Expectations+and+Policies


 * GLOBAL DYNAMICS IV **

Welcome to Global Dynamics IV. Our course will be centered around essential questions. Much of what we do will relate to these questions. Keep them in mind as you consider our readings. The following are the essential questions for the first quarter: How does religious belief permeate and impact literature? What is the relationship between free will and predestination (call of God)? How does the problem of evil, man's desire to "be" God, manifest itself in literature and life? What impact do the differing characters of the polytheistic gods and the Judeo-Christian God make to their followers and the literature they produce? How does the desire for immortality shape human behavior?

Secondly, here are the course description and expectations. You'll encounter them on our WIS page as well. Please make sure that you understand and abide by them.


 * Course Description and Expectations **

Global Dynamics IV is a double-block, integrated class that will focus on Europe and South America, their history, literature, culture, geography, and art. We will be considering literature in the light of the historical milieu in which it was produced, and history as reflected not only in events, but also in literature. We will also work on your English usage and writing skills, preparing you for the rigorous content, organizational, mechanical, and citing requirements of college writing. The course also includes study of vocabulary, using primarily words from the readings and trying to encourage students to recognize word families, affixes, and context clues to determine meaning.


 * Expectations **

Each student will be responsible to arrive at class on time, appropriately dressed, with reading materials, notebook and portable device, and pen. Failure to bring required supplies may result in an effort grade of 1. Failure to arrive on time will result in a late. Three lates equal one cut. Six cuts result in probation for absences.

Work will be completed in a Word or equivalent format and stored in your Drives notebook. All homework, unless otherwise stated, will be due in hard copy on the corner of my desk at the beginning of class. Writing assignments must be in 12 point, Times New Roman, double-spaced, with your name, assignment title at the top right. Failure to turn in homework that displays a sincere effort (in the opinion of the teacher) will result in an effort grade of 1 for the week. Late work will receive NO CREDIT but must be made up in conference regardless.Should a student miss class for an excused reason, he/she will be allowed the equivalent number of days to make up the assignment.


 * Grading Policy **

Grading is by the point system. Each assignment will be weighted (as indicated by points) depending on its difficulty and length. Points will be totaled and averaged at the end of each week, but also at the end of each quarter; therefore, all weekly grades are not equivalent. A scale in accordance with the student handbook is be applied to figure the appropriate letter grade. For the most part, daily homework assignments earn five points; quizzes (both announced and unannounced) ten points; in-class essays, projects, and presentations twenty-five points. The mid-year exam will count as one-third (33%) of the first semester grade, and the end of the year exam the same for the second semester grade. Mid-semester exams will also occur with the same weighting for the quarter.


 * Academic Integrity and Respect for Others **

All students will be held accountable for reading, understanding, and abiding by the guidelines for classroom behavior and policies as documented in the Winchendon Student/Parent Handbook, which can be found on the school website. The plagiarism policy is strictly enforced, and should you have any question about how to document a work, please see me. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes an academic integrity offense. To highlight some other suggestions for maintaining a respectful and proper learning environment, students are expected to respect the opinions of each other by allowing one person to speak at a time without interruption.


 * Lying and cheating are absolutely wrong and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism (presenting another’s ideas or work as one’s own—in other words without quoting and citing) is a form of cheating. Please do your own work! The consequences for cheating are severe! **


 * Instructor Information **

Should you ever need any help, I am available during conference time in my office in the main building, before and after the academic day, and any other shared time by appointment. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to ask me about the work you missed. All assignments will be posted on your WIS page. I look forward to working with you as we discover more about ourselves, each other, and the world around us.


 * Winchendon School Skills Sequence for level IV **

1) Reading Comprehension In a self-disciplined manner, read the of equivalent of 250 page book (fiction or non-fiction) weekly while understanding key themes, characters, nuances, imagery, historical reference…and making connections and comparison with texts previously read.  Visualize and infer competently while reading.  Comprehend increasingly complex and abstract texts.  Master annotation and note-taking skills.

2) Multimedia, Art, and Oral Comprehension Display ability to identify bias and purpose in multimedia sources, as well as deconstruct (evaluate) and interpret them in relation to literary, historical, and current sources.  Take effective Master Notes and demonstrate proficiency of understanding in a test format from a video or oral presentation.  3) Critical Thinking Effectively evaluate the credibility and usefulness of sources of information disruptions. Recognize disruptions of patterns and trends and the mechanics of those. Predict progression and outcomes. Understand assumptions that underscore projections. Demonstrate sensitivities and perspectives that are global in scope and empathetic to a variety of controversial and conflicting viewpoints. Manage and regulate their own learning, understand their areas of improvement. 4) Inquiry and Meaning-Making Critique ideas and arguments, based on evaluation of reliable criteria and logical conclusions.  Express in a rational manner support for one’s own positions and respectfully challenge different views.  5) Writing, Speaking, and Digital Expression In writing, Produce a ten page analytical/argumentative research paper with at least 12-15 citations. Effectively incorporate compound-complex sentences. Demonstrate mastery of verbals. Cite accurately.

6) Vocabulary/Grammar Master contextual vocabulary with discussions of roots and etymology.  Recurring explanation and practice of needed grammar rules and concepts.  Focused work with varied sentence types and beginnings.