Iona Prep Physics Policies

 

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ON ABSENCES: If you are absent from class for any reason at all (sick, on retreat, on Public Relations visit, stuck in traffic for 6 hours, visiting your father in jail, etc.) you are still responsible for the material which is covered in class that day. You should contact a friend to find out what material was covered in order to be prepared to rejoin the class. Also, check the physics website where class notes are posted. That way you will also be prepared in the event of a quiz. Record a few classmates' phone numbers in your notebook for reference. If you have no friends, contact me by e-mail. (I don't have friends either.) If you are absent for an extended period of time you should contact me by email or telephone. I will be happy to provide extra help in order to enable you to keep up with the class. This is your responsibility.

Your grade in this course will be made up of several components:

Quizzes Lab Reports Participation
Written homework Exams Adjustments
  1. Quizzes will be given frequently and without warning. Expect them. See the GRADING page for information on how problems will be graded. You should prepare for quizzes by doing the following:
  2. If you happen to be absent on the day of a quiz, it probably will not be counted in your grade. If you are absent on several quiz days, you may be required to make up missed quizzes on Saturday. That is a very enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning.
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  3. A lab will be performed each cycle. A written lab report using the proper format must be submitted before the assigned deadline. Late lab reports will be accepted for reduced credit only until the graded reports are returned. After graded reports are returned, none will be accepted. Lab report grades count the same as quiz grades. If you do not submit a report for a lab you performed, you will be given a grade of zero. That tends to lower your average.
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  4. A participation grade may be assigned at the end of the marking period. It will count as a quiz grade. The participation grade will be the teacher's evaluation of the extent to which you have come prepared for class, cooperated in class activities, completed your homework, performed during laboratory periods, and similar considerations.
  5. As part of your class participation you should come prepared for class every day. That means you should have the following items every day: [Return to top of Policy page. ] [ Go to the Contents page. ]
  6. Written homework, when collected or checked, may be counted either as a quiz grade or as part of your participation grade. If not handed in when collected, a grade of zero will be assigned. See the GRADING page for information on how problems will be graded.
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  7. There will be two examinations each marking period. There will be adequate warning before examinations, which will count twice as heavily in the average as any single quiz.
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  8. Adjustments: You should attempt to earn good grades by paying attention in class, participating, and completing assignments. If you come unprepared for class (no computer, no calculator, no paper or pencil, etc) you will probably lose points. The science department has a policy "no extra credit". If you are making a good effort, have completed all assignments, and still want to do extra work, speak with me. I may be able to give you a special, unique assignment which is designed to advance your understanding of the course material. The absolute deadline for any special assignment is one week before the end of the marking period. No exceptions. Period.
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Last Update: by Br. Robert W. Harris

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