Rubrics

The following list of rubrics are used to grade various projects and assignments. A rubric is a guideline that is followed when grading. It gives the teacher as well as students a reference point for expectations and assigns points to various items that are expected in the work.


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 * FOCUS OR OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS**

During the school year, I give my students questions that model the type found on the CMT. They are called open-ended because they do not provide a choice of answers. Rather, the student has to create an answer in his/her own words. It is an excellent exercise in expressing yourself. This rubric is based on the same rubric used on the CMT. It has a total of 2 points for each question. You can expect to see these for homework assignments on a weekly basis. You can access these questions, including the current one, by going to Focus Questions.


 * __2 points__**

The answer includes the following:
 * a reference to the question
 * A clear answer that directly addresses the question is provided
 * Discussion about why the answer is correct is provided
 * An understanding of the question concept is clear


 * __1 point__**

The answer includes at least two of the following:
 * The question is referred to or restated
 * A clear answer that directly addresses the question is provided
 * Discussion about why the answer is correct is provided


 * __0 points__**

The answer does not directly address the question or it is missing. There is no evidence of understanding the question concept.

Here is an example of a question and answer:

Describe the design of an experiment that will answer the following question: How much fertilizer should I use on my plants to get the most tomatoes?

My experiment would include ten tomato plants growing under the same conditions except the amount of fertilizer I give them. I would give each tomato plant a measured amount of fertilizer and increase the amount with each plant. I would be able to tell the optimal amount of fertilizer by measuring the amount of tomatoes harvested from each plant. The plant that yields the most fruit would be the plant that received the ideal amount of fertilizer.


 * EXTRA CREDIT POINTS**

Throughout the year, students may choose to do extra credit and earn points. These points can be a big help when an average is generated because they are added onto a final average after it is calculated. If you are not happy with your mid-term grade, this is the best way to improve your average before the quarter closes. Here are some examples of extra credit projects:
 * write for one of the student pages on this wiki
 * do a Science Night project
 * type or neatly write your lab report instead of using the form
 * save your homework pass
 * email your focus questions to Mr. Rossi instead of using paper


 * LAB REPORTS**

The very core of my classroom grading is the lab report. It is designed to combine many important skills. This includes expository and persuasive writing, problem solving, many math skills, as well as many others. All labs are graded using the same rubric, but the subjects change each time we do a lab.

A grade is based on 100 points and is broken down into 4 major sections. The first section is the PROBLEM DEFINITION, (worth 15 points) which includes an essential question, a hypothesis, and variables. The second section is the EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, (worth 20 points) which consists of lab materials and procedures. The third section is the PRESENTATION OF DATA. (worth 30 points) The last section is the CONCLUSION (worth 35 points) You can download a detailed breakdown of this rubric under IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS DOWNLOADS.

NOTE: At the beginning of the year, I add 5 points to a lab report if it is complete and handed in on time. This will change as the year progresses.


 * LATE OR MISSING PAPERS**

I believe that setting due dates and strictly adhering to them is a good life lesson. Therefore, I feel that I must give a penalty for late or missing papers. Please be assured, whenever a due date is set, it will be announced in class well ahead of time, posted on the board, students will be given the opportunity to write it into their planners, and it will be posted on our classroom website. Here is my yearlong policy concerning late or missing papers:

