COURSE OVERVIEW and POLICIES
ALGEBRA II
Lenox Memorial High School
2008–2009 Academic Year

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Algebra II is a 5-credit course. It reviews all topics previously covered in Algebra I but with much more depth. Conic sections, logarithms, and exponential functions are also covered.

PREREQUISITE

C^- or better in Algebra I

TEXTS

Course materials are on the web at:  http://www.onemathematicalcat.org
Click on Table of Contents, then Algebra II at Lenox Memorial High School.

SUPPLIES

TI-83 GRAPHING CALCULATOR
LMMHS will issue each student a graphing calculator for the year. A Calculator Contract must be signed by both student and parents; the calculator is borrowed from and must be returned to the library.

3-RING BINDER and DIVIDER SHEETS
A 3-ring binder (at least 1.5" ring size) is strongly recommended to organize all class materials. Please make tabs for SYLLABUS, GRADE SHEET, and INDEX CARDS.

INDEX CARDS
Index cards (4" × 6", both sides un-ruled) are used to summarize important material. You may want to purchase a 3-hole punched plastic zippered pouch in which to keep your index cards.

THE "INDEX CARD" LECTURE METHOD

All the important ideas in the course are summarized on index cards, which become a primary study source for exams and quizzes. Here's how the "index card method" works:

• You will receive copies of the index card material; the sheets are pre-punched to put in your 3-ring notebook.
• Quickly read over the sheet(s) before coming to class. This way, you'll have a preview of what we'll be talking about, making you more receptive to the ideas.
• After class, copy the material onto an actual index card. As you write the card, THINK! Make sure you understand everything you're writing down. Feel free to add additional material to make the index cards more useful to you.
• Index cards are passed in and graded at the end of each quarter. Each card is worth 2 points (1 point for each side).

QUICK QUIZZES

At the beginning of each class there is a Quick Quiz, which usually consists of a basic question from the previous day's index card(s). The Quick Quizzes are graded with a  1  (one point) or an  N  (Not completely correct). Points accumulated on the Quick Quizzes are added into your point total as BONUS POINTS. Consequently, they can't hurt your grade, but can certainly help! There are no make-ups on Quick Quizzes, and I discard them immediately after grading. I keep track of your Quick Quiz points and give you the total at the end of each quarter to add into your grade sheet.

QUIZZES and EXAMS

Every Monday there will be a "MAJOR QUIZ" over the material covered in the previous week. These quizzes comprise a significant part of your course grade. Take them very seriously!

Every Friday there will be a quiz over the Algebra/Geometry review exercises for the week.
Since there are a wide variety of questions which are randomly-generated and vary considerably in difficulty level, the review quizzes will be scaled:  if the quiz is worth  x  points, then  0.15x  points will be added to each score, not to exceed 100%. (That is, any scaled score greater than 100% is recorded as 100%).

These review exercises are a WIN-WIN situation: ones that are difficult for you are filling in gaps in your understanding; ones that are easy for you are building up your course grade!

At the end of each quarter there will be an exam that covers all the material from that quarter.
There is a cumulative final exam at the end of the school year that will count as 20% of your final course grade.

ABSENCES and TARDINESS

Excerpts from the Student Handbook:
Excused Absence: An absence is considered excused when the parent/legal guardian contacts the school and provides a legitimate excuse for the absence. Students whose absences are excused have the right to make up tests and as much classroom work missed as each teacher deems essential. It is the student's responsibility to schedule makeup arrangements with each of his/her teachers. Work missed due to one or two absences should be made up within two school days. Work missed due to longer absences should be made up within five days.
Unexcused Absence: An unexcused absence is considered a major infraction of school rules and will result in one or more days of either in-school or out-of-school suspension. Students missing tests and other classroom work due to unexcused absence(s) may lose their right to make up work missed as a result of such absence(s).
Classroom Tardiness: Students should arrive to class on time. Students who fail to reach their next period class during the allotted four-minute passing period without a pass are tardy and subject to either teacher-assigned or office-assigned detention. Students will be given 24-hour notice of such detention.

An unexcused late or unexcused absence causes you to lose a Quick Quiz point. (I record  -1  on the Quick Quiz sheet.)

YOUR NUMBER IS ...

On the first day of class, a form will be passed around where you will select your number for the year. This number will be written on all passed-in material. Also, your personal folder is identified with this number. If you miss class, check your folder for papers that may have been distributed while you were absent.

MY NUMBER IS:

GRADING

You will accumulate points throughout each quarter. Here's an example: if there are 996 possible points, and you accumulate 770 points, then your numerical term grade will be determined by computing 770/996 and using normal rounding, yielding 77%. Each student is provided with a grade sheet which is used to keep track of your grade throughout each quarter.

GRADE ASSIGNMENT

EXAM DATES

COURSE GRADE

Each Quarter Grade counts as 20% of your final course grade.
The cumulative Final Exam counts as the remaining 20% of your final course grade.

QUIZ PRACTICE

There will be a short quiz over these course policies, as the first entry on your Grade Sheet.
Practice below!