• But you didn't tell me about it!  Too bad.  It is the student's responsibility to inquire about missed work and make arrangements to make it up.

• When can I make it up?  Missed work will most often be made up at lunch, because that is when it is most convenient for me.  You may also make an appointment for another time.

• What am I missing?  What is my grade in here? Use the Student Grade Viewer to keep up with your grades.  I make mistakes in recording grades, and it is best if you catch them quickly.  If you find a mistake or a missing assignment, please write down the name of the assignment and the date.

• My grade just went down 10 pts!  Be aware that I weight grades (tests are worth more than quizzes, etc.).  At the start of a quarter, before we have at least one of every type of assignment, the computer averages all of the grades without weights.  When the weights are put in, grades often change dramatically.  Also I may have just put in the zeros for your missed assignment(s).  Completing all assignments and doing well on tests is the best way to be sure you have a good grade in physics.

• Unexcused absences and OSS: You are not allowed to make up work missed due to unexcused absences or out-of-school suspensions.

Checked Homework

• Due dates: Homework is due the next day, unless otherwise stipulated.

• Absences: If you are absent and know about a homework assignment, you should do the homework.  Show me your work when you return to class.

• Late Homework: I do not accept late homework (except in the case of an excused absence or field trip, when you show it to me immediately upon your return).  You will get a zero for that homework assignment.  There are good reasons for this.  I assign homework to complement what we are doing in class.  We generally go over it that day.  Turning it in late would give you the opportunity to get credit for a copied assignment, rather than an honest attempt to do it on your own (or with study partners) at the time I assign it.  Not accepting late homework also puts additional pressure on you to keep up with what we are doing in class.

• What to do if you miss a homework assignment: If you miss a deadline for homework, you should do it anyway, because I will expect you to know the information/have the skills that relate to the assignment.  You will not earn a grade for that homework, but your class performance will benefit.

• I just didn't get the problem!  Come in outside of class (in the morning, or during lunch for afternoon classes).  Make an appointment if you have trouble finding me.  I will help you to get the solution.

• How are homework presentations graded? All homework presentations are graded on whether you use an acceptable method to reach a solution, and on how well you teach the class your solution method.  You MUST have prepared a solution before class begins.  You MAY NOT figure it out while you present it to us.  If you did not prepare in advance, you get a zero for that presentation.  See the rubric.

• Assigned Presentations: This is when I tell you which problem you will present on the following day. You must still work any other homework problems assigned for the next day.

• Extemporaneous Presentations: This is when I call up students at  random to demonstrate a homework problem.  You should be ready to do any of the problems assigned for that day.

• I just didn't get the problem!  Come in before class (in the morning or during lunch for afternoon classes).  I will help you to get the solution.

Quizzes
I give both announced quizzes and pop (unannounced) quizzes.

• What a quiz is for: Quizzes are designed to give me a snapshot of how you are doing on understanding a few types of problems and concepts.  They also provide encouragement to keep up with what we are doing in class.  We usually go over them the next day.

• Anticipated absence: If you know you are going to be absent, you may be able to take the quiz before you go.  Ask.

• Returning from an absence: You should expect to take quizzes immediately upon your return from an absence.

• While I was gone, a quiz was announced.  If you return to class and find you missed a quiz that was announced while you were gone, two things can happen.  I may excuse you, if the quiz has already been returned to the students, or if you missed several days and need time to catch up, or if we are going to take a test over the material shortly.  You may also be told to take the quiz at the earliest opportunity.

• While I was gone, a pop quiz was given.  If you return to class and find you missed a pop quiz, you will be asked to take it immediately if the material that was on the quiz was covered while you were in class.  If you also missed the classes that covered the material, you will be excused.

• Lab Groups: You will usually work in a group of three or fewer for labs.  I may assign groups, or I may let you choose your own group.

• Labs are a collaboration: Whether you choose the group or I do, you should work together in planning, performing, and writing up the experiment.  You should work with your group members, not against them.  If they need your help, it is your responsibility to help them.  You are expected to make every effort possible to get along with your group members, no matter what you think of them, or they think of you.

• Grading collaborative work: Your work will be graded as a group.  All members of a group should have identical copies of the lab write-up in their physics journal.  I will grade and write comments on one of the write-ups.  I will  not write comments on the other copies, only a grade.  If you don't have a copy of your group's lab write-up in your journal, you will get a zero, even if the other group members have the write-up.  If one group member does not participate in some aspect of the lab, inform me and deny them access to your write-up.

• Lab Write-ups: Make sure you follow the directions and understand the grading rubric when writing a lab.  Your write-up will be graded on how well you fulfill the requirements of the write-up, how well your experiment demonstrates scientific thinking, and whether, within the limits of the apparatus, you have demonstrated a physical principle.

Physics Journal (for AP Physics only)

Your journal WILL NOT BE GRADED if it doesn't meet the criteria below.

• What is the journal?  It must be a composition notebook with a sewn, cloth-bound cover.  This is so it will last and not lose pages.  These can be obtained  at college bookstores, office supply, and discount stores.  They are inexpensive.  Write your name on the outside of the front cover.

• What goes in the journal? The journal should contain only lab write-ups and writing assignments.  Do not put anything else (warm-ups, homework, quizzes, tests, material from other classes) in it, unless told to do so by Mr. Reif.

• When does Mr. Reif take up journals? I will announce this in class (or post it on the website). Generally, it's a few days to a week before progress reports or final grades come out.  Make sure your journal gets to me on time.

• Can I do my work on the computer and stick it in the journal? All work must be permanently attached inside the journal, or else you will receive a zero.  You may work on other paper (use a computer to type, produce graphs, etc.) and attach it to the journal.  Cut the paper down to size and attach it with a glue stick.  Tape makes it hard for me to write comments.

• Double-space your lab write-ups and writing assignments.  Leave me room to write my comments.

• Write your group's names on the write-up.  This will save me time.  If I've already graded one of your group's write-ups, I can give you the same grade without looking up the group members (all of your group's write-ups should be identical).

• If you were present when a test was announced, you must make the test up on your return.

• If you were absent when the test was announced, you must make up the test by the second day after your absence.

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