LATENESS POLICY

Students taking any English course will encounter a number of dates when papers, journals, notebook, oral presentations and other projects are due. For a number of reasons students may not be prepared for a specific due date and will ask for an extension. An English teacher must decide whether to grant this extension.

There are certain emergency situations that warrant an extension even at the last minute. A compassionate teacher will recognize these situations and set an appropriate new date.

With the exception of these emergency situations, students must submit their work on time. If a student cannot make a due date, he or she must request an extension at least one day before the work is due. The maximum extension will be one week. WITHOUT THIS EXTENSION A STUDENT’S PROJECT WILL BE PENALIZED ONE-THIRD OF A GRADE FOR EACH DAY LATE. For instance, a paper or project that would ordinarily earn a grade of "A", would receive an "A-" if it were turned in one day late. If the assignment were turned in two days late, the grade would be lowered to a "B+", and so on. A paper or project turned in more than seven days late would receive a grade of "F". NOT TURNING IN A MAJOR ASSIGNMENT AT ALL WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER GRADES THE STUDENT HAS EARNED.

Our policy emphasizes compassion, responsibility, and communication. The English Department realizes that there are unforeseeable circumstances that justify a student’s last-minute request for an extension, and we hope that students will trust that we can be compassionate listeners. However, the English Department urges students to be responsible. If a student is feeling the pressure that is inherent at Shady Side–other courses have projects due or the paper is not going well–he or she ahead of time should go to the teacher and request an extension. UNLESS THERE IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR A RESPONSIBLE REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION, STUDENTS’ LATE WORK WILL BE PENALIZED.

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