Grading Expectations

Journal Evaluations

Tests & Quizzes

Essays

Projects

Final Exams

Participation:

Students are expected to participate in class discussions both in small and large group settings. Participation grades are based on observable behaviors including, but not limited to:

Speaking during discussion

  • Sharing opinions
  • Relating the topic to prior learning
  • Referring to and building upon the ideas of others
  • Listening to and responding to others

Listening actively:

  • Asking Questions
  • Charting the discussion in note form

Demonstrating an knowledge of the assigned text

  • Quoting from specific passages
  • Paraphrasing the author's main points
  • Referring to critical passages

Journal Evaluations:

Students are expected to:

Show evidence that they are adding to their own knowledge by:
    • Charting discussions
    • Researching assigned material
    • Investigating areas of interest
    • Interviewing others
    • Describing their observations of the natural world
    • Through drawings
    • Through narrative

Show evidence that they are developing their own ideas by:
    • Recording their initial ideas [often in freewrite or brainstorming form]
    • Keeping evidence of changes that occur in their thinking/ideas
    • Distinguishing their opinions from others' in some clear fashion
    • Reflecting upon and analyzing the ideas of others
    • Comparing their ideas to those of others

Tests and Quizzes:

There will be several types of assessments to evaluate if, and how thoroughly, students have prepared.

  1. Reading Quizzes- Often Pass/Fail [80% correct is a "pass"], these are "easy"… if you've come prepared. Reading quizzes are seldom announced beforehand. In most cases, students can use notes, or their journals during the quiz.
  2. End of Unit tests- Assess whether or not students have understood the central concepts in the unit. May range from multiple choice, to fill-in-the-blank, to short answer, to paragraph response format. Notes are rarely allowed.
  3. Dialogue tests- Perhaps the most difficult, these tests assess whether or not the student understands the viewpoints, biases, underlying assumptions, and other unique attributes of one, or several, philosopher[s]. A student's own views are usually included in the dialogue. Notes are encouraged.

Daily Work:

Students will be expected to be prepared for class on a consistent basis. Students will be asked to show their preparation in a number of ways:

  1. Critical reading of texts - Students need to have evidence that they have read a text prior to class. Critically read texts have comments, questions, and comparisons in the margins.
  2. Research - Students are expected to conduct library and internet research when necessary or important. Samples of research notes and printouts[within reason] will be included in student journals. Quality, not quantity. Anyone can print out web pages.
  3. Freewriting - Students may choose to freewrite or journal in an effort to figure things out. Questions, guesses, research, wonderings, and answers are preferable ways to prepare for a discussion.
  4. Interviews - Students are encouraged to involve their peers in the process of making meaning. Interviews of peers, parents, children, and strangers are encouraged. When an interview is assigned, the signature of the interviewee as well as the date/time/format of the interview are required on the interview notes.

In class work including focus, productivity, and contributions to the learning of others is a critical component of "daily work."

Projects:

There are usually one or two projects per semester; failure to complete a project can have serious implications for one's grade. Items in this category include individual projects as well as group projects. Assignments that require research, analysis, and a polished presentation of a student's own ideas fall into this category. Rubrics for particular projects vary based upon the unique requirements of that particular assignment.

Essays:

Essays are, by far, the largest portion of a student's semester grade. There will be at least one, and probably two graded essays per semester. Essays will be evaluated using the TOK essay rubric created by the IB program. Scores on the 1-15 scale will be converted to a percentage score before being entered into the grade book.

ALL essays must be turned in with drafts, revisions, and peer editing steps in the revision process. Students may not be reminded of this. It is the responsibility of the student to provide MLA citations for any and all work that is not created by the student. Any essay that does not distinguish the ideas of the essay's author from those of outside sources will, most likely, not be evaluated and may result in a ZERO for the assignment. Students who turn plagiarized work will be given a zero on that assignment. Subsequent plagiarism will result in a "F" for the class. Please consult the student handbook for details about both MLA citations and the school rules concerning plagiarism.

Final Exams:

There will be a final exam for each semester. Final exams will be given over a two or three-day period. Finals may include the following formats: multiple choice, matching, short answer, dialogue response, paragraph response, and essay. Finals are rarely, if ever, taken with notes. Finals are comprehensive; the semester two final will cover material from throughout the year.