INSTRUCTOR:  Mrs. Cimo
ROOM:  1.388
E-MAIL:  Tori_Cimo@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
HOMEWORK INFORMATION: http://www.homeworknow.com/hwnow/gethw.php?username=mrscimo
WEB SITE: http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/CollinsHillHS/Teachers/TCimo_Web/index.htm
TEXTBOOK ISSUED: World Geography ($48 if not returned at end of year)

Importance of taking World Geography:
The purpose of taking a World Geography course is to help fulfill the mission statement of the Gwinnett County Public School.  The GCPS mission is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills and behavior for each student resulting in measured improvement against local, national and world-class standards.  World Geography is an elective course that will help prepare students for the Gateway Exam and Georgia High School Graduation Test.

Gateway Writing Assessment (10th grade) – Students must be able to write a logical and well organized response to an essay question demonstrating the ability to analyze documents, incorporate prior knowledge from course work and integrate skills and contest from social studies, science, language arts and math.

Georgia High School Graduation Test (11th grade) – Students must be able to respond correctly to multiple-choice questions, testing both skills and knowledge of social studies, science, language arts and math.

In addition World Geography helps to prepare students with the necessary background knowledge for future Social Studies courses.  Study skills are also emphasized in this course to make students more effective in preparing for tests and retaining information long term.
World Geography focuses on the Five Themes of Geography as well as the physical, cultural, social, historical and political aspects of the regions that will be studied throughout the year.
 

Required Materials – Students must have the following items everyday:

1. 3 subject spiral bound notebooks with hard or plastic cover – needs to be 8 ½” by 11”
You will need one for EACH semester
2. Two different colored pens and a highlighter.
3. Lined white paper and unlined white copy paper
4. Glue and colored pencils

Grading Scale:

Daily Work………………………35%
Tests and Quizzes………………..35%
Projects…………………………...10%
*Exam…………………………….20%

*The final exams given at the end of each semester is broken into two parts.  The first part is given a few weeks before Exam Week and is a performance essay.  The questions will relate to information given throughout the semester and the essay will need to demonstrate not only an understanding on the content, but also an understanding of a cohesive understandable essay.
The second part of the exam will be a multiple-choice test with 100 questions.  The student will have 2 hours to complete it.  The exam will include information discussed throughout the semester.
Classroom Rules/Procedures:

1. You are expected to come to class each day ready to learn and contribute to class.  This means you will bring your book, notebook, work and any needed supplies
2. Absolutely NO eating in the classroom, this includes gum as well
3. Any and all drinks must be sealed while in the classroom, only water may be consumed in class
4. No sleeping in class
5. When you come into class you should sit in your assigned seat, answer your daily question and be ready for class to start
6. No entering class after late bell without a pass
7. If you have a question, please raise your hand, ask a friend, or come and ask me – whichever is appropriate for the situation
8. Please sharpen pencils and throw away trash at the beginning or end of class only
9. No rude or disrespectful behavior or attitude toward other students or myself will be tolerated
10. No walkmans or CD players or cell phones will be visible in the classroom, including headphones
11. No late work will be accepted.  For projects/major assignments I will accept the work one day late for 50% of the grade you earn on the assignment.
12. Students will also uphold all rules associated with the Computer Lab and Media Center
13. All rules and policies stated in the Collins Hill Handbook will also be upheld and not disregarded
14. If you ever have a question about what we are doing or you don’t understand something – please ask – if you have the question it is likely others do too
 
 

Make-up work:  Assignments missed due to an excused absence must be scheduled for make up within the next 5 days of school.  If you are absent and excused on a day that an assignment is DUE then it is your responsibility to show it to me or turn it in the very day you return to school.  If it is not then the grade will be a ZERO.  Make-up work can be found in the make-up folder on the bookshelf by my desk filed by period.  It would also be a good idea to have a buddy in class whom you can get work and notes from as well.  It is your responsibility to see me to make up a missed quiz or test.  Please see me if you have any questions about make-up work after you have checked the folder.
 

I reserve the right to change or adjust any section of this class syllabus at any time of the year to adequately meet the needs, abilities, and interests of the students.
 

Please read Syllabus completely with parents as well as pages 53 and 54 of the AKS booklet that explains what will be covered throughout this school year and the cheating/plagiarism policy.

Once finished please complete the attached information form with contact information as accurate and updated as possible.

Cheating/Plagiarism
 

Cheating Policy:  Cheating by students is inexcusable conduct.  A zero will be given to the student for the assignment involved, the teacher will contact the parents, and the student will be referred to the administration.  Subsequent offenses will result in escalating consequences.
 

Plagiarism:  Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty.  Collins Hill High School defines plagiarism as a student taking credit for work that is not his or her own work.
Examples of plagiarism include:

1. Buying or using any sort of paper or project from another person or service and turning it in as the product of your own work.
• Consequences are the same as those listed in the Cheating Policy;
 
2. Turning in someone else’s work as your own with or without that person’s
knowledge.
• Consequences are the same as those listed in the Cheating Policy;

3. Copying statements from a source and using them without proper use of
      quotation marks and citations;
• First offense:  9th grade-----------deduct 10% of grade
     10th grade----------deduct 15% of grade
     11th grade----------deduct 20% of grade
     12th grade-----------deduct 25% of grade
 
• Second offense:  Consequences are the same as those listed in Cheating Policy.

4. Paraphrasing information from a source without proper citations.
• First offense:  9th grade------------deduct 10% of grade
                            10th grade------------deduct 15% of grade
    11th grade------------deduct 20% of grade
    12th grade------------deduct 25% of grade

• Second offense:  Consequences are the same as those listed in Cheating Policy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET

NAME_____________________________________________________________  BUS #________
 

ADDRESS__________________________________________________________   BOOK #______
 

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE___________________________________________________________
 

HOME PHONE_________________________
 

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAMES________________________________________________________
 

FATHER’S WORK #_________________________     FATHER’S CELL # ___________________
 

MOTHER’S WORK #________________________      MOTHER’S CELL #__________________
 

PARENT’S E-MAIL ADDRESS (ES)_____________________________________________________
(I will send e-mail progress reports every week to the addresses you provide)

SCHOOL SPONSORED SPORTS/CLUBS________________________________________________

ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW? __________________________________________________
 

SCHEDULE

 PERIOD SUBJECT  TEACHER  ROOM
 
 1st
 
 2ND

 3RD

 4TH

 5TH

 6TH

My student and I have read the syllabus and class expectations for the World Geography class and understand that my student must comply with all the rules and expectations.
 

Signature of Student         Date
 

________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian        Date