Course Expectations 2017-2018
Crime & Justice
Instructor: Mr. Elliott Waxer
LHS Room 1221
Phone: (702) 799-1777 Voice Mail 2221
Email:
Google Classroom: Class Code lnylzff
Website Address: www.legacyhigh.net
Course Scope:
This one-year course is a study of crime and justice with special attention on local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as they affect individuals within the legal system. Students analyze the historical development of law, theories of deviance, definitions of crime, as well as the criminal justice system and its processes. A special emphasis is placed on contemporary issues and dilemmas facing the current system. Instructional practices incorporate integration of diversity awareness including appreciation of all cultures and their important contributions to society. The appropriate use of technology is an integral part of this course. This course fulfills one elective credit required for high school graduation.
Course Goals:
1. To analyze the basic principles of the criminal justice system. [NS: C13.0, C14.0]
2. To understand the vocabulary of the criminal justice system.
3. To summarize the historical background and functions of the local, state, and federal legal systems. [NS: H3.0, C13.0, C14.0]
4. To examine how the law guarantees individual liberty and due process.
[NS: H3.0, C13.0, C14.0]
5. To evaluate the procedures used by police and courts in criminal cases.
[NS: C13.0, C14.0]
6. To assess the rules of evidence and search and seizure laws. [NS: C13.0, C14.0]
7. To interpret deviance theories and how they explain criminal behavior.
8. To identify categories of crime and their impact on society.
9. To compare the punishment and correction phases of the criminal justice system.
[NS: C14.0]
10. To summarize the history and evaluate the current state of the juvenile justice system.
[NS: C14.0]
11. To identify patterns and predict trends in local, state, and federal criminal justice systems.
12. To apply the content literacy skills necessary to analyze historical documents, artifacts, and concepts. [NS: H3.0, C13.0, C14.0]
13. To use information, media, and technology literacy skills necessary to research, communicate, and demonstrate critical thinking. [NS: H3.0, C13.0, C14.0]
Textbooks
The following text(s) will be utilized in this course:
« Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century, *Schmalleger, 9th Edition
Student Supplies
Students are expected to have and maintain the following supplies all year:
« 1” or larger three ring binder
« Lined paper (in the binder)
« Pen or Pencil (no overly light or shiny colors that are difficult to read)
· Notebook: Students MAY be given an in-class notebook within the first month of school if the student is unable to obtain a three-ring binder.
This notebook will be used on a regular basis in class and will count towards a grade. These notebooks are to be kept in neat and chronological order. Notebooks should include notes on lectures, discussions, daily facts, and all other supplemental material. There will be a storage create to store the notebook in the classroom should the student wish to keep it in class.
Tardy Policy
Tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational program. Every student is required to be in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings. With that in mind, the Legacy High School Tardy Policy will be strictly enforced. On the first and second tardy, the student will be warned; on the third tardy, the parent will be contacted; on the fourth tardy, a detention will be assigned; on the fifth and all subsequent tardies, the student will be sent to the deans’ office and placed on a Required Parent Conference.
Grading Policy
· Grading Scale: 90% - 100% A
80% - 89% B
70% - 79% C
60% - 69% D
Below 60% F
· All percentages will be rounded up to the nearest full point value. (for example, 89.4% is rounded down to 89% and 93.7% is rounded up to 94%)
· You are required to maintain a notebook for this class. A three-ring binder is best so that you can easily include handouts. Your notebook will be evaluated using a notebook quiz at the end of each unit.
Description of Grading Procedures:
o Assessments (Tests / Quizzes) = 40 %
o Classwork = 30 %
o Homework = 20 %
o Participation = 10 %
· Assessments (40%) – Quizzes, Tests, Unit Exams, Essays, Projects.
Students who are absent on the day of tests, quizzes, or unit exams must make preparations to make up the assessments in a timely manner and must meet with the teacher after the lesson to arrange for the student to come in for a make-up. Students may only make-up assessments before or after school at the teachers’ convenience and given at least 24 hours in advance notice to make preparations for the testing environment and to clear any schedule of conflicts such as events or meetings.
§ Essays and projects that are late follow the normal tardy policy procedure of the reduction of points in regards to the number of days missing.
§ Excused absences are taken into consideration and students may make up all tests, quizzes, essays, and projects for full points.
· Classwork (30%) – Most daily assignments are due at the end of the class period. Short and long ranged assignments are due the following day or on the date identified in their “A” Day/ “B” Day notebook/binder, which will be graded on completeness, neatness, and organization on a regular Any classwork not completed during class is expected to be taken home and finished prior to its due date.
§ Books will be available to be checked out.
§ Students are to check the board daily for assignments and due dates. All papers should be neat and legible.
§ Papers without names will be put in a no-name pile and discarded at the end of the quarter.
§ Every student is expected to do his/her own work. Any students sharing work will receive a zero, unless it is a cooperative learning assignment.
· Homework (20%) – You can expect to have about an hour of homework per week.
§ Homework CAN include assignments partially covered in class given the time applicable and students will be asked to finish it at home.
· Participation (10%) – Classroom participation impact on grade will be determined by the “Student Notification and Participation Sheet” given out at the beginning of class, daily which includes the warm-Up’s to be done at the start of each class and Closures at the end of class.
§ Notebooks will be used to maintain topics covered through notes and handouts, and to be used as a study guide. They will be evaluated on a Unit/Monthly basis and will be announced in advance. Notebooks count toward classroom participation.
