CLASSROOM EXPECTIONS -- MR. BELAN’S AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY CLASS – 2011-12
1.BE RESPONSIBLE!
A. Students are expected to be in their seats when the tardy bellrings.
Be on time. The door will be locked when the late bell rings. Every
second you are late takes time away from the other students.
B. I cannot stress enough the importance of attending class and
good behavior.Both are necessary to academic success. Stay out of ISS.
C. The information that is in the book, notes, handouts, quizzes
and discussions are fair game for tests.
2. GRADING SCALE:
Range Letter Grade Points
93 - 100 A 4.0
90 - 92 A- 3.7
87 - 89 B+ 3.3
83 - 86 B 3.0
80 - 82 B- 2.7
77 - 79 C+ 2.3
73 - 76 C 2.0
70 - 72 C- 1.7
67 - 69 D+ 1.3
64 - 66 D 1.0
Below 64 E 0.0
3. MAKE UP WORK:
A. Students who miss tests, quizzes and homework assignments
due to unexcused absences will receive a zero.
B. Homework will not be accepted after the time it is due.
C. When an absence is excused, homework must be turned in when
returning to class—there is no grace period.
D. Projects are due on the due date. There are no extensions.
E. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements
with me for any make up tests, quizzes, homework
assignments and in class work. You are to find me.
5. SPECIAL PROJECTS/ASSIGNMENTS:
A. There will be several projects throughout the course of the
class. Parents may need to supply research time and
materials. These projects are important to your grade.
Please do not dismiss them.
6. MATERIALS / EQUIPMENT:
A. Students are expected to bring the textbook, pencils, pen,
eraser and their notebooks to class each day.
Test questions will be multiple choice on scantron (buy a
good eraser and bring it with you) and essay for which you
will need a blue or black pen.
B. Other items will be announced in advance.
7. STUDENT CONDUCT:
A. Treat yourself with respect.
B. Treat others, their opinions and their property with respect.
C. No profanity will be tolerated!
D. Follow the school rules, as outlined in the student
planner.This includes the dress and honor codes.
8. CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
A. Raise your hand when you have a question or something to
contribute.
B. Ask questions. (It is better to ask than not ask and then
spend a lifetime wondering…..)
C. Listen to others. (More will be learned with an open mind
than an open mouth….)
D. Use the restroom before entering class.
E. Sharpen pencils before class begins.
F. Keep your hands to yourself.
G. Stay seated unless directed otherwise.
H. When working in groups, please do so quietly.
I. Students should hand absentee notes to me before class
starts. (Block 2A and 2B only)
J. Keep your own work and notebooks organized. They will be
invaluable when studying for tests.
K. No Sleeping. You will be awakened—usually by a loud noise.
L. No food, gum or drink in class.
M. No nail polishing, hair care or make-up application during
class.
N. Students are expected to act appropriately at all times. I
will call parents, assign detention and refer students for
administrative action if necessary.
O. Remember that your conduct affects not only your learning
but also that of the class.
9. PARENTS
A. Please follow up with your child. I will not keep any
papers,assignments or tests. Everything will be returned to
your child after it is graded. Please check with them. It is
crucial that they stay on track.
10. YOUR EDUCATION
A. Your education is our main concern during your time in this
class. Since you will be here on my time and on the time of
others, please do not waste it!
B. Anything you do to disrupt class and prevent others from
learning will not be tolerated.
C. If you learn anything in school this year—learn to be
responsible. No one will take care of you when you get older
except you.
D. Do not be late. The door will be locked when the late bell
rings. You will have to wait for me to open the door.
Look in the window, knock once and wait quietly.
11. FUN
A. Have fun. There are many wondrous things in the world. Be
amazed – be fascinated - be amused -laugh
– ask questions – share your knowledge - learn.
12. A WORD TO THE WISE AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY
A. Cheating on any assignment will result in a zero for that
assignment and referral to the Cox Honor Board along with
a call home to inform them about the action being taken and
explain why. Copying anybody’s work, checking out someone
else’s papers during a quiz or test, letting someone
look at your papers during a test are included in this definition.
Informing students in upcoming
classes what is on the test is also considered cheating.
