FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
- How are grades determined?
- How can I make sure that I pass the class?
- Do I need a notebook for this class?
- Can I turn in work late?
- What happens if I'm tardy to class?
- What class average does my class need?
- What happens if my class fails to meet the class average?
- Can I use a notecard on my test?
- Wow, I bombed that test. Can I retake it?
- How many times can I retake the test?
- Is there anytime when I am NOT allowed to retake a test?
- What does my weekly essay need to be?
- Where can I find the weekly essay topic & when are they due?
- Is there going to be a note grade today?
- Are you going to grade this worksheet on accuracy?
- Can I go to the restroom?
- How tough is the Semester Exam?
- How can I earn extra credit?
- This paper's old. Can I thow it away?
- Can I have something to eat & drink in class?
- Can I have a cell phone in class?
- Can I listen to my iPod in class?
- If Mr. Booth is thinking of a number between 1 & 100, what is the answer?
- In Review Game, what is the difference between the 2 Equalizer options in Review Game?
- What do you call that thing at the grocery store where you put your food in it, it has wheels, & you push it around the store?
- Are you related to the guy who killed Lincoln?
- Where is Purdue?
- What if I need the answer to something not listed here?
How are grades determined?
Mr. Booth grades based on total points, meaning you take all the points that
you earned divided by the total points possible to determine your percentage.
This does not mean, however, that all assignments equally determine your
overall grade. For instance, a test grade is usually worth 200 points, while a
note grade is worth at least 10 points. Therefore, your test grade will be
more important to your overall grade than an individual note grade.
But, this does NOT mean that you should only take tests & ignore
everything else. While tests make up around 1/2 of your overall grade, you
cannot pass the class with a 100% grade on tests & a 0% grade on everything
else: that would just result in you failing the course with a 50% F average.
How can I make sure that I pass the class?
There is a 4-step program that is practically fail proof:
Do all your work
Turn your work in on time
Get to class on time
Don't miss school
Do I need a notebook for this class?
Yes. You will need a 3-ring binder to hold all handouts & assignments from the
class. At the end of every unit, there will be a Unit Grade where your
notebook will be graded based on if you have all the handouts & assignments
from that unit, & if all handouts & assignments are completed.
Can I turn in work late?
Yes, but there will be a mandatory 50% deduction.
What happens if I'm tardy to class?
Excessive tardiness will result in detention time. Also, in Mr. Booth's class,
students tardy to class will be given a grade of ZERO on any beginning
of class quizzes (so called "tardy quizzes"). And please note that 3 tardies
counts as an unexcused absence, which may effect semester exam exemptions.
What class average does my class need?
Mr. Booth's U.S. History classes need to maintain a 78.0% average on unit
tests. Mr. Booth's Economics & Personal Finance classes need to maintain a
76.0% average on unit tests.
What happens if my class fails to meet the class average?
If your class fails to meet the class average benchmark, then your class will
have a strict environment that does not allow for any disruptive activities or
behaviors during free time. This should not be considered a punishment, but
rather an incentive to retake your exam & study harder for future tests.
Can I use a notecard on my test?
Students are allowed to make a 3"x5" handwritten notecard to be used on unit
tests. There can only be writing on 1-side of the notecard. A notecard is not
a "cheat sheet." Questions & Answers (like from the Review Game) are not
allowed on a notecard. Notecards are subject to Mr. Booth's final approval &
must be turned in with your completed test. Also, keep in mind that being
allowed to use a notecard on a test does NOT mean that you do not need
to study for your tests. Ideally, you will study for the test, & if there are
particular topics that you are having a hard time keeping straight, then these
things should be on the notecard. Just copying the entire unit notes onto a
notecard is not what is intended with a notecard to use on a test. Also, a
notecard can only be used on the first test not on any retake exams.
Do note that use of a notecard is a privilege not a right. If notecards are
not used correctly, then this privilege WILL be taken away.
Wow, I bombed that test. Can I retake it?
As a courtesy, Mr. Booth has a policy of allowing students to retake tests if
they would like to better their test grade. But there are a couple conditions.
First, you must retake the unit test BEFORE the next unit test is
administered. Second, to utilize a retake, a student must either get to Mr.
Booth's room by 8:00 a.m. in the morning (generally, you can come early any
day, but should give prior notice) or they must get to Mr. Booth's room by
3:25 p.m. on a Wednesday after school.
How many times can I retake the test?
A student may retake any unit test once.
Is there anytime when I am NOT allowed to retake a test?
Mr. Booth reserves the right to not administer retake examinations if a
student is taking advantage of the privilege. For instance, students caught
cheating ARE NOT allowed to retake a test; students that
randomly mark answers on the original test because they plan to "retake the
test" ARE NOT allowed to retake a test; & students that
repeatedly make special arrangements to retake or make-up tests & fail to show
up ARE NOT allowed to retake a test.
What does my weekly essay need to be?
The weekly essay is to be a handwritten paper that is 1 1/2 to 2 full
pages in length written using complete sentences & correct grammar & spelling.
