South Lyon High School has adopted a standards-based grading system. Student’s grades will be weighted based on SUMMATIVE and FORMATIVE assessments. Formative assessments may include classwork, homework, participation and lab work. Summative assessments are cumulative assignments that represent an understanding of the larger concepts and may include tests and unit exams. Since this is an AP ® class, it is weighted more towards the Summative side.

GRADES WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:

Marking Period Grade:

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS (Tests, Unit Exams) : 80%
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS (Quizes, Homework, etc): 20%

Semester Grade:
Each Marking Period is worth 30% of your grade.

First Marking Period 30%
Second Marking Period 30%
Third Marking Period 30%
Final Exam 10%
Semester Grade: 100%

Chapter Tests and Unit Exams include responses to analytical free-response questions that are similar to the free-response essays on the AP ® Exam. Unit Exams will be similar to the AP ® Exam (60 Multiple Choice questions and a free-response question) and will occur after each Unit of Study.

Current Events Students are responsible to keep up with the daily events in the nation and the world. Students are required to read the headlines from the front pages of the Washington Post, New York Times or Wall Street Journal, Listen to NPR (National Public Radio on Channel 91.7 FM) or another radio news program, watch TV news stations such as CNN, FOX news or MSNBC, or any other reliable online source. There will usually be a Current Event Assignment after every Test/Unit Exam.

Using Graphs, Maps and Charts

Students are tested on their understanding of quantitative and visually presented information (maps and graphs) at regular intervals during tests and especially during Unit Exams. These questions will either be in the form of a chart or graph and will require the student to use the data and/or information in their response.