World+Geography+syllabus

Abigail Anders 619-938-9215 aanders@guhsd.net Geography IH Course Expectations

Welcome to Honors Geography. This is a one-year course required to graduate from Grossmont Union High School District. This class provides an essential and rewarding experience in global discovery and will help you understand the complex issues we face in this modern world. Honors Geography is a challenging course that will explore both physical and human geography in the context of the five major themes: location, place, human and environmental interaction, movement, and the unifying characteristics of various regions.

I Course Outline:

A. Unit 1 The Geographer’s World B. Unit 2 Canada and the United States C. Unit 3 Latin America D. Unit 4 Europe and Russia E. Unit 5 Africa F. Unit 6 Southwest and Central Asia G. Unit 7 Monsoon Asia H. Unit 8 Oceana and Antarctica

II Grading Policy: The grading policy is totally based on points. Points are given for class participation in: • Classroom participation, discussions and oral activities (20%) • Daily reflective writing on the “big questions” (20%) • Notes and Graphics (10%) • Quizzes and Tests (30%) • Projects and presentations (20%)
 * Please note that 20% of their grade is class and group participation. Students are expected to participate appropriately and actively in all classroom discussions. A daily record is kept of this on a seating chart. Any day absent is simply noted as a zero for that day. There are no make-ups for period truancies or unexcused absences. There will also be no extensions on any assignments. Many assignments are self graded or peer graded according to a strict rubric. All of these must be kept in the student’s binder for the final submission.

A= 90%-100% B= 80%-89% C= 70%-79% D= 60%-69% F= 0-59%

Please see Grade Profiles Sheet (attached)

VI Absences/Make Up Work:
 * Many assignments are completed in class only and cannot be made up if you are absent. BE IN CLASS! Excessive absences will affect your grade.
 * If absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed. Ask another student, the teacher, or check the web page to find out what you missed!
 * Make up work is for excused absences only! It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to make it up on your time.
 * You are responsible for any large projects/assignments or tests/quizzes that you knew about before you were absent. If you are absent the day a project is due, you must have it ready on the day of your return or you will receive 50% (F) of the grade you would have received by turning it in on time. For example, if you would have received 80 points out of 100 on a project, you would receive 40 points if it was turned in late.
 * If you are absent on the day of a group presentation, you will receive 50% of the group’s project grade.

VII Attendance Policy: Students who miss more than ten days of class will receive no credit for the class unless these days are made up. No attendance make-up will be allowed for truancy. If you are absent, you are responsible for missed assignments. The student may be dropped from the class if the teacher determines that the absences, in combination with lack of effort, lack of academic success, or poor attitude results in disruptive behavior. The parent and student must realize there is a direct relationship between attendance and grades/ credits earned. The only opportunity for make up of these unexcused absence hours will be the student’s participation in Saturday School. Saturday Schools will be available during the last four Saturdays of each semester; check with the attendance office for specific dates and times. (Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, truancy, leaving campus without permission, car problems, or oversleeping.) Upon the accumulation of 10 tardies to the same class, and pursuant to a teacher request, the student will be dropped.

VIII Behavior Expectations 1. DO NOT talk while the teacher or another student is speaking. Become intellectually curious! Ask questions about the topic and try to make connections to your everyday experiences. 2. No food, drinks, cell phones, iPods or GUM permitted in class. 3. DO NOT pack up your things before the bell rings. 4. BATHROOM- Every student will receive three passes per semester using the bathroom. If they are not used, they count as extra credit towards any assignment at the end of the semester. Any objections must be by the parent. Please note on signature sheet. 5. Any work that is copied (homework, reflections, projects or tests) will result in a zero on the assignment and a referral for both the copier and the person who gave them the assignment to be copied. 6. I expect you to act appropriately and maturely. Know that I am not here to pick on you nor do I have time to nag you unnecessarily. If I give you a direction, I expect you to follow it without argument. Any questions or problems can be discussed privately before or after class.

The 3 R’s: R esponsibility – each student has the ability to succeed in this class as well as life. I will teach you the skills you need to succeed at El Capitan and in college, but it is YOUR responsibility to put this information to good use (be present, attentive, and prepared.) R espect – all students will show respect towards other’s person, opinion, and property. This means LISTENING to ideas and opinions that are different from your own and accepting the right of others to voice that idea or opinion. Remember, just because something is different does not mean it is wrong. R ights – each student that enters my classroom has the right to expect my full attention to the lesson at hand in addition to working in a safe classroom atmosphere that encourages learning. If any student chooses to interfere with my teaching or another student’s learning, I reserve the right to ask that student to leave my classroom (followed by an appropriate consequence).

IX Discipline Policy: 1. Warning 2. Seat change 3. Ask to leave classroom 4. Call home and/or referral on record. Depending on the severity of the disruption and teacher discretion, may be removed from class with no credit.
 * Three referrals constitutes removal from course with no credit.

X Organization- (What you need to have!): Materials needed daily in class include: 1. Two pencils, two pens, and colored pencils or crayons (map work) 2. Two spiral notebooks (200-280 pages) DIVIDED BY FOLDERS. Second notebook to be used for second semester. 3. Four glue sticks. All material will be kept in the notebook- this will become a scrap book of the course.

Once you have understood this sheet completely, sign the cover sheet and return by the 23rd August.