Any talking to other students during a test or quiz will also be considered
cheating and dealt with accordingly
Quote from Thomas L. Friedman, author of “The World is Flat”, published 2005:
(Talking to his daughters) “Girls, when I was growing up, my parents used to
say to me, ‘Tom, finish your dinner – people in China and India are
starving.’ My advice to you is: finish your homework – people in China and
India are starving for your jobs.”
I urge both students and parents to read the following books:
“The World is Flat” Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux ISBN: 0374292884
“Why Geography Matters” by H. J. de Blij Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 2005 ISBN: 0195183010
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY COURSE DESCRIPTION MR. BELAN
COX HIGH SCHOOL
A note to AP Human Geography students and their parents/guardians:
Course expectations and requirements
Enrolling in an Advanced Placement course sends a clear message to
the teacher that the student is serious about education. Accordingly,
students in my class will have to maintain a strong, personal effort in their
academics, and their conduct must be exemplary.
Students are expected to be responsible and take an active interest
in their grades. They should not depend on their parents/guardians to
question me about their grade before they themselves get involved.
If I feel that a student is not yet ready for this course, I will
recommend that they withdraw before they lose academic credit. This course is
taught at the college freshman level. Students are enrolled in grades 9-12.
Some students, to receive college credit, may wish to take the
National AP Human Geography Exam in May. To ensure the best chance to attain
an AP Exam score that will earn them college credit, these students should
maintain an A/B average in the class. Students will also be taking the state
mandated end of course SOL test for geography in May.
Reading the daily newspapers, watching the news, listening to news
talk shows on the TV and radio and reading news magazines will be extremely
helpful for the understanding of this class.
What is this course about?
The course is an examination of the interrelationships between
places
on the surface of the Earth and various human activities, including:
languages, political systems, religions, industries, agriculture, development
of cities, customs, transportation, migration, etc. It is a blend of
geography, history, sociology, economics, demographics and physical science
such as geology.
Textbooks (provided)
An Introduction to Human Geography by James Rubenstein (Eighth Edition)
Human Geography in Action 4th Edition, by James Kuby, et. al.
(an interactive workbook that will be used in lab periods)
Goode’s World Atlas (hardback edition)
Desk Atlas
Other Materials Required :
Large 3-ring binder, with dividers, for organizing notes and handouts
Clear, plastic ruler
Set of colored pencils
Regular pencils
Blue or black ink pen
Notebook paper
Evaluations / Grading
40% = Tests - Multiple choice and essay, similar to the national exam format,
tests will be cumulative
20% = Projects - (data collected, analyzed and presented in writing) *
15% = Quizzes - variety of formats; may be unannounced
15% = Homework
10% = Class Support (class participation, behavior, quality of class work) **
* A subjective grade. Assignments will be individual effort, only. Students
will be required to write analysis papers, supported with maps, graphs,
diagrams and photographic images/cultural icons that demonstrate an
understanding of geographic concepts. Sources will include the Internet,
library, textbooks, Atlases, periodicals, newspapers, TV, radio, personal
interviews, fiction/non-fiction books, current and historical maps, aerial
photographs, advertisements, videos and music.
** A subjective grade. Class support is an important part of this class. This
includes but is not limited to:
- Active participation - a key to academic success.
- Students who follow all school and classroom rules
contribute to a good, uninterrupted,learning environment. Instruction is
started when the bell rings. Students must be in their seats at that time.
A note about homework: The completion of homework, according to the
standards that I expect,
also contributes greatly to the entire class being “with it” when a topic is
introduced. Homework must be thorough, complete and always presented neatly
with no significant errors in format, spelling or grammar.
Students will be expected to be self starters. It will not be
possible to teach every single item that they will need to know for a test.
They are expected to read the text book (preferably before coming to class)
and take notes either in class or as they read in preparing for class. Not
all of the notes I will be giving are from the textbook. Vocabulary will
become very important in this class. I suggest that each student make
flashcards to help facilitate the comprehension of the new terminology – and
use them.
This will not be the typical 100% lecture course that many people experience
in college. There will be opportunity for lab work and open discussion about
a wide variety of topics, and individual initiative. When the course is over,
the students will, hopefully, view the world with an appreciation for the
complex factors that influence the ways people live, survive and progress on
this planet.
