ACT Prep Syllabus

    Mrs. Jacobs      Room 222

   Wossman High School      

    [email protected]

Course Description: ACT Prep is a course that allows students to prepare for the college entrance tests with a primary focus on the ACT test. This class is designed to help students improve their ability to score well on the test as well as familiarize them with the components of the test. The purpose of this class is to help prepare college-bound students to score adequately on the test and/or to raise their scores to a higher level. With a renewed emphasis at the local, state, and national levels to improve test scores, ACT Prep is a course that was created to improve those scores. 

 

During the first full week of school, you will take a pretest in each subtest to help determine what skills and knowledge are needed to be improved in order to boost their overall score. Students in the course will also have the opportunity to practice other skills that are essential for success on the ACT such as pacing, test-taking strategies, learning test vocabulary, and discovering ways to reduce test anxiety.

 

From the tests that you take, you will discover your weak areas, and you can work specifically on those areas to improve your scores. If you really work hard and try to improve by taking these tests, you will find that your scores will improve. The more you practice the ACT tests, the better you will become. Well-prepared students are more likely to score higher on the ACT, which may increase your chances of receiving scholarships and enable you to have more options when selecting a college.

 

Standards: A link to the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards can be found here:

https://www.act.org/content/act/en/college-and-career-readiness/standards.html

 

Classroom Supplies:

 

1. Two-inch binder (1)

2. Loose Leaf Paper (as needed)

3. Pencils and pens (black or blue only)

4. Highlighters (4 different colors)

5. 4 Dividers 

6. Manila Folder (1)

7. Kleenex

8. Disinfectant Wipes
   

 

Class Organization:

All materials are to be kept in your binder. You must bring this binder and all other materials to class every day. Label dividers according to the model below:

 

1. Divider 1-  Bellringers

2. Divider 2- Resources

3. Divider 3 – English

4. Divider 4– Reading  

 

Classroom Procedures:

All Wossman High School procedures and rules will apply in our classroom. Additionally, students are also expected to:

 

1. Come to class on time. It’s not enough to be in the classroom when the bell sounds. You must be in your desk with materials ready when the bell sounds or you are tardy! You will not be permitted to return to your locker during class time. Also, students are to use the restroom before they come to class.

2. No cell phone, smart watch or earbud use. The use of cell phones, earbuds and smart watches is prohibited in the classroom. Refer to Wossman High School’s policy manual. 

3. Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged before speaking. 

4. Be respectful of yourself, your classmates, and your teacher. Always behave as young men and young women; use mannerisms and language appropriate for school. NO PROFANITY!!!

5. Follow all directions. Listen when directions are given. Ask questions if you do not understand.

6. When writing, ALWAYS use a pen… Use blue or black ink on assignments(ONLY), Write on the front of the paper (I do not accept work written on the back of your paper, write on loose-leaf paper or paper with perforated edges(I will not accept torn out sheets of paper)

7. Do not eat, drink, or chew in the classroom. No eating of any kind is permitted in the class. If you need to be medicated, you will be permitted to go to the office for assistance.

8. Have fun learning! Be an eager and aggressive learner. Renew your mind and think positively. Think “Yes I Can!”

 

Assignments and Grades:

Grades will be given for a variety of ACT-type activities and assessments. 

A – 90 - 100                                        

B – 80 - 89                                          

C – 70 - 79

D – 65 - 69                                                                               

F – 0 - 64

Each assignment will be given a certain point value. Scores and the possible number of points for each assignment will be added before each report card and at the end of the semester. Your total score will then be divided by the total possible points. 

Grades will be categorized as follows:

Tests 50%

Assignments 25%

Participation  25% 

Public Service Announcement

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Absolutely no PLAGIARISM, FABRICATION OR DECEPTION will be tolerated! NO CHEATING!!!

 

PLAGIARISM “Plagiarism is the act of taking any work, writing, HOMEWORK, conversation, song or even idea and passing it off as your own. This includes information from AI, web pages, books, songs, television shows, e-mail messages, interviews, articles, artwork, or any other medium. Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or take words, phrases or sentences from another person’s work, it is necessary to indicate the source of the information within your paper [speech or debate] using an internal citation. It is not enough to just list the source in a bibliography at the end of the paper. Failing to properly quote, cite or acknowledge someone else’s words or ideas with an internal citation is plagiarism.” 

From: http://www.lib.usm.edu

Cheating of any kind will result in a zero for the assignment, a referral written AND suspension. (see student handbook pgs 22 and 23) Likewise, students that willingly provide another student with access to their work will also receive the same punishments.  I want to see your learning and knowledge on the work you turn in, not someone else’s.

 

Every written assignment, whether turned in or not, should be properly headed according to the example below. Your assignments are incomplete without the proper heading for ACT Prep.

 

Proper Paper Heading

 

Other Pertinent Information:

1. Every ACT Prep student is required to take the ACT exam at least 3 times this shool year. Required dates are: district testing in October and March  AND either December 13, 2025 or February 14, 2026.  Failure to meet ALL required test dates will result in a grade of ZERO. Be responsible!

2. Attendance is imperative to achieve academic success. Make every effort to NOT miss school. Additionally, being absent from class is not an acceptable excuse for not completing assignments/tests. When you are absent from school, you have the same number of days for make-up work as you missed.

3. Make up exams will be given on an assigned day. It is your responsibility to know the exam or assignment missed; it is also your responsibility to come to me to make up the missed assignment.

4. Due dates will be strictly enforced. After I have collected the assignment for your class, it is considered late. Late work will be accepted with a penalty of 10 points each day it is late. After 10 days, the grade will be a zero.

5. Missed bellringers are your responsibility for makeup. Get with a classmate for missed bellringers.

6. Assignments missed due to in-school or out-of-school suspension are your responsibility. It is your responsibility to come to me to make up the missed assignment.

7. Bring your assigned Chromebook to class DAILY! No exceptions.

8. NEVER write on the back of your written assignments

9. Use 1 color ink on your assignment. If you start in blue, finish in blue. Likewise, if you start in black, finish in black!

10. Sleeping in class will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Students are expected to always display proper classroom behavior.

11. Class participationis one of the primary ways to receive the best grade.

12. Restroom privileges are limited. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize the five minutes between classes to attend to such matters.

It is my pleasure to be your instructor this year. You are held responsible for your learning and being prepared. If you don’t understand something or are confused, please see me for help! If you hesitate or wait.

Success Is Our Goal!