1. Since the answer to Focus Questions is given in class when they are handed in, they cannot be handed in late. Therefore, a zero will be entered into my grade book. 2. Lab reports and other major assignments must be handed in when collected on the due date. If they are not, they can be handed in the next day for a 10% deduction in the grade. After the second day, they cannot be handed in and a zero will be entered into my grade book. 3. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who are going to be absent due to family obligations should contact me ahead of time to let me know they will not be in class. If it is a short term absence that is in the very near future, I might be able to give the assignment to them ahead of time. However, it is completely up to the student to approach me afterwords to make sure there are no missing assignments due to the absence. 4. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who miss work due to other obligations in the school, such as music lessons or sport events, are completely responsible for making up any missing work and meeting all deadlines. Please feel that you can approach me and I will be happy to help or find a classmate for you who can give you your assignments. 5. In accordance with the student handbook policy, students who are absent for any reason are completely responsible for approaching me and finding out what he/she has missed. Many times, a parent can call the office and request missing work on the day of the illness so it can be left in the office for pickup. Missing work can often be brought home by a friend too. However, depending on the nature of the assignment, some assignments will not be able to go home in this manner. 6. Being absent on the day that an assignment was assigned is not a valid excuse for missing a due date. Students should always see me immediately upon return to find out what assignments have been given. 7. I will always work with students who have been sick for an extended period of time to make special arrangements and avoid becoming overwhelmed.


 * NOTE: If a student is absent on the day that an assignment is due or there is an unusual situation that makes it impossible to meet the deadline, I will absolutely make alternate arrangements for makeup. Please just drop me a note and we can work something out. However, missing assignments need to be addressed at least 10 school days before mid-terms and grades close if missing work is not going to affect what is on these reports.**


 * SCIENCE NIGHT PROJECTS**

A research-based project will be required for each student before any Science Night projects can begin. You should check the Science Night Portal for specific details. This will be outlined in class, beginning in November and students will be given ample class time to prepare their research before Science Night happens in early February. While many classes are devoted to this guided research, student will be expected to complete their work independently. This project must conclude in a variety of ways that are outlined in class and it counts as 25% if a student's second quarter grade.

If a student chooses, he/she may continue his/her research with a Science Night project. All Science Night projects will be graded as extra credit. They will add up to 10 points to a student’s third quarter grade. Individuals doing projects can earn up to 10 points for their third quarter and projects done by partners can earn up to 6 points each for their third quarter average. Projects MUST BE HANDED ON TIME and ready for Science Night in order to be eligible for any points. Here is an example of what this project can do to your grade:

Mary has a 79% average for her third quarter grade. She has done an excellent Science Night project and has earned an extra 10 points. This makes Mary’s new average 89% and Mr. Rossi has added the report card comment //“Excellent scientific thinking shown in extra credit project!”//

Jerry has a 97% average for his third quarter grade. He has done a Science Night project with his friend Kianah and earned and extra 5 points. This makes Jerry’s new average 102%. Since the grading software will not allow more than 100% as a grade, Mr. Rossi enters a 100% and the comment //"Actual average is 102% because of extra credit project."// However, 102% is used to calculate his final third quarter average.

**The extra credit associated with this project is really worth it! Take advantage of it!**

 * NO HOMEWORK PASSES**

At the end of each quarter, the PTO issues homework passes to students who qualify for the //Four Ones Group.// These students are able to use their science homework pass for one assignment during the following quarter. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all assignments are subject to this rule. **Lab reports and major projects account for such a high percentage of final grades that homework passes do not apply. In addition, studying for a test or a quiz is also exempt from a homework pass.**

Homework passes may be used for one focus question each quarter. A student that brings the pass to class and has it ready to present when focus questions are collected, may substitute a homework pass without penalty. Homework passes cannot be redeemed after the assignment is collected. However it is important to note that the focus question average, which is used as part of a student's quarterly grade, will be based on one less question.


 * Example: If five focus questions have been assigned before mid-terms, each one counts as 20% of the final focus question average. If a student chooses to use a homework pass, then his/her focus average will be based on only four questions. This makes them count as 25% of the final focus question average.

I discourage the use of homework passes because it is always to your advantage to base your grade on the maximum number of assignments possible. (If you mess-up on one, then there are more to help compensate when the average is calculated.)

==As an extra incentive to save your pass, I have come up with an alternative. The most effective way to use your homework pass is to hand it in, unused, at the end of the quarter for an extra credit point. This point will be added to your mid-term or final average after it is calculated. Expired passes cannot be used for following quarters.==


 * IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS DOWNLOADS**




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