· Extra Credit – Extra credit opportunities may be built into some assignments and/or provided throughout the school year on a class basis only.
· Semester Grades: ##% Quarter 1/3 Grade
##% Quarter 2/4 Grade
##% Semester Examination
Standards of Preparation:
· All assignments should be neatly completed in legible writing. There should be few spelling and grammar errors, though with the exception of projects and vocabulary components of units spelling and grammar will not be assigned point value.
· I do not change grades at the end of the quarter or semester (or to help you maintain eligibility). You can expect to keep the grade that you have earned.
Make-up Work, Late Work, and Attendance
Make-up procedures:
· After an absence, students will be expected to check with the teacher for directions on what assignments or classwork was missed.
· Students must obtain make-up work within three days of an absence, unless other arrangements with the teachers are made. Assignments are due one class period after having received them unless otherwise arranged.
· Students are responsible for getting/requesting make-up work and scheduling time during lunch or after school to make-up tests/quizzes.
· Missed assignments will be entered in the grade book as a zero. When the make-up assignment has been turned in and graded the newly earned grade will replace the zero.
· If you were absent the day an assignment is due, to be considered on time you must turn it in on your first day back to class. You should write “absent” at the top of the page.
· If you know that you will be absent in advance or you are sick and stuck at home, please do not hesitate to email me so that I can give you time to make up assignments and also email you the work material done on that day so that you are not behind.
Late Work Procedures:
· You will lose two points per day that a homework or classwork assignment is late. Although this is not good, it is better to have even 1/10 than 0/10.
· Projects lose a letter grade per day that they are late.
· Work is considered late if it is turned in after I have collected the assignment.
· Homework should be turned into the homework basket at the front of the room as soon as you enter class.
· I personally close the gradebook up to a week before the end of a quarter / semester. I do not accept late work after this time. I write the final deadline for this on the board.
· No late work of any kind is accepted once finals have begun for the semester.
Hours of Availability:
· I am available to assist you most days immediately following school from 1:25 PM to about 2:30 PM on a daily school basis. You are welcome to stop by any time. However, if you want to ensure that I am here please schedule an appointment with me in person or via email: .
· Please be aware that parent conferences, staff meetings, club supervision, etc. may alter this schedule,
· I am generally out of my classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays, respectively, due to professional development and club supervision. You are more than welcome to stop by Room 804 on Thursdays.
Attendance
After the seventh unexcused absence, students will be denied credit and will receive an “F” for the course.
Classroom Behavior Expectations
· Classroom Behavioral Expectations
· You are, of course, subject to all Legacy disciplinary policies. In addition, you are subject to my classroom discipline policy. The following sequence of events will be put into effect for classroom infractions that are not serious enough to be referred directly to the administration:
1. You will receive a reprimand/warning. Student is reminded of classroom rules.
2. You will receive a reprimand/warning. Student-Teacher meeting in the hall or immediately after class.
3. Your parents or guardians will be contacted.
4. You will receive a disciplinary writing assignment.
5. You will receive a counselor’s referral.
6. You will receive a dean’s referral.
· If I am talking or you have an individual assignment, you are expected to maintain silence unless you’ve raised your hand and I’ve called on you.
· When the bell rings to begin class, you are expected to be in your seat and silently completing the introductory activity.
· You should have your notebook/binder (stocked with paper), a pen or pencil, and your planner with you every class.
· You are counted absent if you are a half hour or more tardy.
· Generally, you will not be allowed to leave the classroom during class.
· You should plan your restroom breaks for before or after class. You will be allowed TWO bathroom/locker passes per quarter. Use it very wisely, as this policy is not negotiable. Passes will not be given the first or last 15 min. of class.
· 1 Emergency Pass will be given per quarter, but the student will be expected to complete a writing assignment as a result.
· Gum, food, or drinks (except for water/tea/coffee in a closed container) are not permitted in the classroom.
· Disruptive or disrespectful behavior – from talking when you shouldn’t be to inappropriate comments to purposely annoying noises or behaviors – is completely unacceptable.
· Defacement of property (like your desk / posters) will not be tolerated.
· Students may not enter the teacher’s desk area or remove an item from the teacher’s desk without explicit permission from the teacher.
· All school rules of conduct are to be followed, including the dress code.
· Cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic devices should be turned off and stored away from view during class. Ear buds/earphones should be put away (even if they are fed up through your clothes, I can still see them!). This is your warning that I can confiscate these items without warning if I see them. They will be labeled with your name and delivered to the office.
· If you are caught plagiarizing or cheating in any way, you will receive a zero on the assignment and may be referred to the administration for further disciplinary action. Cheating includes talking during tests or turning in homework with exactly the same open responses as someone else. Whether you are the provider of responses or the beneficiary, you are a cheater. For the purposes of this class, plagiarism is more than four words in a row that are taken directly from a source without being in properly cited quotation marks. Plagiarism is also using someone else’s ideas or explanation of something or the way they structure an argument without giving them credit. You must not use quotations, statistics, data, or illustrations without citing your source. Keep in mind that having a source in your bibliography/works cited page does not mean you have avoided plagiarism. Plagiarism is also when you use your own work from another class…without explicit permission assignments cannot do “double duty”!
· Citizenship grades are assigned based on your performance in meeting these behavioral expectations.
Legacy High School’s Motto:
“Make it a great day or not, Longhorns. The choice is yours!”
Please complete this page, remove from packet and return to school by September 15, 2017.
Acknowledgement of Course Expectations