Academic Integrity

Before you turn in an assignment, go through this checklist.  If it is not your own work, don't hand it in.  This wastes your time, the teacher's time and leads to unhappiness all the way around.

*   Is your text your own work? Have confidence in yourself that with a little practice, you, too, CAN ACTUALLY WRITE ENGLISH!
*   Did you copy it from the Internet? (if the answer is 'yeah, but I changed a few words' or 'yeah, but it was a German text and I ran it through Google Translate' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!).
*   Did you copy it out of the book?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but I rearranged a few words and left some stuff out' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you copy it from a classmate?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but she's in the other group' then it is NOT your own work. Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you run a German text through Google Translate?

*   Did you copy a classmate's computer file and print it out with your name?

Exam Day Instructions and Consequences

So tests and exams can be administered efficiently, please follow these instructions:

1)  If your exam is in the first lesson, make sure you arrive ON TIME (Consequence: You may miss part of the exam).
2)  Leave your cell phone at the front of the class.  You may retrieve it only when all students are finished with the exam.
3)  Sit at a separate table (when possible) or with at least one chair between you and your neighbor
4)  Put your name on the OUTSIDE of the folded exam paper and on each page.
5)  Do not open the exam paper until all students have received theirs.
6)  Finish each part of the exam in the time allotted. Listening and reading will be collected.
7)  Do not talk to or signal other students during the exam.

8)  Do not look at or copy from other students' papers

9)  When you are done with your exam, check your work before turning it in.
10)  When you are sure you are finished, give your exam to the teacher and wait outside the classroom quietly.

Students caught cheating will receive a 'nicht bewertet' and must repeat the exam on their own time at the teacher's convenience. Cheaters can expect a Wiederholungsprüfung to be significantly different from the original.

Examples of cheating include (but are not limited to):
* Cheat sheets (Schummelzettel)
* Notes written in dictionaries
* Copying from your neighbor
* Talking to your classmates during the exam
* Signaling to your classmates during the exam
* Texting answers before, during or after the exam.
* Photographing an exam.

Writing Checklist

Before you turn in written homework, please follow this helpful checklist!

TASK ACHIEVEMENT IS EVERYTHING!
Did you write the text the prompt called for? (formal letter/e-mail, informal letter/e-mail, blog, article, proposal, report, brochure). A description of the different text forms can be found here: https://www.bifie.at/system/files/dl/srdp_lfs_textsortencharakteristika_2013-06-20.pdf
*   For letters/e-mails:  Did you include a subject line, salutation, closing and signature line?
*   For blogs, articles, reports, proposals: Do you have a title/subject line, introduction, conclusion?

Did you follow the prompt?
*   Did you write the text the prompt called for (see above)
*   Did you address all of the bullet points?
*   Did you follow the instructions to the letter?

Did you use language appropriate for the task?
*   Contractions should not be used in any formal writing (short forms like 'cause' for 'because' and 'though' for 'although' should only be used in informal e-mails).
*   If you are writing a formal letter/e-mail, be as polite as you can possibly be: use 'please' and 'thank you' and 'could's and 'would's (Would you be so kind as to/could you please send me your newest catalogue?)

ORGANIZATION
*   Did you use paragraphs?  A good rule of thumb is one paragraph for each bullet point in the prompt.
*   Did you use proper conjunctions to link ideas (first, second, third, finally, moreover, furthermore, in addition, on the one/other hand, etc. See other discourse markers here)

LANGUAGE RANGE
*   Reread what you've written!  How many times did you use the same word or phrase?
*   Avoid repeating language from the prompt.
*   Avoid unnecessary repetitions (instead of 'for example' use 'including' 'this includes' 'for instance')
*   Avoid Germanisms ('My English is not the yellow of the egg but it goes' is not English!)

LANGUAGE ACCURACY
*   Did you use proper spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation?
*   Pay special attention to tenses and word order.
*   Seriously, did you check all your subjects and verbs for 3rd-person S!?

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
*   Is your text your own work? Have confidence in yourself that with a little practice, you, too, CAN ACTUALLY WRITE ENGLISH!
*   Did you copy it from the Internet? (if the answer is 'yeah, but I changed a few words' or 'yeah, but it was a German text and I ran it through Google Translate' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!).
*   Did you copy it out of the book?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but I rearranged a few words and left some stuff out' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you copy it from a classmate?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but she's in the other group' then it is NOT your own work. Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you run a German text through Google Translate?

*   Did you copy a classmate's computer file and print it out with your name?

Etiquette and Expectations

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING!

BEFORE CLASS BEGINS

• Go to the loo
• Get your refreshments
• Get your English books
• Clean the board
• Turn on the computer
• Clear your desks
• Put away your cell phone

GREETING

RESPECT

• - the speaker
• - each other’s property
• - each other’s person
• - the classroom

English is the official language of the English lesson!

GRADES:  Grades in all classes except CFC are calculated on 60% Mitarbeit (=anything we do during the lesson + homework) and 40% Schularbeit (one SA per semester).

MITARBEITSNOTEN - ENGLISH

	BELOW AVERAGE	AVERAGE	ABOVE   AVERAGE
I come to class.	X	X	X
I have my books.		X	X
I have my homework.		X	X
I am not a distraction		X	X
I sit quietly.		X
I actively participate in class			X
I ask and answer questions in English			X
I don’t pay attention	X
I don’t have my books	X
I don’t have my homework	X
I disregard the teacher's instructions	X**
I carry on extracurricular conversations	X
I wander around the classroom	X
I am turned away from the speaker	X
I am using my cell phone*	X**
I am grabby (people and possessions)	X
I engage in horseplay (throwing, yelling, etc)	X

*If your cell phone rings or beeps or croaks during the lesson, you must bring a cake for the whole class the next time we meet. 

INSTANT NEGATIVE MITARBEIT
Consistently ignoring the teacher's instructions
Using a cell phone during class

HOMEWORK

If I turn in homework...	FULL CREDIT	75% CREDIT	50% CREDIT	0%
...on the day it is due	X
...the next class period		X
...a week later			X
...after HW has been handed back				X
...copied from the internet				X
...copied from my classmate				X

N.B. Homework is not accepted via email.

If we go over the homework during the lesson, students who did not prepare have missed the opportunity to turn in homework for credit.

FIRST DRAFTS AND FINAL DRAFTS

Most written assignments are submitted twice: once as a draft and once as a final, corrected and improved version. Always try to write a good draft the first time - you might get lucky and not have to do a rewrite!  You must submit the first draft with the second draft to facilitate the marking process.  Always ask yourself before you submit an assignment:

• Does my work meet the assignment requirements?
• Does it meet standards for spelling, punctuation, capitalization and paragraphs?
• Is it my own work (not copied or plagiarized)?
• Is it something I can be proud of?

PLAGIARISM:  If you cut and paste something from the internet, or copy something word for word from the book, or copy something word for word from your neighbor’s paper, it will not be evaluated and you will not receive credit for it. 

Last updated Sunday, November 30, 2014 to reflect Instant Negative Mitarbeit and disregarding teacher's instructions.