1. ONLINE GRADUATION PROJECT SEMINAR
GRADING POLICY
Mrs. Morriston
Morristont@pt-sd.org
Room B345
Grading is defined by the PTSD policies and the school handbook. This sheet will outline specifics of this course.
Circumstances may require modifications or adjustments, which will be announced in advance.
Assessments v. Grades
Grades are an end evaluation used to categorize a student’s work. Once you receive your grade, it is set and serves little
additional purpose. I see grades as serving a necessary but limited function. Assessments are evaluations giving during
the process of learning that help a student reach his/her learning goals, more like feedback. I will emphasize assessment
during the work but must assess grades for the final versions. Grades are not something the teacher gives (“She gave
me a C”) but are the result of combined efforts of instructor and learner.
GRADING SCALE:
Your grade will determined by dividing your point total by the total possible points. The scale is as follows:
A= 90-100; B= 89-80; C= 79-70; D= 69-60; F= 59 AND BELOW
Because plenty of opportunities are provided for earning points, rounding up is not an option. Students should
monitor their points to be sure they are achieving their goals.
GRADING CRITERIA & REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS:
All of the following will be used as tools throughout the semester:
Class Participation: Students will earn participation points weekly for logging into the Blended Schools
course, checking the announcements, monitoring the help forum, etc. Students will lose class participation
points by being off task--watching YouTube videos (other than those assigned), playing games, failing to bring
the required class materials, etc.
In-Class Activities: The bulk of the quarterly grade will be derived from in-class activities. These
assignments will generally be completed during class time and may include but are not limited to
partner/group work, projects, independent reading and writing, etc. Points will be awarded based on length
and difficulty of assignment. For all longer activities, a rubric will be posted at the time the assignment is
given so that students will see the exact grading criterion.
Journals: Reflections are a mandatory part of the district’s graduation project and will be done through
journaling. A rubric will be posted for journal assignments at the time that the assignment is given. Students
will have the option to re-write their journal entries one time if they are not satisfied with their work and point
total for a maximum of a 10% increase.
The Culminating Project: Each student will create a project of his/her own design that reflects his career
interests, explorations, and aptitudes. While some of the project’s development will be done through the in-
class activities, the final product will be assessed for points. A rubric will be posted for the final product at the
time that the assignment is given. Students will have the opportunity to modify the rubric for their own
project prior to the start of the project. This grade will occur in the 2nd half of the course.
Quizzes and tests: Both will be used throughout the year. Quizzes will be either announced or unannounced.
Both quizzes and tests will include various formats: multiple choice, true or false, matching, pick the one the
doesn’t belong, chronological order, short answer, and/or essay.

2. STANDARDS FOR WRITTEN WORK
All written assignments must be typed, unless otherwise noted, and must include a heading with three
lines: your name, your period, the date.
Papers will be single spaced unless noted. Standard fonts and margins will apply; no all cap
documents; no cursive fonts.
Work will be saved using this naming pattern: GPPeriod# YourLastNameIntial Assignment Name. For
example, name a Favorite Dog assignment as follows: GP7 MorristonT Favorite Dog
Most of the work will be submitted electronically.
Students must submit projects in the format (or created with the software) specified in the directions.
If the directions do not specify, written papers can be submitted in files created with Word, Open
Office or Google Docs.
Students who use MAC computers must either use a PC compatible program or Google Docs.
A paper is not considered on time if it is not submitted in the proper format.
More requirements may be added to particular projects during the year.
RELATED INFORMATION
Getting Help – For everyday questions, students should attempt to seek help from a colleague in his/her
class by first posting on the help forum in the online class. If no help is received or if the student is not
satisfied with the help provided by the peer, the student should either email the teacher or speak to the
teacher during class time. Students should allow at least 24 hours to receive online help during the weekdays
and longer on the weekends.
Students can also make appointments with the instructor to meet during “office hours” which will vary by the
week. These will be posted in the Blended School class. Students are encouraged to meet with the teacher at
least once during office hours to review progress and provide the instructor with feedback.
It’s important to remember that everyone works on a different schedule in an online class. The instructor
cannot be available 24/7. Students should work in advance of deadlines to allow time for problems or
feedback.
Computer Access Weekly lab hours will be posted in the online class. Students may also use the library
computers which are available daily before and after school, or may visit the public library. The public library’s
computers may not have the same software. Please check with the public library for requirements such as
library cards or time restrictions.
Deadlines – Assignments are due at the date & time that is posted in the online class unless other
arrangements have been made in advance. For every 24 hour period, or part thereof, that an assignment is
late, the student will lose 10% of the total possible points up to 50%. Students may ( one time) submit an
assignment late up to 7 days with no penalty. Once this privilege is invoked, it cannot be later withdrawn or
changed. It is the student’s responsibility to tell the instructor that he is using his one Late Assignment Pass.
Absenteeism & Grades – Students who were absent will be given extra time as per the student handbook.
Whenever possible, students should try to keep on schedule by completing work from home. Because all work
is posted and completed in the Blended Schools platform, the student should always know what work is
expected and what has been missed. Students with planned absences or extensive absences should see the
teacher.
Cheating Plagiarism and cheating, as defined by the student handbook, have no place in our classroom. For
a first time, lesser offense, such as copying homework or completing a worksheet as a team instead of an
individual, both parties will be given the opportunity to resubmit the work for half-credit. For major offenses

3. (ex) copying/pasting from a website) or second offenses, a 0 will be given along with appropriate disciplinary
action.