Weekly essays that fail to meet the length requirements, are poorly written
(uninteresting, grammatical errors, & overall neatness), use inaccurate
information, & not turned in on time will be deducted accordingly.
Where can I find the weekly essay topic & when are they due?
The weekly essay topic is always found on this website under your class'
Assignment page & on the Assignment Board beside your class'
name & are due at the end of the week (unless specifically told otherwise by
Mr. Booth).
Is there going to be a note grade today?
Maybe. Unlike years in the past, not every day of notes will be worth a note
grade. But, just because there will not always be a note grade does not mean
that you should not take your notes. First, the unit test is predominately
made up of note material. Second, successfully completing your unit notes will
get you extra credit on a test day. Finally, if someone does not take notes on
a particular day, there is an exceedingly high chance of a note grade
on that day.
Are you going to grade this worksheet on accuracy?
Yes & No. Some worksheets are a part of the Unit Grade & will be graded based
on completion. But, some worksheets will be graded based on accuracy in what
are called Worksheet Quizzes. Worksheet Quizzes may be collected
on the day the worksheet was assigned, the day following when the worksheet
was assigned, or several days following when the worksheet was assigned.
Since there is no way to know for sure if a worksheet will be graded as a
"Quiz" or not, you should complete all worksheets as accurately as possible at
the time they are assigned.
Can I go to the restroom?
Mr. Booth would rather not let anyone use the restroom, but for the rare cases
of absolute emergencies, Mr. Booth allows each student 2 restroom breaks
for the entire semester. And note that is 2 for the semester,
NOT 2 for each 9 Weeks. A signed & dated doctor's note will be the only
way to add more than 2 restroom breaks for a student.
How tough is the Semester Exam?
It can be very difficult if you have not studied for it or have not paid a lot
of attention during the course, since all Semester Exams are 100-question
tests. Since it can tough, it is a good idea to try to get your Semester
average as high as possible, so a bad score will not destroy your grade. If
your semester average before the Semester Exam is at least a 88% B,
you will not even need to get 1 question right on the test to pass the class.
How can I earn extra credit?
There are basically 3 ways of earning extra credit.
First, prior to every unit test, Mr. Booth will award 15 extra credit points
to all students that have all their notes for the current unit completely
finished, & intact. These unit notes must be securely placed in the correct
order with the student's name in ink on each page. This is an all-or-nothing
extra credit opportunity & cannot be turned in late.
Second, at the end of each 9 Weeks grading period, all students that have
turned in & completed all assignments with NO ZEROES during that
grading period will be granted 50 extra credit points. This is also an
all-or-nothing extra credit opportunity.
Finally, at the end of each Semester, all students that have NOT used any
restroom breaks will be awarded 30 points of extra credit. Students that have
used just 1 of his/her 2 restroom breaks is not eligible for this extra credit
opportunity.
This paper's old. Can I thow it away?
I wouldn't. First off, contrary to popular belief, Mr. Booth is a human & on
occasion (very rare occasions) makes mistakes. If throwing away a paper is the
only proof that Mr. Booth made a mistake, then Mr. Booth will just assume that
he did not make a mistake. Also, Mr. Booth plans assignments that are intended
to help you understand the course material better. Throwing away course
materials prior to the Semester Exam is not a great idea, since review old
papers might be a good idea to study for the semester exam.
Can I have something to eat & drink in class?
Students may have a plain bottled water, but otherwise are not
allowed to have any food or drinks in class. Chewing gum is also allowed only
as long as it does not become a problem. Students with medical reasons for not
being able to go without food or sugar drinks will need to see Mr. Booth
privately to make special arrangements.
Can I have a cell phone in class?
The policy on cell phones states that they are allowable only as long as they
are turned off & not seen. Therefore, if a cell phone is ever
seen or heard, it will be taken up by Mr. Booth. So in other words, NO you are
not allowed to have a cell phones in class.
Can I listen to my iPod in class?
No, you may not have any musical devices in class. Any musical devices seen or
heard in class will be taken up by Mr. Booth.
If Mr. Booth is thinking of a number between 1 & 100, what is the answer?
The answer is 27. However,if Mr. Booth specifically says the answer is
NOT 27, then the answer is 24.
In Review Game, what is the difference between the 2 Equalizer options in Review Game?
Unfortunately the Equalizer options are like Fight Club. You
can't talk about them.
What do you call that thing at the grocery store where you put your food in it, it has wheels, & you push it around the store?
That is called a cart, NOT a BUGGY!!! Although, if there were horses
that pulled the cart through the store for you, THEN you could call it
a buggy.
Are you related to the guy who killed Lincoln?
Yes.
Where is Purdue?
Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, IN, which is roughly half way
between Chicago & Indianapolis. And yes, I did graduate from there.
What if I need the answer to something not listed here?
Do not hesitate to come by my room before class or in between classes. Also,
you can e-mail me your questions at booth27@gmail.com.
