Ms. Plunkett

Standard Economics

Room 250

2011-2012

Welcome to Standard Economics, a semester-long course that is required for graduation. This course will cover the basic principles of economics as they apply to individuals, businesses, the United States as a whole, and even the world. Special attention will be given to the free enterprise system, the principles of supply and demand, the interaction between business in the marketplace, the role of the government, banking and Federal Reserve System, the global economy, and personal economic skills. Classroom instruction will consist of readings and activities drawn from a variety of sources. While the textbook, Economics: Principles and Practices, will serve as the primary source for instruction, outside resources will be used as well. Attendance in class is essential for success in this course.

Your success in this course is important to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance. You can reach me during the day by leaving a message with the school office at 853-3310. My planning period is first period. After school hours, you are welcome to reach me via e-mail. I check it often. My school e-mail address is cplunkett@scsk12.org. My personal email address is plunkec@bellsouth.net and is best used after school hours.

The “Four B’s”

Be Better: The school has a list of rules that you must follow (read the Student Handbook), but in this class you must do better than that. When in doubt about how to act, use the Golden Rule.  Demonstrating good behavior is always better than avoiding bad behavior. 

Be Prepared: Write all assignments down, including the due date.  Bring assigned materials to class daily. Materials always include your textbook, a three-ring binder with plenty of notebook paper, and a dark blue or black pen.  Occasionally other materials are listed as part of your homework assignment. Assignments and quizzes must be completed with a blue or black pen. Unless Scantrons are used, pencils are NOT accepted.

Be Prompt: Be in your seat when the bell rings. Have your notebook open to the bell work assignment. You are tardy if there is space between your seat and the desk when the bell rings. Complete and turn in all assigned work on time. Late assignments are not accepted.

Be Polite: Be quiet and attentive when the bell rings, when the teacher is talking, and while waiting for permission to speak.  Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged before asking or answering questions.  Remain seated unless given permission to do otherwise.  Use voices that cannot be heard outside your group during group work.  Go out of your way to be respectful and polite to everyone in the classroom. The following are examples of impolite behaviors and are not tolerated in the classroom: eating, drinking, chewing gum, sleeping, talking without permission, and loudly dropping books on the floor.

Classroom Procedures 

(1)   Follow the four B’s.  Read them often.  Live them daily.

(2)   Classwork includes taking notes, working independently on exercises, and participating in group activities. Some classwork will be taken up for a grade and may count between 10 and 50 points. Classwork assignments cannot be made up. If a student has an excused absence on the date classwork is assigned, no grade will be recorded for that student. Of course, unexcused absences result in a grade of zero.

(3)   Homework includes reading assignments everyday and written assignments on occasion. Textbook homework is due on quiz dates. Students will turn in all the textbook homework assigned for the chapters being quizzed that day. (Refer to the Course Outline to determine which textbook questions are assigned for each section.) The homework will be graded for both completion and accuracy.  I will select one section to grade for accuracy while the other sections will be checked for completion only. Ten points will be earned for completion and another ten points for accuracy. All homework must be completed in dark blue or black ink.

(4)  Assignments that are incomplete or missing will result in Academic Support being assigned. The completed assignment is due 48 hours later. Additional Academic Support sessions will be assigned until the student receives a passing grade on the assignment.  Homework should be completed at home. No time will be given at the beginning of class to complete or assemble homework assignments. Projects are due on the date announced in advance. It is recommended that students not in school on a project due date send the project to school with a friend or parent. Late or incomplete projects will result in Academic Support being assigned until the project is turned in. The highest grade that can be earned on a late assignment or project is 70%.

(5)  Chapter Quizzes have a variety of formats but usually include multiple-choice and at least one short essay or graphing exercise. Chapter quizzes are worth 40-80 points. These are graded in class on the day of the quiz. As a result, quizzes cannot be made up. If a student has an excused absence on the date a quiz is administered, no grade will be recorded for that student. Of course, unexcused absences result in a grade of zero.

(6)  Two Unit Tests are given in each quarter. These tests are multiple-choice and cover the chapters indicated in the Course Outline. These tests are worth 200-300 points. They are administered with Scantrons. A Comprehensive Final exam is also administered with Scantrons. The final exam counts one-fifth of the total semester grade.

(7)  Make-up tests can be taken during Dragon Time on Friday, but students have only two Dragon Time sessions with which to make up a test (provided the absence was excused). Students who missed multiple tests in multiple classes may have to make up a test after school and must schedule that time directly with me. No reminder will be given to students who have to make up a test. It is YOUR responsibility to arrange to make up a test. If a student fails to make up a test before the second Dragon Time expires, the grade becomes a zero and Academic Support is assigned each day until it is made up. The highest grade that can be earned on a make-up test taken after Academic Support is assigned is 70%.

(8)  Group work is a large part of the instruction in this class.  Groups are assigned and change occasionally.  Roles are assigned and change often. Each member of a group is important, and the quality of the work done in a group contributes to your success on both written assignments and tests. Group activities that require class presentations count between 20 and 50 points. 

(9)  One project is assigned during the semester.  Some class time will be allowed for project completion, but the bulk of the work must be done at home. During the second nine weeks, students will choose which project to complete. For more information on projects, see the web page section titled Projects.

(10) Grades are calculated on a total point basis. Students and parents are encouraged to check grades on Power School often to monitor progress and verify accuracy.

(11) When tardy, sign the tardy log and quietly take your seat. Assignments are posted by week in the assignment notebook.  They are also posted on the web site.  If absent, refer to the web site, assignment notebook or call a classmate.  Missed assignments are due one day after your return to class. A zero will be recorded in the grade book until the student has made up and turned in the missed assignment. 

(12) Ask for help. I am available for tutoring after school on Wednesdays. An appointment is necessary.   Do not hesitate to ask for help on any of the material, including written assignments. Many students make use of email to get answers to questions after school hours. I welcome student emails and try to check my email each evening before 9:00pm.

(13)  Classroom procedures include the consequences for breaking school rules.  The first offense receives a reminder of the appropriate behavior. The second offense receives a verbal warning and a phone call to parents.  The third offense receives a disciplinary referral. All students are expected to complete homework, classwork, quizzes and tests independently. Both providing answers to other students and accepting answers from other students are considered cheating. Misrepresenting one’s work through plagiarism is treated as cheating as well. Incidences of cheating will result in a zero on the assignment/test and a disciplinary referral.