLASS
There is a three-minute “window,” after which you will be
marked late. If you are late to class please do not also disrupt the class by
talking. Three times late to class will result in a cut and a detention.
ABSENCES
If you have more than two unexcused absences, you will “N”
out of my class. Absences must come up “excused” in the computer on the day of
the absence, not after the fact.
CLASS WORK AND
ABSENCES
You are still responsible for all class work when you are
absent. If you miss a quiz or test, you must complete that quiz or test the
SAME WEEK you miss it. Obviously, if you’re absent on a Friday, you must take
that quiz on Monday (or Tuesday, for G block) the following week. The burden of reminding me that you need to
make up a quiz is on YOU. Failure to make up a quiz in a timely fashion will
result in a zero.
CLASS BEHAVIOR
Basically, anything that is not class work is not permitted.
Let me itemize for clarity: Talking to friends once class begins; doing other
class work; texting or using cell phones; using headphones; eating. Bottled
water is acceptable. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE TURNED OFF AND PUT AWAY.
I will give one warning. The second time you will be
assigned a detention. The third time will result in your being sent to your
housemaster.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
GRADES
Class participation is worth 100 points per term. That is
about 20% of your grade. To do well in class participation (90+) you should aim
to participate every day, even if it is only to ask a question. Here is the
rough breakdown:
90 – 100: This
person actively participates in class discussion every day. Asks thoughtful questions, helps the class go well.
85 – 89: This
person participates a couple of times per week.
80 – 84: This
person is attentive to class discussion, but does not participate actively.
60 – 79 This
person is “checked out” of class, does not participate, or is disruptive by
talking to others during class. Anyone behaving in this way will
be spoken to privately, possibly
requiring a parent or counselor conference.
