Honors World Civilizations                                                   Mr. Borneman

Oxnard High School                                                                             Fall 2006

e-mail: sanskrit@pacbell.net                                          web-page: www.bornemania.com

Class Rules

Purpose: This course is designed to enhance students’ knowledge of world history, foster awareness of current events, and improve student study skills in preparation for college-level coursework standards.  Quizzes (50%), tests (25%), and activities/projects (25%) will be used to evaluate student achievement (%’s are approximate).  This course satisfies the CA State Social Science Standards Requirement.

Materials: Students will be issued World History (Spielvogel and Duiker, 3rd edition) which will be used as the core text for this course.  Students do not need to bring the text to school except when requested.  Units 1 and 2 will require access to a Bible (any translation will be accepted).  Most supplementary readings will be available as downloads on-line, however, students may find a copy of Socrates’ Apology (by Plato) and a copy of their chosen Greek plays to be very helpful in Unit 2.  Students will need access to a CD player, a word processor, and internet (the latter can be provided on campus).  4” x 6” handwritten notecards may be used for open note quizzes (no typed or printed cards accepted).

Class Rules:

                  1.      Respect for people – students must show respect for other students, the teacher, administrators, substitutes, visitors, and others in the class.  Most importantly, students must respect   themselves and their ideas.

                  2.      Respect for materials – students must show respect for the property of others and of the school.

3.      Work – Written work must be in blue or black ink, or typewritten.  (Typed work receives extra credit.)  Names must be on papers.  Papers without names will not be graded.  I do NOT accept late work.

4.      Preparation – Students are expected to be prepared for class, having completed their readings and brought their materials as needed.

5.      Class Time – Missed quizzes due to tardies or absences (excused or unexcused) cannot be made up except by extra credit.  Missed homework is accepted only for excused absences and with a re-admit stapled to the work.  Bathroom/office visits should be conducted before/after class, not during.  Class begins when the bell rings and ends when the teacher says it does.  Occasionally the classes will be “blocked” for both periods; school activity forms will be provided to allow students to attend the dual sessions.  As often as 6 times a month students will be requested to bring their lunches to class in order to interact in simulations, view films, and participate in special presentations during these “blocked” sessions. These lunch sessions will usually be announced in advance through the syllabus. An effort to keep Wednesdays "meeting free" will be made throughout the year. I am available for additional help from 3:00 to 3:30 pm by appointment.

Quizzes and Exams: Quizzes will be given daily.  There will be 8 Unit Exams and a comprehensive final in June worth one letter grade.  Extra credit will be made available.  Extra credit films will be offered occasionally.  Talking, disruptiveness, or cheating on quizzes or exams will result in a grade of zero (0) and an equal amount of points deducted.  Cheating on homework will incur the same penalty.

Grading Scale:

Grades will be given on a points system.  Missed assignments will count as zero (0).  Missed quizzes must be made up through extra credit.  Students are requested to  arrange to have a study partner to keep them informed of homework assignments.   Re-admit slips are required for late homework.  Extra credit is offered occasionally but infrequently.  Transcripts will not note grades above A+.  The grading scale is as follows:

A++                             101+ %

A+                               97 – 100%

A                                 93 – 96%

A-                                90 – 92%

B+                               87 – 89%

B                                  83 – 86%

B-                                80 – 82%

C+                               77 – 79%

C                                 73 – 77%

C-                                70 – 72%

D+                               65 – 69 %

D                                 60 – 64%

D-                                50 – 59%

F                                  less than 50%

Final Exams:

The final exam is in three parts and is administered over 2 or three days.  The third part of the final exam is open note based on readings from the class.  The other two parts involve music and art and are limited in note usage.

The final exam can alter a student’s grade one full letter.  It is not graded on the same basis as the rest of the points in class but it constitutes approximately 10% (on the above scale) of the student’s grade. 

Students with an A++ are EXEMPT from taking part or all of the final exam.

Students with a C- through A+ need only 50% on the final to maintain their grade. 

Students with a D+ or lower at the end of the first semester will be asked to withdraw from the World Civ. 2H classes.

Students with a D or D+ MUST pass the final with 50% or better to pass the class.

Students with a D- MUST pass the class with a 60% or better to pass the class.

Students with an F MUST  pass the final with 70% or better to pass the class.

Students who receive less than 50% on the final may have their grade lowered one letter.

Students who receive more than 90% on the final will have their grade raised one letter.

 

Signatures of Acceptance:

Signatures indicate that both student and parent/guardian understand and have discussed these rules and agree to these conditions.

 

_________________________________    _____    ___________________________________

(student signature and date)                            Period               (signature of parent/guardian and date)